Detroit Lions: 5 Keys to Beating the New Orleans Saints

The Detroit Lions need to beat the New Orleans Saints this week.

The Lions were embarrassed by the Green Bay Packers in the national spotlight on Thanksgiving and are now fighting to stay in the playoff race.

A win over a quality opponent like the Saints could solidify Detroit's status as a premier team in the NFC conference. It could also send a message to the rest of the league that this team can respond to adversity and overcome the suspension of Ndamukong Suh.

New Orleans is not a team that will lay down and give the Lions an easy victory, but they are not unbeatable.

The Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and St. Louis Rams have all found successful ways to emerge victorious from contests with the Saints this season.

Let's look at five keys for the Lions to obtain a victory in Week 13.

5. Win Time of Possession

Time of possession is important in every NFL matchup.

Controlling the clock means dictating the flow and tempo of the game, but against the Saints it carries added importance.

In each of New Orleans losses this season they have failed to win the battle for time of possession.

In order for the Lions to continue that trend, they will have to convert third downs and find balance in their offense—two tasks they have struggled with in recent weeks.

But if Detroit can find a running back to step up and keep the offense on the field a la Kevin Smith two weeks ago then the Lions will give themselves a great chance to keep New Orleans off the scoreboard.

4. Ignore the Distractions

Losing to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving was heartbreaking for the Lions team and its fanbase.

The outburst and subsequent suspension of Ndamukong Suh has only given more reason for the Detroit team to come into their matchup against the Saints this week without a proper sense of focus.

What matters is that this season is far from lost and the Lions have no time to feel sorry for themselves. Once again this week they will be in the national spotlight, this time in a prime-time Sunday Night Football game.

The Lions must show that distractions will not deter them from finding ways to win football games down the stretch.

3. Keep Jimmy Graham out of the End Zone

When Jimmy Graham scores a touchdown, the Saints have a 5-1 record.

When he is kept out of the end zone, that record falls to 3-2.

Graham has had a great season, emerging as Drew Brees favorite target through the air.

The University of Miami product has 957 receiving yards and eight touchdowns already this year, and he has 40 more targets than any other receiver on the New Orleans roster.

Quarterback Drew Brees is more than capable of spreading the ball around to other players, but the Detroit defense should try to prevent Graham from getting open too often, especially in the red zone.

If they are able to stop Graham, the Lions have a much better chance at success.

2. Get Calvin Johnson Involved Again

Calvin Johnson has been a relative non-factor in recent weeks.

He has just one touchdown in his last three games and has not broken the 100-yard mark in any of those contests.

A stark contrast from the torrid pace he set to start off the year when he had nine touchdowns through the first five weeks of the season.

Detroit must find ways to get their best playmaker the ball because when they do they tend to win football games.

Johnson is too explosive a player to be irrelevant on the stat sheet on a weekly basis.

The sooner quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Lions figure that out, the sooner they get back to winning on a consistent basis.

1. Force Drew Brees to Pass...A Lot

At first glance, this key appears to make no sense. The Saints have the No. 1-ranked passing attack in the NFL, averaging 324 yards through the air each game.

So, why on earth would Detroit want to force the ball into star quarterback Drew Brees' hand?

Because New Orleans loses when they get pass happy.

In each of the Saints three losses this season, Brees had at least 44 passing attempts.

And in none of those contests did a New Orleans running back have more than 40 yards rushing.

So, the best way to beat the best passing team in the league is to make them throw more. 

Who knew?