Can the Lions slow down Brees and the Saint passing attack Sunday night? (Photo courtesy of Asim Bharwani)

Lions secondary vs. Saints receivers

The loss of starting cornerback Chris Houston could be devastating to an already thin secondary come Sunday night. The New Orleans Saints throw the ball, and they throw it effectively. The Lion secondary has overachieved to this point in the season, but the lack of depth will catch up with them this week. While the loss of Houston may prove costly, it pales in comparison to the loss of starting safety Louis Delmas. The hard hitting leader of the defensive backfield will be sorely missed on the field Sunday. Delmas will be replaced by former Chicago Bear safety Chris Harris, who was released earlier in the season after struggling mightily. Harris will have his hands full in this matchup, as the Saints utilize their oversized tight end, Jimmy Graham, to create matchup nightmares for defenses.

The Lions have excelled in shutting down opposing tight ends so far this season, including the likes of Jason Witten, Vernon Davis, Tony Gonzales, and Jermichael Finley. However, that was with Delmas in the lineup. Lion fans are hopeful that Harris’ strong play through a game and a half are indicative of his capabilities, and that the 65-yard touchdown pass given up to Green Bay’s James Jones on Thanksgiving Day was the aberration.

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