When it comes to scheduling, maybe the Lions just are unlucky. First, they complete their regular season against their division foe Green Bay Packers, who also boast the league’s greatest record. They then follow that up by getting the New orleans saints in the 1st round of the playoffs.

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The Jan 7 – Lions against Saints game will be the 2nd meeting of the two squads this season. New Orleans won the 1st match in New Orleans 31-17. This is maybe part of the reason New Orleans is a 10.5 point favorite to beat Detroit this week.

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Another is that New Orleans is on a roll. They have won eight contests in a row coming into this week’s game with Detroit, defeating three other playoff squads during that stretch. Following kicking an enemy competitor with his cleats, defensive celebrity Ndamukong Suh was suspended for two contests, but Detroit managed to pull things together. They won 3 out of their last 4 contests of the season, simply losing a tight game to 15-1 Green Bay. When they last faced New Orleans, they were without Suh, and Detroit is intending the return of his presence to the defensive line is the change they need to stop Drew Brees and the powerful New Orleans offense.

Sadly for Detroit, that New Orleans offense has been amazing for the 2nd half of the season. They have scored more than 40 points in their last three contests, and gone over 40 in four of their last 6. A while back this year in New Orleans they dropped 62 points on Indianapolis, and they are 8-0 in their home stadium this season.

Detroit has had trouble this year against higher quality competition, going 1-5 against playoff squads (simply defeating Denver). Their offense has the potential to be high-flying, and thus it will be up to their defense to keep them in this match. If Suh will make amends for his two-game suspension, this is the time.