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Here are some things to watch for in Detroit’s Week 1 match-up at New Orleans.

Lions Offense vs. New Orleans Defense
Head Coach Jim Schwartz is familiar with New Orleans’ new defensive coordinator – coaching veteran Greg Williams.

“I had just moved from Baltimore and had spent about 10 years of being in the right place at the wrong time, the wrong place at the right time, and the wrong place at the wrong time, (when I) got to Tennessee as Greg’s quality control coach in 1999,” said Schwartz. “We went on a Super Bowl run and I happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

Just because Schwartz is familiar with Williams, however, doesn’t mean he knows exactly what the New Orleans’ defense is going to bring on Sunday.

“When you have a new coordinator or coordinator come into a team for the first time, there’s uncertainty,” he said.

“Is it going to look exactly like it looked in Jacksonville last year? Is it going to look like what he did with the Redskins? Should we go back to Buffalo? Should we go back to Tennessee? It makes a little air of uncertainty.”

On Sunday, all eyes will be on …

The offensive line.
Against a stout defensive line, the Lions’ offensive linemen will have their work cut out for them. New Orleans has a pair of veteran defensive ends in Charles Grant (8th year) and Will Smith (6th year). The interior line has big, 10th-year veteran nose tackle Kendrick Clancy and second-year defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis.

“I thought (the offensive line) did well, particularly run blocking,” said Schwartz of the preseason. “Anytime you run the ball your pass protecting is going to be a little better because you have to pass it fewer times, but also you make the defense respect the run.

“Now, it’s preseason, it’s going to be a different atmosphere down in New Orleans. It’s for real now and we’re going to see a lot of different schemes, it not going to be as vanilla and it’s going to challenge us but we have to be able to rise to that also.”

The quarterback.
In his regular season debut, rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford will undoubtedly have all eyes on him … the eyes of Lions fans and the New Orleans defense.

“They’re a good defense,” said Stafford. “They’re aggressive, so they’re going to try to get after the quarterback and it’s up to us to make some plays.”

Both sides of Stafford were seen throughout Detroit’s preseason games. He had moments where he looked like a seasoned veteran, completing long passes over the middle to Calvin Johnson, and moments where he struggled, finishing the preseason with four interceptions.

Schwartz acknowledges that only half those interceptions should be attributed to Stafford and is prepared to take the not-so-good with the good as Stafford racks up experience.

“I think every time you go out on the football field you have something to prove; whether you’re Peyton Manning, who’s an 11-year vet and going to be a hall of famer or if you’re a rookie,” said Stafford. “He’s trying to keep that reputation high and I’m trying to build mine.”

Lions Defense vs. New Orleans Offense
Drew Brees came to town last year and showed the talent he possesses as an NFL quarterback.

But even though he had a good game against Detroit in 2008, Schwartz believes the advantage heading into Sunday’s game lies with the Lions’ defense.

“He doesn’t know exactly what we’re going to do,” said Schwartz. “What we show in the preseason may or may not be what we’re going to do down in the Superdome. He doesn’t have a good beat exactly on what we’re going to do so maybe that’s a little bit of an advantage for us.”

Brees has shown his ability to spread the ball around, utilizing his receivers, tight ends and running backs in the passing game. Throw in the running game with Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas and there are plenty of weapons to defend against.

On Sunday all eyes will be on …

The pass rush.
The Lions picked things up over the latter half of the preseason, but Defensive Coordinator Gunther Cunningham acknowledged that the ends in particular were worn down from going through training camp with limited players.

This week, though, the pass rush will be vital in putting a stop to Brees and his offense.

“That would definitely help,” said cornerback Phillip Buchanon. “I mean, the more pressure the better.  I’ve been through that before when you don’t have too much pressure, but at the same time you definitely have to go out there and do your job (as a secondary).  And Drew Brees is one of those top quarterbacks so we’re going to need some pressure.”

The Lions’ running game.
One of the best ways to defend against a high-powered offense? Don’t let them have the ball.

The Lions practiced controlling the clock throughout the preseason – most notably against Peyton Manning and the Colts – and saw the tangible benefits.

Running the ball will be up to second-year pro Kevin Smith, veteran Maurice Morris and – in power formations – second-year pro Jerome Felton.

“Our run game can open up deep shots for our wide receivers; our run game can keep our defense off the field. It all works hand-in-hand,” said Schwartz. “Our special teams need to keep teams with a long field so that the defense has opportunities to stop them and hold them to a punt rather than having a quick score.

“This is a team game; everything goes hand-in-hand. One unit doesn’t stand on its own. Everything has a domino-effect on every other part of the game.”