Lions put 33 points on Saints despite another patchwork O-line

New Orleans — You may take it for granted. 

But while the Detroit Lions’ offensive line certainly had some struggles on Thanksgiving Day against the Green Bay Packers, it survived a stress test in their rebound performance, despite the loss of their Pro Bowl center — no small feat. Frank Ragnow (knee) was ruled out Sunday’s 33-28 win over the New Orleans Saints at the Caesars Superdome after getting rolled up on in the second quarter.

Amongst a variety of other things, the win was a result of another successful patchwork job in the trenches.

Sunday was Graham Glasgow’s eighth start of the season at right guard, but by the time the game was over, he played more snaps at center. His spot was covered by rookie guard Colby Sorsdal. Glasgow previously started a game at center in Week 8 against the Raiders and started at left guard in Week 7 against Baltimore.

“I think that you kind of take it in stride for the most part,” Glasgow said. “There are some times where I have to think about (everything). Because when I’m going throughout the week, I’m not really thinking about the center stuff. I have it in the back of my mind, but I’m not really thinking about it, thinking about it."

Asked if it changes everything to move over one spot, Glasgow said, “To me, it did.”

“I had to take my glove off, get some finger tape, and then the finger tape I put on my hand just broke on the first play I had it on, and I was like, ‘Dang, that stinks," Glasgow said. "... When (the switch) happens, I’m just like, trying to picture the run drawings and who the tags are on all these plays, the adjustments to this stuff, and I’m like, ‘Oh, Jesus,'" Glasgow said.

Nevertheless, he persisted — and the Lions did too, although it wasn’t always pretty from the second quarter on. Still, it was a situation the Lions have faced before.

Left tackle Taylor Decker missed Weeks 2 and 3, which moved Penei Sewell to left tackle and led to Sorsdal’s debut in Week 3, when Matt Nelson went down because of injury mid-game. Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who was starting ahead of Glasgow to start the year, departed midway through the game in Week 2. Jonah Jackson has missed four total games this season. Ragnow also missed Week 8.

"We have faith in each other," Jackson said. "We know that there'll be bumps in the road, but we just got to answer the bell."

While Glasgow is always aware there’s a chance his entire weekly game plan is changed at a moment’s notice, that doesn’t mean it’s an easy thing when bullets have been flying for the better part of two quarters.

His assessment of Sunday's play: "It was pretty good," Glasgow said. "I think."

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi