[1:00 PM] Lions @ Saints

Who will WIN this matchup?

Detroit Lions (7-4)

@ New Orleans Saints (5-6)

 

• The Lions took over the division lead with a 16-13 win over Minnesota on Thanksgiving – their fourth triumph by three points or fewer. All 11 of Detroit’s games have been decided by a touchdown or less.

• The Saints are two games behind first-place Atlanta in the NFC South and among a slew of contenders for the second wild-card after recording a 49-21 drubbing of the Rams. The Lions have won two straight meetings with the Saints, including a 35-27 victory in New Orleans last season.

• Detroit has survived a lackluster ground game thanks to the maturation of Matthew Stafford, who has completed 66.8 percent of his passes for 19 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Stafford has thrown scoring passes to seven different targets – including leading receiver Golden Tate, who caught two in last year’s win over the Saints. Detroit’s defense has stepped up its effort of late, allowed fewer than 300 total yards on average over the last four games and holding three straight opponents under 90 yards rushing.

• New Orleans again possesses one of the league’s most prolific offenses but hasn’t been able to consistently make stops on defense. Veteran Drew Brees leads the league in passing yards (3,587) and touchdown passes (30) and has led three game-winning drives in the fourth quarter, while Mark Ingram and Tim Hightower give the Saints a viable running game. The defense has turned it up the last two games, holding Carolina and Los Angeles under 250 total yards after failing to keep an opponent under 325 in the first nine contests.

• Stafford has passed for 1,949 yards with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions in his last seven road games.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: New Orleans Saints

Confidence: 4/10

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