Playoffs 8:00 Detroit (10-6) at New Orleans (13-3)

[kellmellus50]

Here we go finally into the playoffs and the only way for the lions to win is score fast and often also get close to scoring 45-48 points in this game and in all playoff games,don't think defense is going to slow anyone down.

Defence needs to have 5-6 DB's every down force them to run GB did this and got 2 ints.
Lions can win this game if they keep the penaltys down and keep turnovers down.

Hopefully the lions learned in GB what not to do on defense back field.Also we played N.O. early this year so we should know how they played against us and plan for it.

We need Fairly and Suh together in this game playing all 4 quarters putting lots of pressure on Bree's

Keep chris harris on bench and cut him after season he is way too slow to keep up with recievers

GOOOOLIONSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

p.s. They should switch to a 3-4 defese to cover recievers better (note to coach.)

[Lionlifer]

p.s. They should switch to a 3-4 defese to cover recievers better (note to coach.)

That would reduce the impact of out best unit, the D-Line. I could see a 4-2-5, but not a 3-4.....

[kellmellus50]

i would take a 4-2-5 that sounds good

Both quarterbacks threw for more than 5,000 yards in the regular season. They easily could combine for more than 1,000 passing yards this weekend.

For the first time in NFL history, a playoff game will feature two 5,000-yard passers. Stafford (5,038) and Brees (NFL-record 5,476) have a combined passing yardage total of 10,514 yards, the most ever for opposing starting quarterbacks in a playoff game

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/20 ... taffor.htm

[ajaX82]

I think we definitely have a chance, albeit not a great one. The key is entirely with the D-line. If they can completely take away a run game and force Brees to throw all day, while getting pressure and sacks to force them into long-down situations, we have our shot. If Brees has a beautiful pocket and can pick us apart, we don't have a shot.

It's time for Suh and crew to step their game up majorly.

[Piston Pete]

Our secondary can't cover their guys...period. They have mismatches everywhere with Graham, Colston, Meacham, Moore, Sproles, etc.

Maybe we take the first defensive series to see how effective our d-line is. If they can't be disruptive enough, we need to kick in the blitz packages. The less time we ask our guys to cover theirs, the better.

[kellmellus50]

I have this game all figured out in nut shell.

What all this comes down too is can the lions outscore N.O we tried to out score GB and we would have if the refs got the calls right .(or our the refs being paid off ? )

Refs may be the biggest problem for the lions IE: Jordan Rules. teams with better records always seem to get the calls.

This game reminds me of David and Goliath. and you know who won that battle.

From what i read around the country everybody is under estimating the lions this is a great time for an upset everybody takes the lions lightly and they are going to pay.

[Icness]

Last meeting the Lions had 11 penalties that cost them 224 total yards, took a score off and essentially gave another to the Saints. Throw that out (which you can't)and the Lions were eminently capable of the win in a 31-17 game.

Held the ball for 35+ minutes, had more first downs, more yards. Stafford was very good other than taking a real bad sack. Suh missed that game and Fairley left early with an injury. Avril also missed about three full drives in that one.

I think the Lions can absolutely win this game but they have to avoid the dumba$$ penalties and steal a turnover or two.

[Piston Pete]

If I was a betting man, I'd definitely take the Lions and the points....

Just not sure we can pull off the actual real-life victory.

[kellmellus50]

The defense needs to come up with game-changing takeaways. On paper, that would seem to give a huge edge to the Lions, whose defense has 34 takeaways to New Orleans' 16

The Lions didn't beat one team that finished with a winning record this season.

Wild-card dogs are 6-2 ATS the last two seasons.

[Icness]

I am pumped for this game!

[ElectricMayhem]

Great first drive....New Orleans provided no resistance. That's not the side of the ball I'm worried about, though.

[Icness]

Had to force turnvers. There's #2! Time to take advantage.

[Icness]

Hanging tough despite awful tackling, poor coverage, and some seriously awful officiating.

[Icness]

The tackling is the #1 issue. Safety coverage a close second. Both of those must be addressed prominently this offseason as they are related. And when Aaron Berry is the best cover guy on the team, either the seconday needs a complete overhaul or the scheme needs to change to help these guys.

[ajaX82]

Well tough loss but nothing to be ashamed of. We certainly played em tight for a half. Secondary needs to be addressed in FA/Draft

Helluva year and hopefully many more to come

[Icness]

Strong beginning and end to the best season in the post-Barry era. Proud of how they showed tonight even though the Saints wound up winning pretty big. I'm going to try and focus on the positives, because with Stafford and Calvin Johnson and the defensive front, this team is scary going forward.

[ajaX82]

Strong beginning and end to the best season in the post-Barry era. Proud of how they showed tonight even though the Saints wound up winning pretty big. I'm going to try and focus on the positives, because with Stafford and Calvin Johnson and the defensive front, this team is scary going forward.

Yup, lots of good young pieces to build around

[ElectricMayhem]

Negatives:
The refs screwed us over big on a couple plays (taking away a touchdown on the fumble recovery and the horrendous spot on the Saints' 3rd down deep in their own territory.) Those two plays were huge, but the refs get let off the hook for the result of this game because the Lions made so many mistakes themselves. Schwartz not challenging the spot was big. Tacking was terrible. You don't deserve to win if you let Pierre Thomas run over you that many times. Also, the Lions let a couple interceptions slip through their fingers and had a lot of blown coverage.

Positives:
We went into a hostile environment and took control of the game from the start. We should've had a 21-7 lead in the first half. Stafford -> Johnson was incredible. The Saints knew it was coming and still couldn't stop it. Fairley seemed to do a good job of getting pressure.

At the beginning of the year, I thought OL was our number 1 need, but it's clearly DB. We've gotta get some talent back there fast.

As others have said, great year for the Lions. Hope for another one next year.

[Icness]

Negatives:
The refs screwed us over big on a couple plays (taking away a touchdown on the fumble recovery and the horrendous spot on the Saints' 3rd down deep in their own territory.) Those two plays were huge, but the refs get let off the hook for the result of this game because the Lions made so many mistakes themselves. Schwartz not challenging the spot was big. Tacking was terrible. You don't deserve to win if you let Pierre Thomas run over you that many times. Also, the Lions let a couple interceptions slip through their fingers and had a lot of blown coverage.

Absolutely true on all accounts.

I'm real excited about where this team is heading but this offseason it's critical to get things right.

[TSE]

Our defensive scheme has flaws and our players are making mistakes within that flawed system which creates a doubly powerful mess. We have the Saints beat on our overall player talent but we don't have the coaching and management to provide the support we need to maximize our ability to execute.