Surely we are all expecting a high-scoring shootout at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Detroit Lions and the New Orleans Saints feature two of the best passing QBs of all time (according to the stats. Mike Tanier at the NYT puts their regular season figures into context:
From the birth of the N.F.L. until 1960, no quarterback ever threw for more than 3,000 yards. As recently as 1997, it was still possible for Jeff George to lead the league with less than 4,000 yards passing: 3,917, to be exact. For most of football’s history, a 3,000-yard season was an accomplishment, 4,000 yards were a feat and 5,000 yards marked the distance from home to the nearest hardware store, not an attainable passing goal.
Saturday will mark the first time that two quarterbacks who threw for over 5,000 yards in a season will face each other. While Drew Brees — who broke Dan Marino’s single-season record by throwing for 5,476 yards — is getting his due as one of the league’s best passers, Matthew Stafford (5,038 could not even muster a Pro Bowl selection. Stafford’s numbers are partially a reflection of passing inflation, but he has also been unfairly overshadowed this season, not just by Brees and Aaron Rodgers, the favorite to be the N.F.L. ‘s most valuable player, but by his own team’s tortuous climb out of a decade-long funk, the acrobatic excellence of his best receiver and his defense’s attempt to jump-start the economy by increasing the demand for yellow penalty flags.
This is the first postseason experience for the Lions in a dozen years. Indeed, as recently as 2008 Detroit were recording the imperfect season: 0-16. This USA Today blog shows how few players still feature in the lineup. Those who do remain – such as Calvin Johnson – have been key this year and will be extra keen for playoff glory.
Beyond the QB shootout, Detroit’s hopes may rest on their fearsome defense and, specifically, their discipline, which has been prone to concede an awful lot of yardage.
.Indeed, the last time these two teams met the game was much closer than the final scoreline suggested – in large part because of the huge number of yards given up by the Lions in penalties.
Meanwhile, the Saints have their own defensive frailties – here’s defensive coach Gregg Williams on his unit’s lack of interceptions:
«I have guys that couldn’t catch a cold butt naked in a rain storm right now.»
So, join us for the second wilcard playoff of this big weekend of NFL action: kick off will be around 8pm EST.
Please share your thoughts/predictions/jokes/videolinks/whatever via email steve.busfield@guardiannews.com or Twitter: @Busfield
Is your team out already? Beyond hoping to see great games, do you hanker after supporting another team? Well, SBNation has a handy guide to the teams still involved, and this is what it says about tonight’s combatants:
The Hipster’s ChoiceLions – Everybody loves Detroit because they haven’t won in a million years, their light blue has the so-sad-it’s-kinda-cool quality that the Bucs’ creamsicle unis have taken on over the years, and it’s just fun to quote @DadBoner and pretend to be a Lions fan each week. Plus, if someone asks why you’re rooting for them you can sound perfectly knowledgeable just by gushing about Megatron and Ndamukong for 90 seconds.The problem(s: Dad Boner is way more fun when the Lions lose and Karl gets suicidal, and for as cool as Calvin Johnson is, Matt Stafford is every bit as frustrating, and Ndamukong’s really kinda insane. And more generally, Detroit just seems a little too pleased with themselves these days.
The Fun ContendersSaints – What are you looking for in a new favorite team? A team that’s gonna be entertaining every week? (Check. A bunch of crazy fans who aren’t totally obnoxious? (Check. A superstar that’s impossible to root against? (Check. A team with a legitimate chance at winning it all, but not quite dominant enough to not make you feel like a frontrunner? (Check. If you’re looking to pick a new favorite team for the playoffs, aren’t you looking for Shaun Rogers and the Saints?
Houston Texans 31 Cincinatti Bengals 10Here’s Paolo Bandini’s live match report.
The predictors on our weekly NFL Talkboard predictions blog were overwhelmingly in favour of the Saints (with the honorable exception of Motor City resident Dtown.
Here are some pre-game predictions from Twitter:
Chris Nellis: «@Busfield Bengals, Steelers (sadly, Saints to Brees through, Atlanta to topple the Giants. «(So he’s already 0-1 – ed
Paddy O Doors: «@Busfield my prediction is a spreadbusting shootout with the saints marching on.»
Redbloke: «@Busfield: Me with eyes like pee holes in the proverbial snow on Sunday morning after watching Detroit – New Orleans. It’s a dead cert!»
Sean Carey tweets: «@GdnUSsports @Busfield Detroit to win, Pettigrew over 60yards, Pettigrew 1st Lions TD.»That’s specific.
Andrew Lloyd tweets: «@Busfield I hope The Saints win because Saints vs my SF49ers would be AWESOME. #comeonsaints»That’s just a wish…
So, what does everyone think of Charles Barkley’s unexpected stint as an NFL analyser tonight? He’s hosting Saturday Night Live later and has been sharing his thoughts through the Bengals @ Texans playoff.
Here’s some things he’s better known for:
.Share your thoughts on this, or the game, via email steve.busfield@guardiannews.com or Twitter @Busfield
And they’re off: Saints kick into the end and the Lions will start on the 20.
Good first drive for the Lions with Stafford throwing smoothly, including a 15-yard pass to Titus Young, and then Stafford throws to Will Heller for a touchdown. The score in this game could be ridiculous if the offenses continue in this vein.
Indeed, my colleague Paolo Bandini fresh off the Bengals/Texans game has a points prediction: «204-206. Give or take a couple.»
Sproles returns the kickoff from the endzone to the 20-yard line. At least he gave it a go. What can Brees and the Saints do after that clinical first drive by the Lions?
Well, Brees immediately shows how he intends to go with a 23-yard throw to Devery Henderson. Man of many talents Sproles follows that with a 14-yard run, but then, just as it looks nothing can stop the Saints, Colston fumbles just outside the red zone. TURNOVER.
Graham Parker emails: «Surely the real story of Lions@Saints is the clash between the two top seeds in the ‘Ruin Porn’ bowl – awarded to the city whose daily attempts to repair itself are most interrupted by well meaning student documentary photographers…»
So Stafford is off again, but the Lions are mixing it up and using the running game too. A timeout is taken by the Lions with a third-and-nine on their own 28-yard line. And now Rex Ryan makes his own playoff appearance in a Pepsi Max advert, sadly as close to the postseason as the Jets coach is going to be.
Stafford gets the first down after the timeout with a throw straight down the middle to tight end Pettigrew. An ambitious deep throw next play just evades Johnson and then a run is stopped, so the Lions have another big third down (3rd 11 to keep the drive going. The noise level in the SuperDome rises and another long pass just evades Johnson and the Lions will have to punt.
Saints start on their own 11-yard line after the punt. And just as the drive looks like it will never get started, Thomas battles his way to the 21-yard line. And then a strong 31-yard run off a fake by Thomas takes the Saints deep into Lions territory – the last five yards carrying three defenders with him. Sproles follows with another run and the Saints get to the 26. Collins gets another first down and the Saints are in the Red Zone.
@FauxJohnMadden tweets: «Just in case Matt Stafford or Drew Brees get injured, Brett Favre is in a suite ready for action.»Suite or suit?
Sproles jinks to the six before a bootleg run by Henderson can’t quite get the first down or the touchdown. And then the third run of the set is carried into the endzone by Sproles
Logan returns the ball to the 26-yard line from the kick off but a 10-yard penalty is called for an illegal block. Great/ominous stat has just been flashed on the screen: Lions have one playoff win in 53 years.
Johnson gets the first first down with an 18-yard reception. The second first down is via a big third down pass to tight end Scheffler. The Saints are pushing at the line more, but this is leaving spaces for Stafford to throw into. A Smith run takes the ball into Saints territory. A 21-yard pass to Burleson and the Lions are at the Saints’ 26-yard line.
A screen pass to Smith takes the ball into the Saints redzone. Stafford in the shotgun – the Lions do that more than any other team – and Johnson catches high above his head in the end zone. No way anyone other than Calvin J (who has 74 yards already tonight can catch that one.
Saints will start their next drive from…the 20-yard line. Surprise, surprise. Too many touchbacks this season.
Colston gets the first first down but is walloped as he makes the catch. that must hurt. At least a bit. Even if he doesn’t show it. Tight end Graham gets the second first down. Thomas gets the third first down withs some spinning and jinking. This Saints offense has many, many options and are now into Lions territory.
And then a huge turnover as Young knocks the ball from Brees’ hand. Huge.
My colleague Paolo Bandini tweets: «I am regretting not having the courage to pick the Lions in this game. A long way to go, but always felt they were undervalued. @Busfield»
The Lions now have two turnovers tonight. The Saints offense only gave up six turnovers in 16 regular season games. SIX.
But the Lions can’t get going and have to punt. Sproles fair catch on the Saints 16-yard line. Another chance for Brees.
Brees to Colston for 23 yards to get the drive going (after a pointless 5-yard penalty by the Lions, who’ve mostly been doing a good job with their discipline so far. After mostly running the Saints are now throwing more, but the Lions are back there waiting. Sammy Lee Hill makes a great tackle on Sproles. Two minute warning comes with the Saints on a 3rd 1 on the Lions’ 36.
Brees has a run of 11 straight completions and has a 3rd 1 again, this time on the Lions 38 yard line. He gets it and then he doesn’t as penalty flags rain in. Penalties cancel themselves out, Detroit call a timeout.
The Saints don’t get there on third, but do on fourth, spurning a long field goal attempt. And the Saints take a timeout. As always, the last two minutes of an NFL half are the longest two minutes in existence. And I need to go to the rest room.
Colston almost reaches a long pass down the middle but it just bounces off his outstretched fingers. Graham catches the next one though. And then Sproles. 12 yards out and the Saints call another (their last timeout.
Colston catches in the endzone. Or does he? Off to the video booth.
Colston loses control of the ball as it falls to the ground. The on-field call is TD. The review: incomplete pass. A penalty on the defense and Saints have the ball on the six-yard line and 16 seconds to go.
Detroit call a timeout. Will my toilet torment never end?
Brees dances backwards, pursued, finally lobbing the ball hopefully towards the endzone where he’s almost intercepted. His second throw to the endzone is batted down and the Saints will go for a FG.
Kasay FG from 24 yards and, at last, it’s half time.
.
If you’d like a little non-football half-time entertainment, my colleague Richard Adams is liveblogging yet another GOP debate here.
Or why don’t you use this break in the action to share some thoughts on the game via email steve.busfield@guardiannews.com or Twitter: @Busfield
And they’re off. Sproles gets the kick off back to the 22-yard line and then a long, long thow by Brees goes through Meacher’s hands. Another unusual Saints offensive mistake. But on the following play a run takes the ball into the Detroit half and then Brees does connect with a long one. Henderson with a 44-yard reception and strolls into the endzone unimpeded.
Twitter here in New York is going crazy because Yankee Jorge Posada is set to announce his retirement.
Lions start on their own 20-yard line shocker. Stafford to Johnson (how many times has that happened this season? and a first first down. But the next set is troublesome with an offensive line penalty, followed by a Stafford throw-away as he finds himself chased and harried deep into his own half. 3rd 19, Saints defend deep and Burleson’s catch can’t get the first down. Lions punt to Sproles who takes it to the 15-yard line but a penalty flag against the Saints and Brees will find himself on the 7-yard line.
Close to their own line the Saints go back to the run and then a fake bootleg hand-off leads to a Brees sack. Brees throws and then gets distinctly lucky with the spotting of the ball as Colston’s catch is called a first down. A throw to Graham gets the next first down. Eric Wright gets oh-so-close to an interception as he reads the throw perfectly but then fails to hold on. Finally the drive ends and the Saints will need to punt from their own 38.
No they go for it with a QB sneak. Has he got it?
Yes! First down. That was a brave call. Brees follows his dive over the line of scrimmage with another first down.
Colston takes a deep catch and then Graham catches in the endzone, left free on the right. Wow. That was a gutsy drive. A big fourth-and-inches in their own half. And three plays later they score a TD. And now the Lions are facing a two-score deficit.
The Lions will start on their own 20 after the kickoff touchback. They looked so strong in the first half but have missed a good turnover opportunity, have been harshly treated by the chains, and now face a 10-point deficit with 19 minutes to go. Can they do it?
The noise level in the Merc SuperDome has risen considerably. Stafford throws to Johnson for 15 yards. And then goes long for Young, who hurls himself, catches the ball, but as he hits the ground it bounces out of his hands. Saints pressure on the line of scrimmage is leaving spaces deep. Johnson catches the next down. He’s immediately surrounded and tackled but the Lions are now at the Saints 44 yard line.
Stafford to Johnson (again and it’s deep and the Lions are on the 2-yard line.
The Lions try a throw and fail, a run and fail, and then Stafford scrambles right, utter pandemonium as the defense fail to follow the play, he gets the ball to the corner, but did he manage to do it before his knee was down? Or indeed out. Review
The review upholds the call on the field. Stafford just reached the corner with the ball. And we have a 3-point game.
That was Stafford’s first running TD of the season. The Saints will begin from the…20-yard line.
Saints will start the final quarter with a 3rd 3 on their own 27.
Brees gets the first down but a flag is thrown against Lion Fairley. Brees jinked nicely around the pocket for that pass. The penalty is declined, of course.
Colston takes a nice catch down the middle for another first down. Too much space in the middle. There’s plenty of coverage there, but no-one with the man. And the Lions are at midfield. Thomas breaks several tackles to get close to the first down. And the Saints face another short 4th down. Will they run? They do. Sproles runs and the Saints get there on the Lions 37. The Saints haven’t yet punted in this game.
Brees underthrows and – again – should have been intercepted. Saints call a timeout. 3rd 2 on the Lions’ 30.
Sproles gets the first down and the Saints are in the red zone. And the very next play Sproles jinks and drives into the end zone. His second rushing TD of the night.
This game remains tantalizingly out of reach for Detroit. The Lions will start on their own 20-yard line again.
But Stafford’s attempt to get them out of this hole with one long throw is a big mistake as he throws straight into the hands of Greer on the Saints 39-yard line. BIG mistake.
Saints go to the run, eating up the clock, eating up yards. Stafford on the sidelines looking disgruntled. And then bizarrely Brees fails to get the snap before the gameclock and is penalised for delay-of-game. But next play (2nd 17 Brees finds Meachem wide, wide open, 15 yards from the Lions line and he strolls home for the TD. Surely that is Game Over.
James Austin emails: «Thought I’d say hello seeing as you seem quite lonely while you bravely liveblog away. This game has to be the most fustrating I’ve watched for a while – we (Lions have had every chance to punish the Saints and just haven’t been able to take them. Also could you say hi to the brave few of the Lions UK/Ireland fanclub who are bravely battling on into the small hours. I’m sure work is going to hate me tomorrow… «
And a second later he emails again: «Game. Bugger bugger bugger flip bugger. With that I’m off to bed.»
Lions start again but they’re needing a miracle here. Lions hurrying up that offense, but there’s a long way to go and not much time to do it. Johnson gets out of bounds for a first down at midfield. Saints are sitting back, allowing short catches, merely trying to avoid disaster. Burleson catches and the Lions are in the red zone.
Johnson leaps in the end zone, catches Stafford’s pass and the crowd goes quiet. Surely the Lions can’t do this. Can they? James Austin, are you still watching?
Brees throws deep to Meachem again. He’s stopped. But it’s at the one-yard line. Lions take a time out.
@tzapul tweets: «@Paolo_Bandini @busfield how about now about those lions? still sorry for not picking them? » Handily, despite Paolo’s earlier wobble, neither he nor I picked them in our Talkboard Predictions competition. Then again, it’s not over yet. Not quite, anyway.
Thomas surges into the end zone. And that really must be game over. Saints have 616 yards of offense in this game. Awesome.
The SuperDome is rocking to the Who Dat chant. This will, however, be the last time the Saints get to play in the MercDome during these playoffs. Stafford throws but is easily intercepted by Greer – his second of the night.
Ann Hart sweetly emails: «You’ve done a lovely blog job. Direly frustrating game. Nighty night thanks.»
The Saints have the ball again. That appalling Lions postseason record isn’t going to get any better. The Saints move upfield with passes, runs and penalties and have a first and goal.
Chris Pitt tweets: «@Busfield How can a guy throw for 466 yards? Do that 17 times in regular season and it’s 7456 yards for the season. Can’t all be the Lions D.»
Saints are 2nd goal.
The Saints rather quaintly run down the clock rather than score on Detroit again. Game over. Yet another playoff defeat for Detroit.
An impressive performance from the Saints. The Lions looked good until half-time, but the Saints did the job in the second half and, as said just below, yet another immense yardage game from Drew Brees. The Saints now, however, have to fly to the west coast and do the business against that 49ers defense.
Thanks for reading, emailing, tweeting. We will be back with live coverage of both of Sunday’s wildcard playoffs:
1pm EST – Atlanta Falcons @ New York Giants – with Michael Solomon4.30pm EST – Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos – with David Lengel.
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