Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

Ever since Sean Payton changed his team's bye week routine the Saints are a perfect 5-0 coming off a week of rest.

That's reason for optimism.

Unfortunately, the Lions have what seems to be an achilles heel of sorts for our offense - a dominant defensive front. Will our O line do it's job?

Check out this analysis of Detroit's win over Green Bay by Mike Mayock.
Watch Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions [09/21/2014] - NFL.com

We'll see a ton of this same defense.

Vegas likes Detroit by 2 to 2 1/2, essentially a pick em. I don't see this being more than a field goal win either way.

This game reminds me of facing St. Louis and Seattle - two teams that eat our lunch up front. I hope we hold up but I think a lot is weighing on our O line to protect Brees and generate a run game.

Saints 17
Lions 14

Re: Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

I'm going Lions 16 - Saints 9 ... but mostly because I feel obligated to pick Detroit ... my heart's really not in this one, :lol:. I won't be back to gloat (like a failclown fan, :neutral:) should the Saints road woes continue ... please don't rescind my Mudbugs invitation! :lol:.

I think focusing on the GNB win is a little deceiving when gauging Detroit's ability to shut down an elite QB ... Green Bay was very disorganized in that game & it almost looked like they had no game plan whatsoever. I'm pretty sure it'll be corrected for their second meeting, if it hasn't been already, ;).

Re: Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

If our defense doesn't pressure Stafford, we lose. Plain and simple. If he's allowed to extend and make plays, our secondary is in for a long day.

SloMo, if your d line does what Seattle and St. Louis did the Saints won't score more than 13 or 14.

Re: Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

Saints: 24 - Lions: 17

I think our defense shows us something this game... and Josh Hill has himself a two touchdown game :bng:

Re: Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

... yeah, that's why I predicted 16-9 DET ... I do have a little faith in the d-line (playing in contract years). They did interview Jahri Evans on the local news this morning (I thought he'd be taller, :lol:) and he seemed pretty calm, collected, confident, :).

Don't let the defense fool you, they're only one injury away from being an incomplete defense ... no reserves, anywhere, :neutral:.

Get some pressure on Staffy & without Calvin, he goes into panic mode ... so you're right. Give him time & he's as good as anyone back there. Lombardi/Caldwell have calmed him down a bit & worked on his decision making, but he's still way too dependent on Megatron.

Best of luck NOLA & if the Saints got to get their season started sometime, I'd just as soon have it be at Ford Field, ;).

Re: Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

Re: Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

Saints 31
Lions 27

Re: Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

Lions 27 Saints 23 (and I hope like hell I'm wrong)

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Lions 29 Saints 27

...hard to pick against Cortana lately.

Re: Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

Lions 24 Saints 20

Sorry but until:

• Saints WR's stop dropping majority of balls thrown to them
• Drew Brees get better pass protection
• WR drops stop and Brees isn't forced to make something happen (ie. throw INT's (6 int's this season))
• Saints defense starts tackling (not turnovers, just clean, fundamental tackling)
• The Saints actually win a game on the road this season

...I can't pick them to win.

I do predict we lose to the Lions but return home and beat Green Bay then the Saints win their first road game against Carolina.... and then everyone will be more than confused :confused:

I'll gladly eat crow. Until the organization proves me wrong with their road history the past few seasons, it is what it is!

Re: Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

Two weeks to prepare. On the upswing 2-1 over last 3. 4th qtr and OT we looked like our old selves. I am going 31-20 Saints.

Re: Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

I would be more than happy to see things turn around and take 31-20.

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The Lions game was one I thought we'd lay an egg in before the season started. But since our defense has already laid 3 eggs I'm hoping we bring the A-game.

It wouldn't shock or even surprise me if we lost this game, but I'm confident we'll win.

Re: Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

22-14 Saints

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I hope I am proved wrong but I think the Lions will edge this one.

Home field advantage for Detroit, lots of Lions fans making it loud and then of course our poor road game record.

As I have said, I really, really hope the Saints prove me wrong and I will gladly eat humble pie.

GEAUX SAINTS!!!!

Re: Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

We are impeccable after a bi , history has shown us so. Not much of this season has made sense to me , so I'm going against conventional thinking. I think Sean Payton erases doubts , as does Brees. I think we blow them out. Not much I have to support this argument , but I do know that when our football team plays a complete game , we make contenders look like they ought to be picking the first overall guy in the draft ( 11 giants ). Resilience and composure go along way in this long season. I don't put it past this groups to surprise us in a positive way. They are very capable

Cooks gets loose early we run on 2nd to make a 3rd conversion easier on ourselves and Ingram goes off ( no reason why he shouldn't the way he and Khiry have played thus far ) we score early get them behind 14-0 and all the sudden our defense looks like last years. Start fast put it on them hard and early.

Re: Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

The Saints will win this game. They will win enough then lose enough for us to keep scratching our heads all season long wondering what in the hell kind of team we have. We will get to the last game of the season where the playoffs are on the line and we will lose to a Tampa team who is down to their practice squad players and guys they picked up off the street and Jeff Garcia at QB.

Re: Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

Saints win 15 to 14, 5 field goals win it because our O gets man-handled by their D in the red zone. Our D gets real lucky, Detroits O has an off day all day. Thats the best I could give us.

Re: Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

Can't predict anything with this team anymore, you just never know who will show up.

I predict the team with the most points at the end will win!

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I think this is reasonable, and like you said you'd love to eat that crow.

Re: Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

God, I was thinking the same thing. Have no idea what to expect. I am really hoping we come out and play some good ball...

Re: Prediction time - Saints vs Lions
 

Welcome to my world the past 50+ seasons, :lol: ... at least your boys got ya' a ring and been to the playoffs 4 of the last 5, ;).

It's always an off-day without Calvin, :neutral: ... the offense has been the big knock on Detroit all year ... take away the Giants/Jets games & they're averaging something like 9pts a game, :rolleyes:.

Leading up to game time, the vast majority of football people in Detroit are picking the Saints.