It’s not all about the gumbo in New Orleans.
The Lions (8-3) are coming off a tough Thanksgiving loss to the Packers, while the Saints (5-6) will try to snap a two-game losing streak when they face each other at the Superdome on Sunday.
It will be a homecoming of sorts for Lions coach Dan Campbell who was a tight end for the Saints in 2009 and served as an assistant coach there from 2016 through 2020.
“It was a winning organization, still is, but (in) my time there, things were run right, they were done right and there was a winning attitude, winning atmosphere and that’s what it was all about,’’ Campbell said. “It’s just special and that’s why it will always be special. To be able to go back and play there makes it special.”
The coach loves New Orleans’ shrimp gumbo, but this is a business trip with higher goals. The Lions, still atop the NFC North, remain a confident and hungry bunch.
“I don’t feel like that (hunger has) dwindled away or drifted. That’s been there. And I think if anything, we understand the areas of improvement, where we must improve and it’s ball security. And that’s everybody,’’ Campbell said. “… I like where they’re at. I don’t feel – I feel like it’s a team that’s ready to go, ready to work. So, I feel like we’re where we’ve been. We’re good. We just (need to) eliminate some mistakes here.”
Extra ball security drills were a part of practice this week after three lost fumbles on Thanksgiving.
With an eye on the playoffs, every one of the six remaining games is crucial.
Scottie Montgomery, assistant head coach and running backs coach, said he’s learned more about this team over the past few weeks.
“They’re like their head coach, they’re tough as hell. Resilient, just when people get ready to count them out there’s going to be another fight … I’ve not been on a team quite like this before,’’ Montgomery said. “This team has a different level, we used the team grit for a lack of better word sometimes. This team is like their head coach, tough as hell. Smart and detailed and disciplined. At the end of the day, the team that makes the fewest mistakes and the little people are tough, you’re going to win.’’
Five things to watch against the Saints::
1. The Lions must hold onto the ball — no interceptions, no fumbles lost. It seems simple. This week they worked on ball control drills in practice – although it’s nothing new. It has been a point of emphasis. It was exemplified when they lost to the Packers on Thanksgiving with Jared Goff losing three fumbles. “We’ll clean that up and we’ll be good to go from there. There are a couple plays last week where he’s holding onto the ball longer than we wanted to. And that’s – they had a good defense compared to our call as well, so that’s on me also trying to help him, so that number one gets open a little more for him and so it all plays a part,’’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said. “We all have a hand in it, but he’s certainly taken ownership of it and we’ll see some dividends paid here soon.”
2. Speaking of turnovers, Goff needs to play a clean game. He lost those three fumbles on Thanksgiving and while the Lions pulled out a win over the Bears the previous Sunday, it was tougher because he was intercepted three times. It was an uncharacteristic game for Goff who had just five interceptions in the first nine games. His confidence has not waivered and the coaches still have faith in him. “The ones that we’ve had over the last two weeks are not entirely his fault. Some of those interceptions, that’s the cost of doing business,’’ Johnson said.
3. Detroit’s defense must step up to close games out. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said the defense did some good things against the Packers. “Scoreboard wasn’t it, because we lost. But when you go out there and you have two turnovers and you get a ball back, you have some fourth-down stops and you get the ball back, I mean those are things that our guys have to look at and be like, ‘You know what? We took the field.’ And our motto is man listen, that’s more TV time for us any time we take the field,’’ Glenn said. “And man, those are the positives that I try to make sure I talk about with our guys, so we can start looking at the fact that we want to start trending, so was everything great? No, it wasn’t. And we have some things we have to work on, we all know that. So each week, I mean that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to make sure we’re trending in this direction.’’
4. Campbell admitted he made a bad decision on the fake punt on Thanksgiving. The coach makes smart moves for the most part. The players have his back, he’s earned their respect but while he wants no mistakes on the field, he’s got to make sure he gives them the best possible avenues to achieve.
5. The Lions are not in panic mode coming off the loss to the Packers and near-loss to the Bears. They’ve had a long weekend to reset and recover. It’s possible we’ll see a few personnel changes. “I would say you look at everything. I think it’s – you do step back and you say, ‘Alright, is there somebody we need to get a look at in this position whether it be who’s currently a backup for us, somebody that’s been inactive or our vet squad,’’ Campbell said. “I mean we are constantly looking at that. We tell those guys all the time, ‘You earn your right to go out there and play and don’t ever think you’re just out here being a show team. That’s not what all this is. Yes, you’re giving a look, but you’re working your craft. And the better you get, the more you catch the eyes of everybody in this building.’ And then it makes you want to give them an opportunity to see what they’ve got. If it’s showing up in practice, well maybe it shows up in the game, so.”
INJURIES: LB Alex Anzalone (hand) is doubtful; LG Jonah Jackson (ankle/wrist) questionable; and QB Hendon Hooker (knee) is out.
PREDICTION: Lions 27, Saints 21. The Superdome is a tough place to play. Both teams will attempt to bounce back from losses. Edge to Detroit which has the better offense.
Lions Lowdown 