Tonight in the BenzDome, The New Orleans Saints will try to continue to build momentum from last week as they face the struggling Detroit Lions. Although the Lions are 7-4, they are coming off a loss on Thankgiving day to Green Bay, and need to get back on track to keep pace with the rest of the NFC wild-card contenders. In order for New Orleans to win tonight, they will have a tall task in stopping an explosive Detroit offense that possesses one of the biggest playmakers in the game today.
Pass Defense
The Saints have had trouble stopping the pass this season, allowing an average of 253.7 yards per game. The secondary, apart from Jabari Greer, has been woefully inconsistent and the pass rush from the line has been at times non-existent. Blown coverages and big plays have plagued the defense, leading teams to stick around late in games.
The Lions have one of the top passing games in the league, averaging 272.5 yards per game. QB Matthew Stafford has had a very good year, passing for over 3000 yards and 26 touchdowns. Star WR Calvin Johnson has been stellar, amassing over 1000 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns. Outside of Johnson, TE Brandon Pettigrew and WRs Nate Burleson and Titus Young have emerged as decent targets.
Calvin Johnson is the catalyst for the entire Lions passing game, and stopping him will be of the utmost importance for Gregg Williams. Look for more zone coverages and double teams to try to take away Johnson. Getting pressure on Stafford will do a world of good for the Saints, forcing him to make bad and inaccurate passes. Taking away the threat of the big play will also be very important.
Run Defense
The Saints give up an average of 117.1 yards on the ground per game, which ranks 17th in the league. Much of the trouble can be linked to the inconsistent defensive line, which has trouble establishing the line of scrimmage against power running teams.
Thankfully for the Saints, the Lions have one one of the worst running games in the NFL. Detroit only averages 104.3 yards per game on the ground this season. The running game will be further complicated with the questionable status of RB Kevin Smith, who is nursing a knee injury. That means Maurice Morris and former LSU Tiger Keiland Williams will be called upon to carry the load.
If the Saints can take away the run early, which they should be able to, it will help out the entire defense. New Orleans would be able to focus on stopping the pass. A strong performance from the interior of the defensive line will be paramount. A steady rotation of DTs from Gregg Williams will allow for the unit to remain fresh and ready.
Matchup to Watch
Saints secondary vs. Lions WR Calvin Johnson. If the Saints can at least slow down Calvin Johnson, the Lions best player on offense, then they will have a much easier time trying to pull away for the win. At 6’5”, Johnson is a mismatch for any corner or safety, so look for a variety of defensive looks from Gregg Williams to try to limit his impact.
