Coming out of the bye week, the New Orleans Saints looked to have an above .500 record for the first time since beating the Chicago Bears 24-17. The Black and Gold fell to 5-6 on the season after a 24-15 loss to their NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons.
The Saints are back in the Dome on Sunday as they host the 8-3 Lions. Detroit is coming off a stinging 29-22 Thanksgiving Day loss to the Green Bay Packers.
This will be game one of a three-game home stretch for the Saints with them also hosting the likes of the Carolina Panthers, who fired their head coach Frank Reich early in the week. The other team will be the New York Giants as they are currently on their third-string quarterback.
This game between the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions is scheduled for Sunday, December 3rd. Kickoff in the Caesars Superdome is set for noon.
NOT SO DIFFERENT RECORDS
Although each team has very different records and seems to be going in opposite directions, New Orleans and Detroit aren’t as different as you might think.
The Lions are 1-2 this year versus winning teams, defeating the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. The two losses came in week two to the 6-5 Seattle Seahawks and then in week seven Jared Goff and company lost on the road 38-6 to the Baltimore Ravens.
For New Orleans, they lost in back-to-back weeks to the 6-5 Houston Texans 20-13 and the 8-3 Jacksonville Jaguars 31-24. Their one win against a team with a record above .500 was a 38-27 shootout that next week versus the 6-5 Indianapolis Colts. The Saints had three extra days to prepare for the Colts after playing Thursday Night Football with the Jags.
CRACKS IN THE ARMOR
We hear the frustration in the voices of players and coaches when the team loses. Last week’s loss to the Falcons felt different with the importance of New Orleans’ chances of winning the division and making the playoffs.
There were conflicting thoughts as star Alvin Kamara said postgame that this Saints team doesn’t have an identity. Head coach Dennis Allen countered that point the next day saying that the Black and Gold do have an identity, being that they have explosive players on offense and are opportunistic on defense.
New Orleans is 29th in offensive red zone efficiency. That and many other reasons have led to the Who Dat Nation calling for jobs in the coaching staff and locker room. People in the Saints organization should be feeling the pressure this week and if this team can’t win against the Lions, the chances of turning this season around may be insurmountable. That could lead to major changes by those who run the team.
DOWN KEY CONTRIBUTORS
The New Orleans Saints racked up injuries over the last couple of weeks as stars like Michael Thomas and cornerback Marshon Lattimore have been put on injured reserve. It doesn’t look good for other wide receivers on the roster as Chris Olave is in concussion protocol and Rashid Shaheed is dealing with a quad injury.
If all three are unavailable on Sunday, that’ll give other pass catchers a chance to make a good impression such as rookie A.T. Perry. Others who would show up in the starting lineup are Lynn Bowden and Keith Kirkwood. Bowden has recorded one catch this season and predominantly run blocks when he’s on the field. Kirkwood has been in and out of the 53-man roster this year, making three catches, two coming from last week’s loss to Atlanta.
On defense, Alontae Taylor lines up in the slot unless there’s an injury with the boundary corners and fills in that role. The former Tennessee Volunteer will do just that with Lattimore gone while Isaac Yiadom plays on the boundary against three-receiver sets. Some pass catchers that Saints defensive backs will line up against are Amon-Ra St. Brown, who has just under 1,000 yards, and a rookie tight end in Sam LaPorta who has recorded the fifth most yards in the league at his position.
In addition, the Saints tried out kickers earlier in the week and signed Austin Seibert to the practice squad as rookie Blake Grupe played with a right groin injury in last Sunday’s contest.
SERIES RECORD: Saints lead 14-12-1
Last 5 meetings:
2020: NO 35 – DET 29
2017: NO 52 – DET 38
2016: DET 28 – NO 13
2015: DET 35 – NO 27
2014: DET 24 – NO 23
STAT LEADERS
SAINTS
Derek Carr: 244-372, 2535 yards, 10 TD, 5 INT
Alvin Kamara: 119 carries, 457 yards, 2 TD
Chris Olave: 63 catches, 771 yards, 3 TD
Carl Granderson: 5.5 sacks
Demario Davis: 79 tackles (49 solo)
Paulson Adebo: 4 INT
Blake Grupe: 24-of-30 field goals, Long of 55
LIONS
Jared Goff: 275-405, 3075 yards, 18 TD, 8 INT
David Montgomery: 133 carries, 648 yards, 9 TD
Amon-Ra St. Brown: 82 catches, 993 yards, 5 TD
Aidan Hutchinson: 5.5 sacks
Alex Anzalone: 87 tackles (58 solo)
Jerry Jacobs: 3 INT
Riley Patterson: 13-of-15 field goals, Long of 52
NOTABLE INJURIES
SAINTS
Chris Olave, WR, Concussion, Questionable
Rashid Shaheed, WR, Quad, Out
Cam Jordan, EDGE, Ankle, Questionable
Marcus Maye, S, Shoulder, Out
Kendre Miller, RB, Ankle, Out
Pete Werner, LB, Shoulder/Oblique, Out
Blake Grupe, K, Right Groin, Questionable
Erik McCoy, C, Shoulder, Questionable
Ryan Ramczyk, T, Knee, Probable
Andrus Peat, OL, Shoulder, Questionable
LIONS
Alex Anzalone, LB, Hand, Doubtful
Jonah Jackson, G, Ankle/Wrist, Questionable
David Montgomery, RB, Foot, Probable
Tracy Walker, S, Shoulder, Probable
Ifeatu Melifonwu, S, Hand, Probable
Frank Ragnow, C, Back/Toe, Questionable
Hendon Hooker, QB, Knee, Out