Detroit Lions vs. New Orleans Saints: 5 Lions You Need to Watch Sunday Night

There are five Detroit Lions you must watch this Sunday evening, as they head down to the Bayou to take on the Frank’s Red Hot New Orleans Saints.

The national spotlight will shine brightly inside the Superdome, like the 6 a.m. sun that pierces the eyes as you exit a Bourbon Street bar.

Al Michaels and Chris Collinsworth will take the Lions into households coast to coast in the NBC Game of the Week—one that's supplanted the Monday Night Football offering as the marquee NFL contest of the week.

We’ll also be treated to the guaranteed long-winded soliloquy from Bob Costas that will surely touch on the continued rebuilding of New Orleans, as well as his personal commentary on Suh’s suspension. Get your stale popcorn ready.

Drew Brees & Co. are riding a three-game winning streak that followed the unforeseen loss in St. Louis to the cellar-dwelling Rams, and are looking to take control of the NFC South.

The Lions, on the other hand, are scrambling to get back on the playoff trolley car that only a couple weeks ago they were comfortably seated upon, with a shimp po’boy and Voodoo Lager in hand.

Matthew Stafford has practiced without the gloves all week, so all indications are the finger should be pretty close to 100%, and he’ll need a great performance to match the probable output by the NFL’s best offense.

Gunther Cunningham will need his defense to come up with their best effort of the season, regardless of injuries and suspensions, in order for the Lions to steal a road victory like a French Quarter panhandler.

Perhaps legendary South Central Louisiana State University LB Bobby Boucher can offer the depleted defense some basic defensive principles:

“What-what happens is, the-the-the center has-has the ball first. And-and-and the quarterback will say, “Hike.” That’s when the c-center puts the ball in-into the hands of the quarterback. So what I do is, I-I start tacklin’ the quarterback, unless he give the ball to-to s-somebody else, in which case, I-I try to tackle that person.” 

With that in-depth chalktalk, here are the Van Etten V...

Jeff Backus

All eyes will again be on Lions left tackle Jeff Backus.

With this week’s game setting up to be a high-scoring affair, protecting Matt Stafford’s backside will again be Job No. 1 for the Ford’s franchise tackle.

Backus' assignment this week is Will Smith.

Anticipating a shootout, the former Ohio State DE will be looking to go Big Willie Style on the former Wolverine, and rattle Stafford as he tries to keep pace with Brees.

Smith has a respectable 5-1/2 sacks this season, which ranks him higher than James Harrison and NFL poster-boy Clay Matthews.

Thankfully, Stafford does not have the flowing locks of Matthews, because in 2009 Smith was arrested for domestic violence against his wife.

Smith allegedly grabbed her by the hair and pulled her down to the street outside of a Lafayette, Louisiana nightclub.

Typical Buckeye behavior.

Titus Young

Titus Young, get ready for the prime time spotlight.

If things go as planned, Stafford’s right arm should be in ice late Sunday night, as he will probably be tossing the football more frequently than a Mardi Gras queen tosses beads.

His team-record 63 attempts that he posted in the Windy City should not be in jeopardy, but 50+ attempts is likely.

Young should be one of the main beneficiaries to the aerial attack, as the Chicago contest proved to be his best performance, with a seven-catch, 74-yard effort.

The Saints can be had through the air, as they rank 27th in pass defense, giving up over 250 yards per game.

With the secondary focused on Calvin, and SS Roman Harper leading the team in sacks, expect Titus to get loose in the middle of the field and make some plays in the Superdome.

Nick Fairley

Hopefully Ndamukong is not showing Nick the finer points of the Suh Stomp.

This will again be an opportunity for a Lions rookie to shine. With the suspension of Suh, Nick Fairley gets his shot to earn some of that signing bonus and add to his underwhelming highlight reel of six tackles.

Besides the league's best passing attack, New Orleans also has the eighth-best ground game, as the Saints employ the consulting firm of Ingram, Thomas & Sproles.

Fairley will need to avoid rushing his way out of position, like Suh has in the past.

The word on Fairley is that the toe is still bothering him and not allowing for him to flex his knee completely, causing his pad level to be too high and causing him to lose a step to the offensive linemen.

Pad level—Rod Marinelli, eat your heart out.

We’ll see if that’s the case, because Fairley should get plenty of snaps, and possibly start on Sunday. I’m interested to see how different the first-quarter Fairley is compared to the fourth-quarter version.

Nick needs to be a Hurricane of havoc in N’Awlins. The nation will be watching to see if the first-round selection can deliver.

Aaron Berry

Even if Chris Houston does play this weekend, the New Orleans Saints are going to throw it all over the playground Sunday night, and Aaron Berry had better be ready for some football.

The backup cornerback will get plenty of work this weekend, as the Saints will employ three- and four-WR sets the majority of the game.

Berry will be the perceived weak link in the secondary, and Brees is notorious for getting a speedy slot receiver open deep downfield.

The Lions have problems at safety also, with Delmas out, so TE Jimmy Graham should have a fantasy line fit for a King Cake.

But it will be up to Berry to keep the slot receivers in check if Houston plays. If Chris sits, Berry is in for a long night.

Keiland Williams

Welcome home Keiland Williams.

The Louisiana native is certainly looking forward to some Cajun cookin’. This will be the first professional game for Keiland back in his home state, and he'll be juiced up for this one.

The former LSU Tiger has played sparingly in the last few games, with only four carries for 20 yards, but he did have the lone rushing TD in the Turkey Day debacle.

Kevin Smith did practice on Thursday, so with his mental makeup, I’m sure he’s going to start, and Maurice Morris should also get some touches.

But I think Williams may get a chance to carry the rock a few times, and he’ll want a good showing in front of friends and family.

Nationally televised games have a way of creating a feel-good story. Keiland's homecoming would be perfect.

For Bob Costas.

Those are my five to watch. Enjoy the game.