Wild Card Preview: Lions at Saints
by Brandon on Jan 6, 2012 7:01 AM CST
in Green Bay Packers Preview
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PrintThere are four NFC teams in action this week, and it's possible that the Green Bay Packers could face three of them (Lions, Falcons, or Giants) in a couple of weeks. The Packers played all four teams this season, and won all five games against them.
The first NFC wild card playoff game this upcoming weekend is on Saturday night, when the Saints host the Lions. I'm a little surprised that the Saints are favored by 11 because the Lions are a strong opponent. Here are the team stats from Football Outsiders:
| Lions | Saints | |
|---|---|---|
| Pass Offense | 10 | 3 |
| Pass Defense | 4 | 26 |
| Run Offense | 15 | 2 |
| Run Defense | 20 | 21 |
| Special Teams | 29 | 13 |
This has the makings of a shoot-out. While the Lions pass defense is highly ranked, they're limping into the playoffs after being demolished by Matt Flynn last week. If Flynn can play that well, then so can Drew Brees. However, Matthew Stafford was dominant in his own right, and the Saints defense isn't very good at stopping anyone's passing attack. While I'm picking the Saints (see below) the Lions certainly have enough offense to pull off the upset. One or two big plays for the Lions could win them the game.
Two other factors are in favor of the Saints. The Lions haven't gotten much from their special teams unit, while Darren Sproles is having a great season. Also, the Lions are one of the most penalized teams in the NFL coming in at exactly 8 penalties per game, while the Saints are average at just over 6 per game.
The Lions should score more than the 17 points they scored against the Saints back on December 4th. Stafford was still recovering from a broken finger, and now he's thrown 12 touchdowns in his last 3 games. The Lions are getting some defensive players back for this game (DT Ndamukong Suh and S Louis Delmas) who missed their previous meeting, but the Saints should still be able to score. It might just be a closer matchup this time around.
Saints 35, Lions 28.
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Fans in Det will being screaming
UPSET as the 1st half comes to a close with the Lions roaring with a 24-17 lead.However,winning half the game is all they get while taking advantage of a couple of Brees INTs,the Saints come back and win this one,where they meet another playoff demise on the West Coast via San Francisco.
Pick NO-45-37
Nah, Lions in awe of the big stage.
Fall behind early 17-0. Can’t keep up from there.
NO 41 – DET 21
Packers' Magic Numbers:
Clinch Division = DONE!!!
Clinch 1st Rd Bye = DONE!!!
Clinch Homefield = DONE!!!
I wouldn't even give Detroit that
Undisciplined football by the Lions will lead to more points for Breesus Christ, Saints clobber them 41-17.
When life gives ya lemons, shut up and eat your damn lemons.
Brett Favre will lead the Vikings to a Victory in Super Bowl XLVI, Guaranteed! - REVENGE4FAVRE
I figure they get a garbage TD at the end.
Packers' Magic Numbers:
Clinch Division = DONE!!!
Clinch 1st Rd Bye = DONE!!!
Clinch Homefield = DONE!!!
I doubt the Lions can hang with the Saints..
It might be interesting for 3 quarters, then Saints pull away..
Saints 45 Lions 28
I love wins. Wins are good for the soul.- Barry Alvarez Sep 25, 2005
We expect to win.- Ted Thompson July 28, 2011
My line of thinking...
Although I was gonna give the Lions the FG
NO 42 – Det. 31
*Proud Packers shareholder*
With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg!
So when
Drew Brees throws for less yards, more INTS, and less TDs than Flynn did against the Lions last week, that means Flynn is better than Brees, right? And since Rodgers keeps Flynn on the bench, Rodgers is better than Flynn and Brees, right?
"Rodgers is better than Flynn and Brees, right?"
This actually is right
"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"
by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Jan 6, 2012 1:53 PM CST via mobile up reply actions 3 recs
No I think that means GB has system QB's
by mississippisaintsfan on Jan 6, 2012 9:49 PM CST up reply actions
call them whatever you want, they've performed better than your team's QB and that's the only thing that matters.
football does not build character, it reveals character.
by sheehan on Jan 6, 2012 9:51 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Just to entertain everyone who has ever brought up the issue...
Here is the latest from Vic Ketchman, Packers.com editor on the subject in a Q&A:
After Flynn’s performance on Sunday, the haters are now saying Rodgers is a "system quarterback." I don’t buy it. Your thoughts?
All quarterbacks come from a system, but neither Rodgers nor Matt Flynn are "system quarterbacks" because that’s a term that refers to a quarterback whose skills limit him to one system. Rodgers has no physical limitations. He has the size, arm strength, mobility and aptitude to play in any system, therefore, he is not a "system quarterback." Flynn’s first sideline pass on Sunday appeared to sail in the wind and it caused me some suspicion about his arm strength, but then he made throw after throw against the wind and into the honey hole to which "Cover Two" demands, and that erased any doubt about his arm strength. Flynn can make all of the throws and that means he can play in any system. I think we have to acknowledge that Coach McCarthy has a system for developing quarterbacks, but neither Rodgers nor Flynn are "system quarterbacks." Those guys can play for anybody.
In Every Climb and Place....
by PhoenicianPakFan on Jan 7, 2012 12:35 AM CST up reply actions 5 recs
lol
twitter.com/AlfredAugust
by Tedaldtada29 on Jan 7, 2012 7:02 AM CST via iPhone app up reply actions 2 recs
Or
That GB is excellent at drafting and developing talent.
by Shoes31 on Jan 7, 2012 3:31 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
But the Saints drafted & developed Brees!
and Darren Sproles.
13.
Build Lasers And Stuff For More Ownage, Dude!
I will go with the upset here.
The Saints have fallen on their faces this season, so this is going to be my upset of the week. Th Lions are going to take this one 28 – 21.
by Steve From Florida on Jan 6, 2012 1:42 PM CST reply actions
If the Lions' front four brings their A game, and gets after Brees, the Lions will win this game
Brees is not the same passer when he doesn’t have all day to stand in the pocket and take his time.
football does not build character, it reveals character.
I can see...
the lions winning. Have to get pressure on Brees by keeping him in the pocket w/ Avril and VandenBosch and have Sue and Williams collapse the pocket in Brees’ face. That has to get done for them to have a chance. That said I think NO wins in a shootout… 38-31.
Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!
yeah it definitely won't be easy, NO has a phenomenal O-line, maybe the best in the NFL pass blocking
but the same was true of the Pats in 2007, so you never know.
I agree though, I think the Saints win, but it’s closer than a lot of people think.
football does not build character, it reveals character.
I think the Saints win, but it’s closer than a lot of people think.
Sheehan I have to agree with you. The Lions are a very talented team. Stafford is pretty damn good. And whats scarier is they’re starting to play more disciplined.
When we played them the last game after having a 24-7 halftime lead, they held us to 7 points in the second half. If you take away the dumb penalties that game, it could have been a different outcome.
They’re a lot scarier than the 49ers in my book. If the Lions were as disciplined as The Saints or Pack, can we say Holy Crap?
I hope our Defense plays lights out. They can score in a shootout with both of our teams.
I spent 8 years trying to reach him...and then another 7 trying to keep him locked up because I realized what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply...Evil.
Dr. Sam Loomis Aka (Donald Pleasence)
Saints 43 Lions 41
In OT!
Suh sacks Brees in OT and strips the ball. He recovers it and runs into the wrong end zone for a safety.
December, 7 1941 may be a day that lives in infamy, but December 6, 2011 is a day that will live in AWESOMENESS!!! The day I became part owner of the Green Bay Packers!
In Cheese We Trust
by Zundar on Jan 7, 2012 3:06 AM CST reply actions 2 recs
I know there is a lot of Lions hate around here...
but srsly…
that level of stupidity can only be accomplished by the Vikings.
In Every Climb and Place....
by PhoenicianPakFan on Jan 7, 2012 4:20 AM CST up reply actions
LOL
that level of stupidity can only be accomplished by the Vikings.
Jim Marshall!! He’s going the wrong way!!
I spent 8 years trying to reach him...and then another 7 trying to keep him locked up because I realized what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply...Evil.
Dr. Sam Loomis Aka (Donald Pleasence)
"He thinks that he's scored a touchdown;
he has scored a safety."
"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."
"We're nobody's underdog!"
"We don't play scared!"
After further review,
the Munsters of the Midway still suck!
by NorthStarr on Jan 7, 2012 3:35 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Yeah, and I do kinda feel bad for him cause Jim Marshall is a pretty cool guy....
other than being a Viking, and that’s just one of those things you can never live down.
In Every Climb and Place....
by PhoenicianPakFan on Jan 7, 2012 5:32 PM CST up reply actions
classic Ndumbasskong
football does not build character, it reveals character.
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