The Detroit Lions have finally won a game, as they are coming off a victory for the first time since way back October of 2019. Feeling good heading into Week 4, will the Lions keep it going? Or will the Saints snap their own losing skid and get back to .500? Check out our preview of this game below.
A 1-2 start isn’t ideal for any team and it’s extra surprising for the Saints, who have now lost both of their last two games. After a 34-24 road loss at the hands of the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2, Drew Brees and company were beaten by the Green Bay Packers at home last Sunday, 37-30. The Saints have not suffered their first back-to-back losses in three years. The Saints, however, definitely did not lose to the Raiders and Packers because they couldn’t move the chains. Even without star wide receiver Michael Thomas, Brees was able to pass for 275 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, while the backfield came up with 122 rushing yards on just 20 carries. Thomas is reportedly on course to get back to action in Week 4 after missing the last two games with an ankle injury. The problem for New Orleans is its defense that is giving up 31.3 points per game. But against Detroit, the Saints’ defense should fare better, especially on the ground, where the Lions have yet to fully sort out its identity there.
The Saints are 7-1 against the spread in their last eight games overall.
Detroit head coach Matt Patricia cooled his seat a bit after the Lions scored their first win of the season with a 26-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3. Matthew Stafford passed for 270 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions on 22-of-31 pass completions. Stafford definitely enjoyed having wide receiver Kenny Golladay back downfield, as the hulking target reeled in six catches for 57 receiving yards and a touchdown in his first game of the season. The Lions’ passing attack can do damage against the Saints’ defense that, as mentioned, has been gutted the last two weeks. With Golladay back and attracting extra attention downfield, Stafford can see some receivers get open, such as in multiple cases in the Arizona game, where guys like Jesse James and TJ Hockenson had gotten looks inside the red zone. Take note that the Saints are 30th in the league in opponents’ touchdown scoring percentage in the red zone (83.3).
