Lions vs Saints LIVE UPDATES: Drew Brees, New Orleans Battle Matthew Stafford, Detroit In NFL Playoffs
Elton John sang "Saturday night's alright for fighting" and it's a safe bet that Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh feels the same way heading into the night cap against the New Orleans Saints on the opening day of the 2012 NFL Playoffs.
While that John tune could set the mood for this Wild Card game, it may be the words of another John -- John Madden -- that decide the outcome. A football institution thanks to his time with the Raiders, in the broadcast booth and narrating video games, Madden once said, "when your arm gets hit, the ball is not going to go where you want it to."
Rare is it that truer words are spoken.
Seeing as how this game pairs two teams that plan on throwing their way to victory, it could very well be the team that has the most success hitting the arm of the opposing quarterback that emerges victorious. Certainly, Suh and the Lions' defense will need to bother Drew Brees to have any hope of advancing in the postseason. Brees is coming off a record-setting regular season in which he threw for more yards in a single season than any player in the history of the NFL. To make the task facing the Lions even more daunting, Brees and the Saints' prolific passing attack were undefeated in the Big Easy all season long. Among the eight wins for New Orleans at the Dome this season was a triumph over these same Lions, 31-17.
Can the Lions keep pace tonight? Will the Saints keep rolling?
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As far as everyone on the field is concerned, we're done. Michaels and Collinsworth authoring post-mortem for Lions.
| @ Official_Saints : On 2nd & goal from the 2-yd line, the Saints call Brees' favorite play - QB kneel. |
Saints will return to field with 1st and goal from the two, leading 45-28.
Chris Ivory pushes the pile, comes out the other side of the pile and eventually grinds to a halt at 2. He's likely got a hemi.
Brees slides down in backfield as whistles whistle and flag lands. False start. Some pushing and shoving among the big boys.
Saints sending signals to every team at home watching. Colston can't get to pass but flag comes in for PI. 1st and goal.
Brees under center, tosses to Ivory, who eludes a tackler in backfield to pick up a yard. 3rd and 7. Another running play? A draw?
Greer always knew where Stafford was going. If the wheels were already coming off for Lions then Greer just went under the hood and nabbed the car battery.
| @ jppalm : Brees with a quiet 466 tonight. Huget second half. |
Reaping what he has sown. Or sewn? Either way, he scored a playoff touchdown.
Brees arcs a long ball to Meachem who catches and slides down to the 1. Relentless.
| @ Complex_Sports : Lions still have 3 timeouts. Don't go betting the house, but... |
Vilma dropped off line of scrimmage at snap but he goes to overloaded side. Calvin is on the other. He goes up and gets it.
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The Huffington Post Chris Greenberg First Posted: 01/07/12 07:17 PM ET Updated: 01/07/12 07:17 PM ET