When it comes to scheduling, maybe the Detroit Lions just are unlucky. 1st, they end their regular season versus their division rival Packers, who also possess the league’s best record. Then they follow that up by drawing the New orleans saints in the first round of the playoffs.

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The Jan 7 – Detroit Lions against Saints game will be the second meeting of the 2 teams this year. New Orleans won the first game in New Orleans 31-17. New Orleans is a 10.5 point favorite to beat Detroit this week, and this is maybe part of the reason.

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The other is that New Orleans is on a roll. They’ve won eight games consecutively coming into this week’s match with Detroit, defeating three other playoff teams during that stretch. After kicking an enemy player with his cleats, defensive superstar Ndamukong Suh was suspended for 2 games, but Detroit were able to pull things together. Only losing a tight game to 15-1 Green Bay, they won 3 from their last 4 games of the year. When they last confronted New Orleans, they were lacking Suh, and Detroit is praying the return of his existence to the defensive line is going to be the change they have to stop Drew Brees and the potent New Orleans offense.

Unfortunately for Detroit, that Saints offense has been on fire for the second half of the year. They’ve scored more than 40 points in their last three games, and gone over 40 in 4 of their last 6. They are 8-0 in their home stadium this year and a while back this year in New Orleans they tumbled 62 points on Indianapolis.

Detroit has had trouble this year versus higher quality competition, going 1-5 versus playoff teams (merely defeating Denver). Their offense has the potential to be high-flying, and thus it’ll be up to their defense to ensure they are in this match. If Suh will atone for his two-game suspension, it is now time.