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It's not often that a team can register eight sacks in a game. Eight teams in the league, including the New Orleans Saints, haven't even hit that mark yet this season.

So when Jahri Evans and Terron Armstead were asked the last time they could recall such a game happening, they both scratched their heads.

"It had been a while I think," Armstead said.

Added Evans: "It's been a long time."

At least until last Sunday.

Armstead, who was enjoying his bye last week, caught only a few minutes of the Detroit Lions win against the Minnesota Vikings. The Lions harassed rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater all day, forcing him to the ground eight times and pressuring him into three interceptions.

Things might not be so easy against Drew Brees. Brees has never been sacked eight times, although he's come close. Last season, he had four games where he was sacked at least four times, and was sacked six times against the Carolina Panthers when rookie left tackle Armstead joined the lineup.

Brees has only been sacked four times all this season.

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foreverfan

More sacks and less interceptions, or no turnovers or sacks.

SloMotion

I think it should read, "Detroit Lions face formidable challenge against Saints offense", but who am I? I'm with Evans & Armstead ... I can't remember the last time the Lions recorded eight sacks in a game or Suh even got two, :scratchhead:.

Let's talk "coverage sacks" ... 'Touchdown' Teddy Bridgewater probably could have avoided quite a few of those 8 sacks had he the wherewithal to chuck it to the sidelines. But then I thought I see comments Brees throwing INTs by trying to avoid the 'coverage sack'?

Now there's a huge difference between Brees & Bridgewater ... is Drew trying to force plays or not throwing it away properly? (Stafford frequently has on both counts & got himself in trouble).

This is probably where the game is gonna' be won/lost, IMO ... if the Lions can force some kind of pressure on Brees and their anemic offense can generate maybe three or more touchdowns, they got a chance. If they can't (and how many times have we seen Drew shred a defense like Detroit's?), I don't think the NO defense will have that much difficulty with the Lions offense.

There'll be some fireworks for sure & I'm figuring Drew'll go down once, maybe twice, but if the O/L has managed to keep him upright all but four times thus far this season, it's a good sign they'll probably manage to keep the Lions at bay, for the most part, .

JMO.

saintsfan1976

Brees is a pure pocket passer. Polar opposite of Teddy

The Lions D will work to get a push up the middle, then "hands up".

I expect to see a lot of dink and dump from Sean Payton or timing / crossing routes.

To me, this game is on our Defense. They're facing a familiar system and players. Must limit scores.

ScottF

Unluckily for the Lions, Brees threw his bone-headed pick 6 in the last game. Hopefully that is still front-of-mind and he doesn't repeat it.

Brees will be harassed, but he checks off and hits his first read as well as anybody.
Saints 31-21 (7 Prater FG's)

hagan714

this a game were the war will be won in trenches for both sides.

darstep

Lions are pretty solid on the defensive side of the ball.
We have to keep them honest by running the ball.
Everyone knows Brees will be 7 deep, we have to make their front 7 pause...
and not just tee-off b-lining to that spot.
I would be glad to see good tackling and good angles this week.
Even that would be an improvement. Everything else would be gravy.
If Reggie goes for a buck-fifty we lose.

Mardigras9

Agreed, I can't see him having that kind of game with those mistakes again.

spkb25

We will all know how the rest of the season is gonna go by how we play this week. We either play saints football or we don't.

SaintFanInATLHELL

This is a fallacy. Each game of the season is a mini episode onto itself. The performance (good or bad) in one game does not readily translate into equal performance in the subsequent game or games?

How many times this season has a team that had been crowned fallen (Seattle, Cinncinatti)? Or a team that has left for dead all of a sudden become a top contender again (Green Bay, New England)?

I went to the Atlanta game the first game of the season. After that game one would have thought that the Lombardi had been graced upon the 'Clowns and that the Saints season was over. It's 5 weeks later and take a look at the standings.

There's a reason most atheletes and coaches stick to the "one game at a time" mantra. An NFL season really isn't a 16 game season over 17 weeks. It's 16 one week seasons, each unique and special.

Here's the simple fact: The Saints win Sunday and the Panther's take another loss (against a very tough opponent on the road) and the Saints will be up 0.5 games in the loss column.

It's not going to be that if we spank the Lions, we will instantly have another LombardiGras. Or if we make mistakes that the season is lost.

However, right at this moment the Lions game is the most important game of the Saints season. Why? Because it's the next game.

SFIAH

Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO

Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.