Lions @ Saints: Wild Card Playoff Preview

by Dave Cariello on Jan 5, 2012 6:00 AM CST

Official NFL Release

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 2012

DETROIT LIONS-NFC NORTH (10-6) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS-NFC SOUTH (13-3)

SERIES

	LIONS		SAINTS
LEADER			11-9-1
STREAKS			6 of past 9
COACHES VS. OPP.	Schwartz: 0-2		Payton: 3-0
COACHES PLAYOFF RECORD	0-0		4-2
VS. COMMON OPP.	Det: 5-4 (Atl. 0-1; Car. 1-0; Chi. 1-1; GB 0-2; Min. 2-0; TB 1-0) NO: 7-2 (Atl. 2-0; Car. 2-0; Chi. 1-0; GB 0-1; Min. 1-0; TB 1-1)
PLAYOFF RECORD	7-10	5-7
LAST WEEK	L 45-41 at Packers	W 45-17 vs. Panthers
LAST GAME	12/4/11: Lions 17 at Saints 31. New Orleans QB Drew Brees completes 26 of 36 passes (72.2 pct.) for 342 yards & 3 TDs as Saints establish 24-7 halftime lead in win.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/4/11
LAST PLAYOFF	---
BROADCAST	NBC (7:00 PM CT): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya (Field reporter). Westwood One Radio: Dave Sims, James Lofton, Hub Arkush (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 88 (WW1), 92 (Det.), 86 (NO). XM: 88 (WW1), 225 (Det.), 226 (NO).

STAT LEADERS

PASSING	Stafford: 421-663-5,038 (3L)-41 (3L)-16-97.2	Brees: 468-657-5,476 (1L)-46 (1L)-14-110.6 (2L)
RUSHING	Morris: 80-316-4.0-1	Sproles: 87-603-6.9-2
RECEIVING	Johnson: 96 (3C)-1,681 (1L)-17.5-16 (1C)	Graham (TE): 99 (3L)-1,310-13.2-11 (T3L)
OFFENSE	396.1	467.1 (1L)
TAKE/GIVE	+11 (3C)	-3
DEFENSE	367.6	368.4
SACKS	Avril: 11	Harper: 7.5
INTs	Houston: 5	P. Robinson: 4
PR	Logan: 8.1	Sproles: 10.1
KR	Logan: 25.2	Sproles: 27.2 (3L)
PUNTING	Graham: 43.8	Morstead: 48.3 (2C)
KICKING	Hanson: 126 (54/54 PAT; 24/29 FG)	Kasay: 147 (2L) (63/63 PAT; 28/34 FG)

NOTES

TEAMS MEET for 1st time in postseason. Clubs met in Week 13 (NO 31-17). NO leads all-time series 11-9-1.

LIONS: Make 1st playoff appearance since 1999. Won 3 games after trailing by 17+ points, most in season in NFL history. Scored 45+ points in 3 games, 1st time for Lions since 1952. Scored 474 points, most in season in club history. Offense had 6,337 total net yards, most in team history. Lions had 1 player selected to Pro Bowl: WR CALVIN JOHNSON (2nd)...QB MATTHEW STAFFORD set team passing records with 5,038 yards & 41 TDs, 1 of 3 seasons by QB in NFL history with 5,000+ yards & 40+ TDs. Is 2nd youngest QB in NFL history to pass for 4,000+ yards & 30+ TDs in season (HOFer DAN MARINO). Set club records for attempts (663), completions (421), comp. pct. (63.5) & passer rating (97.2)...RB KEVIN SMITH has 2,427 scrimmage yards (83.7 per game) in 29 career starts...WR Johnson led NFL with 1,681 rec. yards, 2nd highest mark in franchise history (HERMAN MOORE, 1,686). Led NFC with 16 rec. TDs & passed CLOYCE BOX (15 in 1952) for club's single-season record. Only Lion with 1,500+ rec. yards & 15+ rec. TDs in season. Is 4th Lion & 1st since HOFer BARRY SANDERS (1991) to score 15+ TDs in season. Joined HOFers LANCE ALWORTH & JERRY RICE as only players with 12+ rec. TDs in 3 of 1st 5 seasons. Since start of 2008, has 45 TD catches, most in NFL. Is 1st Lions WR with 1,000+ rec. yards in 3 of 1st 5 seasons. TE BRANDON PETTIGREW had 83 catches, most by TE in team history. Is only TE in club annals to record 70+ catches in 2 seasons. WR NATE BURLESON had career-high 73 catches for 757 yards, his 5th career season with 50+ catches & 600+ yards. WR TITUS YOUNG was 2nd among NFC rookies with 6 rec. TDs. T JEFF BACKUS has started 176 consecutive games, longest among active offensive lineman & passed HOFer DICK LE BEAU (171) for most consecutive starts by Lion...DE CLIFF AVRIL led team with 11 sacks. Became 6th player in NFL history & only Lion with 10+ sacks, FR-TD & INT-TD in same season. Led NFC with 6 FFs. LB STEPHEN TULLOCH led team with 111 tackles. Since start of 2010, DT NDAMUKONG SUH has 14 sacks, 2nd most in NFL among DTs. CB CHRIS HOUSTON tied for NFL lead with 2 INT-TDs. Led team with career-high 5 INTs. DE KYLE VANDEN BOSCH had 8 sacks & 4 FFs, his 3rd career season with 8+ sacks & 4+ FFs...K JASON HANSON is 1st player in NFL history to score 2,000 points with 1 franchise (2,016 points). Is only player all-time with 50+ 50-yard FGs (50).

SAINTS: Have won 8 in row. Tied club record with 13 wins, equaling mark set by 2009 team that won SB XLIV. Had 8-0 home record for 1st time in club history. Set NFL record with 7,474 total net yards & 5,347 net pass yards. Team has qualified for postseason in 4 of 6 seasons under head coach SEAN PAYTON. Payton has 4-2 (.667) playoff record. Saints aim for 5th postseason game in row with 30+ points. Club had 5 players selected to Pro Bowl: QB DREW BREES (6th), T JERMON BUSHROD (1st), G JAHRI EVANS (3rd), TE JIMMY GRAHAM (1st) & G CARL NICKS (2nd)...QB Brees had NFL single-season record 5,476 pass yards. Had 13 300-yard pass games, most in season, incl. 7 in row, longest streak all-time. Set single-season records for comp. (468) & comp. pct. (71.2). Has 20+ comp. in NFL-record 36 reg. season games in row. Has TD pass in 43 consecutive reg. season games, 2nd-longest streak in NFL history. In postseason career, has completed 189 of 285 (66.3 pct.) for 2,052 yards with 15 TDs vs. 2 INTs for 102 rating. His 102 rating ranks 4th all-time & his 66.3 comp. pct. is 3rd (min. 150 att.). Has 0.70 INT pct. (2 INTs, 285 att.) in playoffs, best mark in NFL postseason history (min. 150 att.)...RB-PR-KR DARREN SPROLES is 1st player in NFL history with 1,300+ scrimmage yards (1,313) & 1,300+ KR-PR yards (1,383). Had NFL-record 2,696 all-purpose yards. Had 328 combined net yards (106 KR, 105 rush, 72 PR, 45 rec.) in 2008 WC (1/3/09 with SD), 3rd highest single-game total in NFL postseason history. RB PIERRE THOMAS has 3 TDs in past 2 in playoffs...TE Graham led NFL TEs with 99 receptions & was 2nd with 1,310 yards, 2nd most by TE all-time. Is 1st TE in NFL history with 95+ catches, 1,200+ yards & 10+ TDs in season. Graham (99) & Sproles (86) are 1st TE-RB duo in NFL history with 80+ catches each. WR MARQUES COLSTON had 1,143 rec. yards, his team-record 5th 1,000-yard season. Is all-time Saints postseason leader with 29 catches & 372 yards. WR DEVERY HENDERSON has TD in 3 of past 4 playoff games. WR LANCE MOORE had 50+ catches (52), 600+ rec. yards (627) & 8+ rec. TDs (8) for 3rd time in past 4 years...Since entering NFL in 2006, S ROMAN HARPER has 17 sacks, most by DB. Led team with 7.5 sacks, 2nd most all-time by DB in season. CB TRACY PORTER has 2 playoff INTs, tied for most by Saint. Had 74-yard INT-TD in SB XLIV. LB SCOTT SHANLE ties for 3rd in team history with 2 postseason sacks. LB JONATHAN VILMA is only Saint with INT, FF & FR in playoff game (1/24/10, NFC Champ).

For the first time in NFL history, a playoff game will feature two 5,000-yard passers - New Orleans' DREW BREES (NFL-record 5,476) and Detroit's MATTHEW STAFFORD(5,038). The duo's combined passing yardage total of 10,514 yards is the most ever for opposing starting QBs in a playoff game, and will surpass the mark of 8,888 set byPEYTON MANNING (4,500) and Brees (4,388) in Super Bowl XLIV.

Detroit is back in the playoffs for the first time since 1999. The Lions scored a team-record 474 points and gained 6,337 total net yards, the most in franchise history. Stafford set multiple team passing records, including yards (5,038), touchdowns (41) and passer rating (97.2). Detroit wide receiver CALVIN JOHNSON, who was selected to his second consecutive Pro Bowl, led the NFL with 1,681 receiving yards and had a team-record 16 touchdown receptions. Johnson is the first Lion since Pro Football Hall of Famer BARRY SANDERS (1991) to score 15 TDs in a season.

"The regular season is over and it's the postseason now so our full attention is on the Saints," says Lions head coach JIM SCHWARTZ. "The playoffs are about advancing and doing whatever you have to do each week to advance."

New Orleans has won eight in a row and the club has advanced to the postseason for the fourth time in six seasons under head coach SEAN PAYTON. The Saints, who had five players named to the Pro Bowl, had an NFL-record 7,474 total net yards and 5,347 net passing yards. Brees set numerous league single-season marks, among them passing yards (5,476), 300-yard games (13), consecutive 300-yard games (seven), completions (468) and completion percentage (71.2). Running back DARREN SPROLES had an NFL-record 2,696 all-purpose yards and became the first player in league history to record at least 1,300 scrimmage yards (1,313) and 1,300 kick-return yards (1,383) in a season.

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Comments

Not only have the Saints won 8 straight

But also undefeated at home this year.. gotta keep that record one more time.

You know Hartman, goodie-two-shoes is fidgeting around like a one-legged cat trying to bury s#!t on a frozen pond, until old Seth fixes him a couple of pink poontang specials. You know, that crazy drink that I fix for stewardesses? Two shots out of that and Hartman is shot to s#!t, freaked out. I mean, I never saw a guy having so much fun and crying at the same time!

by Deep Threat on Jan 5, 2012 6:24 AM CST reply actions

or 2 more times.

by tommy v on Jan 5, 2012 10:08 AM CST up reply actions

How’s that?

It’s not the size of your TOP, it’s how you use it!
Want scientific proof? Read this paper by Dr. Jeremy Arkes.

by Dan Kelly on Jan 6, 2012 12:29 AM CST via Android app up reply actions

Beat the Lions, Beat the 49ers and GB loses in divisional round = NFCCG in the Superdome. At least I assume that’s what he’s getting at.

by sammasaaron on Jan 6, 2012 8:41 AM CST up reply actions

oic

It’s not the size of your TOP, it’s how you use it!
Want scientific proof? Read this paper by Dr. Jeremy Arkes.

by Dan Kelly on Jan 6, 2012 11:37 AM CST up reply actions

He has actually stated this is how it is going to work out.

While not disillusioned, I can only hope he is correct.

Drew Brees....MVS Most Valuable Saint! Who Dat!!!

by cajuncommando58 on Jan 6, 2012 11:39 AM CST up reply actions

Its amazing how little people think Detroit has a chance

Literally every person I asked, listened to on the radio, or watched on tv thinks the Saints will win, me included. The problem with that is in the past when certain teams were huge underdogs and were considered d.o.a have risen up and conquered.

2007-2008 Superbowl-New Giants def the 18-0 Patriots in one of the biggest upsets in superbowl history

2008-2009 Superbowl-The 9-7 Arizona Cardinals make the superbowl for the first time ever, losing by a circus catch by Santonio Holmes

2009-2010 Superbowl-New Orleans Saints win first ever superbowl over the Manning-led Colts

2010-2011 Superbowl-The underdog #6 seed Packers and their high octane offense cruises to a superbowl win over the Steel Curtain

2011-2012 Superbowl-?

So looking back on the last 4 superbowls, you had 2 teams who never been there and 2 teams were huge underdogs and won it. If this year isn’t crazy enough as it is, I wouldn’t be surprised if a team like Detroit or Cincy gets in the superbowl this year.

From 0-16 to the Superbowl baby!

by DLions4Eva on Jan 5, 2012 10:43 AM CST via mobile reply actions

shrugs...I'm a Saints fan and I've gone on the record as saying you'll win. Sad....but true.

-Lombardi was wrong...it's the internet, not fatigue that makes cowards of us all. But then again, what do you expect. Not like the guy could see the future.

by jeff.l.b on Jan 5, 2012 10:56 AM CST up reply actions

Why?

I’m a Lions fan and even I think the Saints will win. I don’t want them to and if they lost to Detroit it wouldn’t surprise me because I know what the Lions are capable of when they are playing their A game.

I hope I’m wrong and you’re right though.

From 0-16 to the Superbowl baby!

by DLions4Eva on Jan 5, 2012 11:08 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

I'm curious, too

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cincy or Texas emerge out of the AFC, given the Steelers injury issues and Baltimore’s up and down season, the AFC field looks wide open. I think as far as the Lions, this is just a bad matchup. The Lions have one of the best (if not the best) D-Lines in the NFL, but the Saints have the best O-Line in the NFL (craziest stat: we had the lowest sack % despite all the dropbacks Drew has. these guys earn their money). I’d be very surprised if your pass rush pressures Brees without blitzing (it’s entirely possible especially with Suh and Fairley, I just don’t see it happening). Your defense is built to rely on the front four, so if you resort to blitzing it’s going to over-expose your secondary.

Honestly, I think the O-Line vs D-Line is going to be fun to watch, but since this game is in the Superdome I think our O-Line prevails. Now if this were in Ford Field and your defensive front was playing in front of rabid fans…that would be a different story altogether.

by sammasaaron on Jan 5, 2012 11:19 AM CST up reply actions

The home field advantage doesnt apply to Detroit

5-3 at home
5-3 on the road

The Lions play the same no matter where it is. I don’t think it would matter where its at, though the Saints play better at home.

This game will be exciting, don’t know who will win, but I’m sure we will enjoy this game no matter who wins.

From 0-16 to the Superbowl baby!

by DLions4Eva on Jan 5, 2012 12:25 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

I’ve always felt things get amped up a bit more in the playoffs, and I was just thinking about your young, feisty D-Line – the type of line that can really feed off of the emotion of a home crowd watching their first playoff game in years.

As far as the “everybody’s doubting us” thing, I can see that but I can guarantee you the actual Saints organization doesn’t see things that way. After being the victim of that game last year against Seattle (albeit under very different circumstances), this game has even more importance, so if the players have a let-down game it’s going to be very, very bad for us.

by sammasaaron on Jan 5, 2012 12:52 PM CST up reply actions

Because our defense is terrible as far as I’m concerned. We give up huge chunks of yardage especially through the air and we do not create turnovers or put pressure on opposing QBs. We’ll lose in a shootout because of an eventual turnover similar to the Packers game at the beginning of the year. Go back to the first game against us. We didn’t stop you…not even close. You stopped yourselves with what amounted to absolutely ridiculous penalties. Cut those penalties in half…and you’re off to the races.

-Lombardi was wrong...it's the internet, not fatigue that makes cowards of us all. But then again, what do you expect. Not like the guy could see the future.

by jeff.l.b on Jan 5, 2012 11:20 AM CST up reply actions

True...buuuuut

The Saints are 8-0 at home and also have the same attacking offense with a better run game and more experienced quarterback play. Not to discredit my team, but the Saints have been the better team this year and already beat the Lions, albeit without Suh, Fairley, Delmas, Houston, or Lo Jack, which is a big difference having to play against them instead of backups.

This game smells like a game that I see happen every year though, a team who is doubted by everybody coming out with a chip on their shoulder. We are just about 100% healthy and I’m sure that this time around the Saints won’t have such an easy time watching us implode on national television.

As far as the Saints defense, its the same opportunistic defense we got minus the d-line with a better secondary. Its as good as Detroit’s, but the Saints have the better offense, better quarterback, (though Stafford is still only 23 yrs old and in his first full year of starting)run game, and experience. It looks on paper like the Saints will win, but the intangibles and healthy players might be the difference.

Oh yeah, and we learned to stop committing stupid penalties too which killed us last time we played. We’ll see, I’d like to see my Lions win a superbowl for once in my life maybe its our year, who knows?

From 0-16 to the Superbowl baby!

by DLions4Eva on Jan 5, 2012 12:22 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Lions win a superbowl for once in my life maybe its our year, who knows?

If not us, I hope you get to experience it. It’s a heck of a ride. I hope every fan gets to experience that once (is it bad that I don’t mind if the Falcons and the Vikings fans wait a little bit longer than other?). I still get a big s***-eating grin on my face when I walk by the banner I have hanging in the man cave.

I like Hamburgers!
Uh oh...better put an Asterisk on it.

by Grumps on Jan 5, 2012 12:32 PM CST up reply actions

I wanted you guys to win sooo bad that year

Because I felt like if the former Aints can turn it around and win a superbowl, why can’t my team?

The Saints were one of my favorite teams to watch in the early 90’s. Those 4 linebackers in Johnson, Jackson, Swilling, and Sam Mills were the best I’ve ever seen. The “Dome Patrol” was even better than the Steel Curtain because they didn’t have a great d-line or secondary like Pittsburgh did, they were the defense. I loved playing as them in videogames too.

I prayed this year for a Lions superbowl before they made the playoffs. I predicted the 10-6 record, but didn’t know Stafford was this good already which makes me think we got a good chance, but our playoff schedule is brutal.

Wildcard round @ Saints

Divisional round @ Packers

NFC Championship @ 49ers/Falcons/Giants

Superbowl vs Patriots/Steelers/Ravens (most likely Patriots)

Its a hard road to Indy this year, but I hope I get experience it at least once in my life. This team has a better chance than any team I’ve seen in a long time, though.

From 0-16 to the Superbowl baby!

by DLions4Eva on Jan 5, 2012 1:03 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Hey Lions fans, is jesus1000 a commenter at you’re site?

He was here during our super bowl run.them he said he was going to go to you’re site to help you guys out.

It’s not the size of your TOP, it’s how you use it!
Want scientific proof? Read this paper by Dr. Jeremy Arkes.

by Dan Kelly on Jan 6, 2012 12:34 AM CST via Android app up reply actions

I think you’re selling the defense a bit short, but I do understand the frustration of watching the play of the D week in and week out. But, Vilma should be back and healthier than he’s been all season. The defense just plays smarter and cleaner when he’s on the field.

As for turnovers, we haven’t had trouble forcing fumbles or getting our hands on passes, we’ve just done a terrible job coming up with the ball. The types of “unlucky” streaks can change on a dime. Here’s hoping that starts Saturday!

by sammasaaron on Jan 5, 2012 12:55 PM CST up reply actions

In car you haven’t noticed he sells every party of the team short.

I’m not sure who likes this team less, Jeff or CP.

It’s not the size of your TOP, it’s how you use it!
Want scientific proof? Read this paper by Dr. Jeremy Arkes.

by Dan Kelly on Jan 6, 2012 12:36 AM CST via Android app up reply actions

I like it perfectly fine. I just don’t blindly worship it thinking there’s never a whole in the team’s schemes like everyone else seems to do. And I have never once sold our offense short of anything thank you very much.

-Lombardi was wrong...it's the internet, not fatigue that makes cowards of us all. But then again, what do you expect. Not like the guy could see the future.

by jeff.l.b on Jan 6, 2012 9:57 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Boom!

Rec’d!

Repeat? Run it!

by FrenchFreak on Jan 6, 2012 10:38 AM CST up reply actions

Actually the Lions scare me more than the 49ers

The last time we met in the dome we were up 24-7 at half. You held us to 7 points in the second half credit to your defense. If not for the penalties, the game would have been way more interesting till the end.

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)

by Jricky70 on Jan 5, 2012 12:39 PM CST reply actions

We are known as the comeback kids

20 point defecit @ Minnesota: Won 26-23

24 point defecit @ Dallas: Won 34-30

17 point defecit vs Carolina: Won 49-35

13 point defecit @ Oakland: Won 28-27

If you would notice, 3 out of the 4 comebacks were on the road. We play better from behind on the road for some reason. The stupid penalties won’t happen Saturday and we’ll be playing with a full deck this time around.

Still expect a Saints win, but I’m praying for a Lions victory.

From 0-16 to the Superbowl baby!

by DLions4Eva on Jan 5, 2012 12:54 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Still expect a Saints win

That’s certainly our goal.

The stupid penalties won’t happen Saturday and we’ll be playing with a full deck this time around.

Which makes it scarier. I’m hoping our D will tackle well like they did against the Falcons.

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)

by Jricky70 on Jan 5, 2012 1:00 PM CST reply actions