Gameday is here and it will be the second time in over a month that the Saints will welcome the Lions to the Superdome. This game will have more at stake than the first game as the loser in this game will have it’s season end. I thought the first game was a game in which the Saints should have won going away but the Lions simply would not go away. It should be a great game as the Saints look to make a deep playoff run, maybe even a return trip to the Super Bowl, but here are five things I will be looking for in tonight’s matchup.
1. How will the Saints offensive line block the Lions defensive line with Suh back in the lineup?
The last game the Saints did a good job blocking the Lions defensive line but that was without Suh in the lineup. This time it will be a little different…
as the Saints will have to double or chip Suh but they also have two rush ends that the Saints’ tackles will have to contend with. It will help to run the ball early and often as this will wear down the Lions’ defensive line as the game goes on. The best way to take Suh out of the game is to get him out of the game is to get him out of his element, start with screens out of the backfield and run right at him because after getting two to three guys all weighing about three hundred plus blocking you all game, you tend to wear down as the game goes on.
2. Will either team stop the other from scoring in this game?
This game will feature two high scoring offenses. It seems like whoever can get the other off the field in key situtations should have the most success in this game. I think that advantage has to go to the Saints as the defense has been able to get opposing offenses on third down off the field. It also works in the Saints’ favor to have Coach Williams on the Saints’ sidelines as he will look to rattle the Lions’ offense with multiple blitz packages.
3. Will it be the same game as the last time these two played?
It should be the same type of game with the same results. I could see the Saints winning this game big because in the last game they went up big then they fell into a funk as they let Detroit back into the game. Look for the Saints to get up big but unlike the last game they will turn to the running game to put the game out of reach.
4. Who will have that breakout game for the Saints in tonight’s game?
I look at two guys on the Saints’ roster to have a breakout game in front of a national audience tonight and they are Chris Ivory and Martez Wilson. Ivory has been running hard the last couple of weeks getting those tough yards but I think he will come in handy at the later part of the game as he will get the ball the majority of the time trying to take some time off the clock in the fourth quarter. Martez Wilson has come on the last couple of weeks giving the Saints some much needed speed off the edges, so look for Coach Williams to move Martez around tonight causing havoc for the Lions’ offense.
5. Too early to look ahead to San Francisco?
For the Saints players yes it is too early to look ahead as they have a game to play but for the fans it is already in the workplace conversation. I think the task at hand is to take care of a team the Saints have already beaten, then worry about the 49ers. The main reason I say this is who would have thought the St. Louis Rams could beat the Saints when they did?
Enjoy the game, and WHO DAT!
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