The bye week was fun and all but I’ve been desperate for some Saints football. I will admit that sitting on an overtime walk off win for two weeks has been much easier to tolerate than some bye weeks in the past. In just a handful of hours the Saints will be back to their season and this is a chance to get back to .500 for the first time since Cleveland made that gut wrenching game winning field goal. So now the Saints face the Lions in Detroit and the Saints are 0-3 on the road this year. Can we get a win on the road? Here are things I’m looking for:
1. The Saints O-line is really good this year, but are they ready for the Lions’ D-line?
Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley going up against Jahri Evans, Ben Grubbs and Jonathan Goodwin is as big time as it gets. The Saints have given up 5 sacks this season which is 3rd least in the NFL, but the Lions have 20 sacks which is the most in the league. Funny aside, the Saints have 6 sacks which is 27th in the league, and the Lions have given up 21 which is 30th. Something has to give on both sides, actually. The Saints don’t give up sacks but the Lions get tons, and the Lions get sacked all the time but the Saints can’t get any. So how does it play out? I’m more interested in the units that are doing well and how they measure up against each other. The Saints’ O-line is probably the most solid and promising thing we’ve seen through six games but we’re going to find out who they really are real fast because the Lions’ front four is the toughest unit they’ll face all season. For the Saints to win this game they’ll need a monster performance from their offensive line against what is currently the #1 defense in the NFL. The Saints are going to need to run the ball A LOT and hopefully do it well.
2. Family Reunion
There’s so many meaningful connections between the teams and the Lions do really feel like a spin off version of the Saints. The fact that Joique Bell, Reggie Bush and Jed Collins are all three in their backfield is kind of insane. Don’t forget about Isa Abdul-Quddus either. I’m very curious to see how these players do, particularly Reggie Bush. Will the Saints contain him? Will they get a gift wrapped customary fumble? Or will Reggie play out of his mind? I’m fearful of the latter.
3. What hurts more, no Graham or no Megatron?
I’ve been singing like a canary all week that Megatron’s absence hurts the Lions more than Graham’s absence hurts the Saints. I mostly cling to this to help me sleep at night. Both players are listed as questionable but I’d rule Megatron as almost assuredly out, whereas Graham could actually play. Even if he does, though, he figures to be limited. So which offense will be able to absorb the downgrade more? The reality is I see the Lions having success on the Saints’ defense at home without Megatron more than I see the Saints moving the ball on a #1 defense on the road with a compromised Graham (or without him). I hope I’m wrong but as we creep closer and closer to gametime I start to doubt my weekly refrain more and more.
4. Run angry, Mark. I mean Pierre. I mean Khiry.
The Saints are in a weird position with their backs. We all know what Khiry Robinson did on the final Saints play from scrimmage so far this season. We also remember who was really responsible for proverbially giving our season mouth to mouth in that Tampa game and that was Pierre Thomas. Sorry for the visual there but I wasn’t recycling Ralph’s flatlining jokes. Now Mark Ingram returns and I think we all remember how he was playing prior to his injury. How do these three players that are all performing at such a high level get enough work? It’s almost unfair to have three guys play the same position and all equally deserve to be on the field. I just hope Sean Payton figures out a way to give a fair distribution to all three.
5. Please give up SOMETHING on these returns
Last week I begged, pleaded and had a seance filled with occult symbols and voodoo candles to summon a turnover for the Saints’ defense. My soul may have suffered irreparable harm but Patrick Robinson, of all people, answered my call. This time the seance will need more burning incense, Ouija boards and Frog tongue potion to conjure a spirit so powerful the Saints might actually a decent return on special teams. The point is the return game is a joke and it has been for a long time now. I don’t even care who does it. Joe Morgan returns active, Brandin Cooks stops being so in love with the fair catch or maybe being around Reggie Bush scares the Reggie Bush out of him, or Travaris Cadet breaks one. Ok the last one is criminal to even suggest. I’ll take a 40 yard return called back for a blatant clip at this point. Please show us something.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
