DETROIT -- Observed and heard in the locker room after the New Orleans Saints' 24-23 loss to the Detroit Lions:
Brees takes blame: Saints quarterback Drew Brees took this about as personally as I can ever remember him taking a loss, blaming himself for the interception he threw in the final minutes as Detroit rallied from a 23-10 deficit.
"The worst feeling in professional sports is when you feel like you let your team down. And that's the way I feel right now with that interception," said Brees, who was sensational for most of the first 56 minutes before throwing his only pick to safety Glover Quin on that third-and-9 play.
Brees said he felt like he looked at receiver Marques Colston for a beat too long before throwing the pass.
'No quit': There was no sign of implosion in the Saints' locker room. Players repeatedly insisted there's "no quit" in this team, and some drew on the positives while lamenting the inability to "finish." The only blame mentioned was pointed inward, with leaders like Brees, coach Sean Payton and offensive tackle Zach Strief saying it's on them.
Payton upset with officiating: Payton was clearly upset with some of the calls in the game. He was seen yelling at officials and admitted afterward, "I wasn't happy with how the game was officiated, but I'll leave it at that." He quickly added that's not why the Saints lost.
Injuries pile up: Center Jonathan Goodwin (knee), defensive end Glenn Foster (knee) and nose tackle Brodrick Bunkley (concussion) were officially ruled out of the game early. Later, running back Pierre Thomas (undisclosed), receiver Kenny Stills (undisclosed) and cornerback Keenan Lewis were also hobbled. Lewis referenced his injury as a knee, while Payton said hamstring and cramps. The severity of each injury remains unknown. Foster was spotted on crutches and Stills said he was dealing with an illness.
