The Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saintsare set to play on Sunday at Caesars Superdome. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET.
Detroit (8-3 SU, 7-4 ATS, 7-4 O/U) lost 29-22 to Green Bay on Thanksgiving. It had won its previous three games in a row.
New Orleans (5-6 SU, 2-8-1 ATS, 3-8 O/U) lost 24-15 to Atlanta last Sunday. The Saints have dropped four of their last six overall.
Lions: G Halapoulivaati Vaitai and LB James Housto are out. DL Isaiah Buggs, G Jonah Jackson, RB David Montgomery, and S Tracy Walker III are questionable. S Ifeatu Melifonwu and C Frank Ragnow are probable.
Saints:WR Michael Thomas and CB Marshon Lattimore are out. S Marcus Maye, TE Jimmy Graham, DE Isaiah Foskey, DE Cam Jordan, LB Pete Werner, RB Kendre Miller, WR Rashid Shaheed, C Erik McCoy, and WR Chris Olave are questionable.
Detroit outgained Green Bay 464-377 with eight more first downs but lost the turnover battle (3-0) in its Thanksgiving Day loss. The Lions trailed 20-6 after the first quarter and never recovered, as Packers QB Jordan Love passed for 268 yards and three scores. The Lions went for it five times on fourth down but only converted once, on their final drive.
Detroit averages 26.7 points (7th) and 405.5 total yards (2nd) per game, including 268.5 passing yards (3rd) and 136.9 rushing yards (6th). It converts 42.7 percent of its third-down attempts (11th) and scores a touchdown on 55.2 percent of its red zone trips (14th).
The Lions surrender 23.5 points (24th) and 318.8 total yards (10th) per game, including 227.5 passing yards (20th) and 91.3 rushing yards (5th). They have generated 23 sacks and eight interceptions this season. Detroit’s opponents convert 36.2 percent of their third downs (11th) and score a touchdown on 68.5 percent of their red zone trips (30th).
New Orleans also outgained its last opponent, but couldn’t finish its drives, as it settled for five field goals. The Saints also gave up 228 rushing yards, allowing the Falcons to bleed the clock late in the game, and thwarting any comeback hopes.“
They did a good job of blocking us up front,” said Saints coach Dennis Allen. “We will look at schematically what we can do to be better there. That was a big factor, them winning the line of scrimmage.”
New Orleans averages 20.8 points (18th) and 347.1 total yards (12th) per game, including 242.7 passing yards (11th) and 104.4 rushing yards (19th). It converts 37.0 percent of its third-down attempts (21st)
and scores a touchdown on 42.5 percent of its red zone trips (29th).
The Saints give up 20.2 points (9th) and 320.3 total yards (12th) per game, including 196.3 passing yards (7th) and 124.0 rushing yards (23rd). They have racked up 18 sacks and 14 interceptions this season. New Orleans’ opponents convert 35.6 percent of their third downs (8th) and find the end zone on 54.8 percent of their red zone trips (19th).
Detroit QB Jared Goff is a much more efficient passer indoors than outdoors, and the Saints’ secondary is thin due to injuries. NO doesn’t have much of a pass rush, plus Cam Jordan and others are questionable to play, so Goff should be free to run the offense at a comfortable pace. The Lions’ 6th-ranked rushing attack will find plenty of holes against the Saints’ 23rd-ranked run defense, too.
New Orleans’ offense didn’t get the job done against Atlanta and appears to be hampered by injuries for this game, as Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, and Rashid Shaheed are all unlikely to play. That will make life very difficult for Derek Carr, as the Lions can rush the passer and are stout against the run (91.3 rush yards allowed/game).
They haven’t been a good unit recently, but this matchup provides them with an opportunity to get their swagger back.
