93 days until kickoff: Mark Ingram's first touchdown closes out game winning drive

Mark Ingram retired in 2022 with the most rushing touchdowns in New Orleans Saints history. The last of his 52 rushing touchdowns came in a 2022 Week 3 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. It was Ingram's lone touchdown in his final year in the NFL.

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Ingran's final touchdown occurred 11 years to the day after his first touchdown in the NFL. The first trip the running back made to the end zone was much more ceremonious than his last. On Sept. 25, 2011, Ingram scampered for a 13-yard touchdown to close out a game-winning, 93-yard touchdown drive against the Houston Texans.

As we continue our countdown to the Saints kicking off the Kellen Moore Era against the Arizona Cardinals in 93 days, we take a step back into the past and look at one of Drew Brees' many game-winning drives.

Mark Ingram closes a patented Drew Brees game-winning drive

Ingram's touchdown was the only time the ball wasn't put in the air on that drive. He even ran like someone who may not get another opportunity. He showed a burst through the line and aggression as the running back actually ran through his teammate en route to his touchdown.

It was an eight-play drive that initially started at the New Orleans seven yard line. With a little over four minutes to play and Brees at the helm, there was never a reason to panic. There was a sense of urgency, however.

The ball stayed in the air to move the ball downfield quickly. The Saints entered the red zone prior to the two minute warning and downshifted to drain some clock. Ingram's immediate score kept that from happening.

On the ensuing drive, the Saints forced a Matt Schaub interception. New Orleans never gave the ball back to Houston after that.

Close games are the norm with the Saints and Texans

The final score of that matchup was 40-33, and close games have been a recurring theme ever since. These two teams have played three times since the 2011 showdown and two of the three came down to the wire.

Brees led another game winning drive in primetime in 2019. That was an equally, if not more, intense game. Then in 2023, Derek Carr had a chance to repeat history. However, poor play calling dialed up four straight end zone shots instead of prioritizing getting deeper in the red zone. Houston came out victorious in that game.