Mark Ingram Will Be X-Factor For New Orleans Saints In Week 7
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The New Orleans Saints travel to the Motor City this weekend to face the Detroit Lions in search of their third win of the season. The Saints have performed below expectations so far this year, but a win in Detroit would level New Orleans’ record back at .500. In a game that the Saints really have to have, running back Mark Ingram will be the key to success on Sunday.
It’s tough to gauge who’s going to produce what for this Saints team that uses so many different backs and receivers, but Ingram is poised to make an impact after missing the last three weeks with a hand injury. If you add in New Orleans’ bye week, it’s been over a month since Ingram has played, but finally it has been reported that he is 100 percent and ready to go.
Khiry Robinson has run well in Ingram’s absence and will probably still get a decent share of carries, but the return of Ingram adds another dynamic element to a Saints offense that has the potential to be great when they’re playing well.
This game against the Lions is interesting because both teams will be without their top offensive weapon. Saints tight end Jimmy Graham will be sidelined for a few weeks due to a shoulder injury while Lions receiver Calvin Johnson will most likely miss his second straight game with a high-ankle sprain. So the league’s best tight end and wide receiver are out of this game, giving others the chance to be the X-factor. Ingram will be that guy on the Saints’ side, as New Orleans will try to crack the league’s No. 1 ranked defense.
The fact that Detroit boasts the best defense is nothing short of surprising and amazing, and they’ve proved that it wasn’t just a week or two fad. They’ve finally put it all together on defense, and Ingram is the key to getting a New Orleans running attack going against a very stiff defensive line. Ingram will be the X-factor because he’s the key to opening up the pass for Drew Brees and company. Without Graham, Brees loses his best receiver and his favorite red zone target, so the running game needs to make an impact so that Brees can use play-action effectively. Also, Ingram has big-play ability and can break a long run at any time.
Despite New Orleans’ slow start to the season, the NFC South has underperformed as a whole and the division is totally up for grabs. The Carolina Panthers sit atop the division with a 3-2-1 record, and the Saints won’t be far behind if they get a win in Detroit. Ingram is sure to be fresh after being inactive since Sep. 14, which is just another reason he’s going to make a big impact on Sunday. The Lions’ defense has only given up over 100 yards rushing once this season, so don’t expect Ingram to have a monster day statistically. But he will make some key plays and end up as the X-factor after it’s all said and done.
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