Strong player gets sack in first quarter of Detroit Lions game

It didn’t take long for Bruce Irvin to inject some life into the Detroit Lions’ beleaguered pass rush.

On one of the first plays of his Lions debut in Week 13 against the New Orleans Saints, the 36-year-old pass rusher got around the left edge of the offensive line and pulled down Saints quarterback Derek Carr for a sack on third down, forcing a punt. Irvin used a stutter step and a two-hand chop to get free around the right edge before pouncing on Carr’s back.

It resulted in the third straight empty possession from New Orleans to start the game with the defense getting off to a red-hot start. Brian Branch intercepted Carr on the Saints’ first offensive play of the game, leading to a Lions touchdown, and then they punted on the next two possessions. The Lions led 21-0 in the first quarter at the time of the sack.