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

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The Jan 7 – Lions versus New orleans saints game will be the second meeting of the two squads this year. New Orleans won the 1st meeting in New Orleans 31-17. New Orleans is a 10.5 point fave to beat Detroit this week, and this is maybe part of the reason.

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Another is that New Orleans is on a roll. They’ve won eight matches back to back coming into this week’s meeting with Detroit, defeating 3 other playoff squads throughout that stretch. Following kicking an opposing player with his cleats, defensive celebrity Ndamukong Suh was suspended for two matches, but Detroit were able to pull things together. They won 3 from their last 4 matches of the year, merely losing a tight game to 15-1 Green Bay. When they last faced New Orleans, they were without Suh, and Detroit is praying the return of his presence to the defensive line is the change they need to stop Drew Brees and the effective New Orleans offense.

Unfortunately for Detroit, that Saints offense has been amazing for the second half of the year. They’ve gone over 40 in 4 of their last 6 and landed over 40 points in their last 3 matches. They’re 8-0 in their home stadium this year and a while back this year in New Orleans they dropped 62 points on Indianapolis.

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