If the playoffs started today...

[azzurri]

Absolutely I would rather play SF on the road in the playoffs over NO, NYG, or Dallas. The 49ers have a rather pedestrian offense...although they do have an excellent defense. I don't like the prospects of having to outscore NO/NYG/DAL versus having to outscore Alex Smith and the 49ers.

[GuitarGod19]

Arizona is also a much better football team, and has been playing well together.

Tampa Bay gave up 44 pts to Jacksonville. The game will not be sold out, Josh Freeman is hobbled, and Tampa has nothing to play for.

Well...first off it was 41 points, secondly Jacksonville's defense has been good all year, they forced 6 fumbles...two of which were returned for TDs. We of all people should know how it's impossible to win when you turn the ball over that much (see 2nd Chicago game). Dallas SHOULD win, but they SHOULD'VE beat Arizona and they SHOULD'VE closed out the NYG too.

[azzurri]

As of Dec 19:

1. Green Bay (13-1)
2. San Francisco (11-3)
3. New Orleans (11-3)
4. Dallas (8-6) NEW
5. Atlanta (9-5)
6. Detroit (9-5)

Dropped out: NY Giants

In the hunt: Seattle (7-7), Chicago (7-7), NY Giants (7-7), Arizona (7-7)

Round 1:
GB: Bye
SF: Bye
Detroit at New Orleans
Atlanta at Dallas

Big games next week:
San Diego at Detroit
Atlanta at New Orleans
Chicago at Green Bay
San Francisco at Seattle
NY Giants at NY Jets
Arizona at Cincinnati
Philadelphia at Dallas

[Detroit Rock City]

A lot of good things could happen for the Lions this week even if they don't win Saturday. Atlanta going down along with Chicago, and Seattle would almost assuredly lock up a spot. Rather just win and seal it without the help but any help other teams want to give the Lions will be much appreciated

[mr0zip0]

K, here are my full "predictions"... The quotation marks inidicate that this is more of a wish (some may say dream) than a prediction.

Week 16
Texans over Colts
Patriots over Dolphins
Titans over Jaguars
Giants over Jets
Panthers over Buccaneers
Ravens over Browns
Cardinals over Bengals
Redskins over Vikings
Broncos over Bills
Steelers over Rams
Raiders over Chiefs
Lions over Chargers
Cowboys over Eagles
Seahawks over 49ers
Packers over Bears
Saints over Falcons

Week 17
Redskins over Eagles
Patriots over Bills
Ravens over Bengals
Dolphins over Jets
Saints over Panthers
Falcons over Buccaneers
Lions over Packers
49ers over Rams
Colts over Jaguars
Texans over Titans
Bears over Vikings
Steelers over Browns
Giants over Cowboys
Broncos over Chiefs
Chargers over Raiders
Cardinals over Seahawks

Final AFC Standings
1. New England Patriots (13-3)
2. Baltimore Ravens (12-4)
3. Houston Texans (12-4)
4. Denver Broncos (10-6)
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
6. San Diego Chargers (8-8)
---
7. New York Jets (8-8)
8. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
9. Tennessee Titans (8-8)
10. Oakland Raiders (8-8)
11. Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)
12. Miami Dolphins (6-10)
13. Buffalo Bills (5-11) < Remember when the Bills and the Lions were the two "hot" teams?
14. Cleveland Browns (4-12)
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12)
16. Indianapolis Colts (2-14)

Final NFC Standings
1. Green Bay Packers (14-2)
2. New Orleans Saints (13-3)
3. San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
4. New York Giants (9-7)
5. Detroit Lions (11-5)
6. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
---
7. Arizona Cardinals (9-7)
8. Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
9. Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
10. Chicago Bears (8-8)
11. Washington Redskins (7-9)
12. Philadelphia Eagles (6-10)
13. Carolina Panthers (6-10)
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)
15. Minnesota Vikings (2-14)
16. St. Louis Rams (2-14)

AFC Wildcard Round
Byes: #1 New England Patriots, #2 Baltimore Ravens

#3 - Houston Texans: 20
v.
#6 - San Diego Chargers: 34

#4 - Denver Broncos: 3
v.
#5 - Pittsburgh Steelers: 44

NFC Wildcard Round
Byes: #1 Green Bay Packers, #2 New Orleans Saints

#3 - San Francisco 49ers: 22
v.
#6 - Atlanta Falcons: 17

#4 - New York Giants: 10
v.
#5 - Detroit Lions: 24

AFC Divisional Round
#1 - New England Patriots: 17
v.
#6 - San Diego Chargers: 10

#2 - Baltimore Ravens: 7
v.
#5 - Pittsburgh Steelers: 10

NFC Divisional Round
#1 - Green Bay Packers: 44
v.
#5 - Detroit Lions: 47
Overtime

#2 - New Orleans Saints: 21
v.
#3 - San Francisco 49ers: 22

AFC Championship
#1 - New England Patriots: 33
v.
#5 - Pittsburgh Steelers: 28

NFC Championship
#3 - San Francisco 49ers: 10
v.
#5 - Detroit Lions: 21

Super Bowl XLIV
#1A - New England Patriots: 24
v.
#5N - Detroit Lions: 26

DRINK THE KOOL-AID!!! WHY NOT US!?!?

[RJBBREZ]

It would be a great xmas present if the Lions take care of business and clinch this weekend. I also really hope that if they clinch, they still treat week 17 like a huge playoff game and beat Green Bay. That would be huge momentum going into the postseason.

[John_Brian_K]

K, here are my full "predictions"... The quotation marks inidicate that this is more of a wish (some may say dream) than a prediction.

Week 16
Texans over Colts
Patriots over Dolphins
Titans over Jaguars
Giants over Jets
Panthers over Buccaneers
Ravens over Browns
Cardinals over Bengals
Redskins over Vikings
Broncos over Bills
Steelers over Rams
Raiders over Chiefs
Lions over Chargers
Cowboys over Eagles
Seahawks over 49ers
Packers over Bears
Saints over Falcons

Week 17
Redskins over Eagles
Patriots over Bills
Ravens over Bengals
Dolphins over Jets
Saints over Panthers
Falcons over Buccaneers
Lions over Packers
49ers over Rams
Colts over Jaguars
Texans over Titans
Bears over Vikings
Steelers over Browns
Giants over Cowboys
Broncos over Chiefs
Chargers over Raiders
Cardinals over Seahawks

Final AFC Standings
1. New England Patriots (13-3)
2. Baltimore Ravens (12-4)
3. Houston Texans (12-4)
4. Denver Broncos (10-6)
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
6. San Diego Chargers (8-8)
---
7. New York Jets (8-8)
8. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
9. Tennessee Titans (8-8)
10. Oakland Raiders (8-8)
11. Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)
12. Miami Dolphins (6-10)
13. Buffalo Bills (5-11) < Remember when the Bills and the Lions were the two "hot" teams?
14. Cleveland Browns (4-12)
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12)
16. Indianapolis Colts (2-14)

Final NFC Standings
1. Green Bay Packers (14-2)
2. New Orleans Saints (13-3)
3. San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
4. New York Giants (9-7)
5. Detroit Lions (11-5)
6. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
---
7. Arizona Cardinals (9-7)
8. Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
9. Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
10. Chicago Bears (8-8)
11. Washington Redskins (7-9)
12. Philadelphia Eagles (6-10)
13. Carolina Panthers (6-10)
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)
15. Minnesota Vikings (2-14)
16. St. Louis Rams (2-14)

AFC Wildcard Round
Byes: #1 New England Patriots, #2 Baltimore Ravens

#3 - Houston Texans: 20
v.
#6 - San Diego Chargers: 34

#4 - Denver Broncos: 3
v.
#5 - Pittsburgh Steelers: 44

NFC Wildcard Round
Byes: #1 Green Bay Packers, #2 New Orleans Saints

#3 - San Francisco 49ers: 22
v.
#6 - Atlanta Falcons: 17

#4 - New York Giants: 10
v.
#5 - Detroit Lions: 24

AFC Divisional Round
#1 - New England Patriots: 17
v.
#6 - San Diego Chargers: 10

#2 - Baltimore Ravens: 7
v.
#5 - Pittsburgh Steelers: 10

NFC Divisional Round
#1 - Green Bay Packers: 44
v.
#5 - Detroit Lions: 47
Overtime

#2 - New Orleans Saints: 21
v.
#3 - San Francisco 49ers: 22

AFC Championship
#1 - New England Patriots: 33
v.
#5 - Pittsburgh Steelers: 28

NFC Championship
#3 - San Francisco 49ers: 10
v.
#5 - Detroit Lions: 21

Super Bowl XLIV
#1A - New England Patriots: 24
v.
#5N - Detroit Lions: 26

DRINK THE KOOL-AID!!! WHY NOT US!?!?

I like how you think Zipo!

[TJ]

Getting into that No. 5 slot should be the goal.

That would mean a wild-card matchup with some dog-food team like NYG or Dallas, instead of the titanic trio of GB, NO or SF.

The Lions can clown Dallas or the Giants no problem; I am not so sure they could beat SF or NO in a first-round game and then have anything left to take on the Packers later on in the playoffs;

[azzurri]

Super Bowl XLIV
#1A - New England Patriots: 24
v.
#5N - Detroit Lions: 26

DRINK THE KOOL-AID!!! WHY NOT US!?!?

GREAT PICKS! LOVE THEM!

[Motor City Sonics]

I had a dream. The Lions beat the Chargers 46-13. Ashley Palmer had two touchdowns one on a fumbled kickoff return and the other on an interception return.

[DTroppens]

Is there such thing as blueberry Kool Aid. If the Lions ever make it to the Super Bowl, we all should buy some if it does exist.

[Detroit Rock City]

The best possible scenario for the Lions in the first round is to get the Giants. Teams throw all over them and Stafford would likely have a big day. After that I would rank the Cowboys, 49ers, and Saints from most desirable to least. In no way, shape, or form do I want to see New Orleans in the first round. Much better chance against the Giants, Cowboys, or 49ers than in that dome against Drew Brees

[mr0zip0]

Is there such thing as blueberry Kool Aid. If the Lions ever make it to the Super Bowl, we all should buy some if it does exist.

Walmart.com: Kool-Aid: Soft Drink Mix Twists Berry Blue Unsweetened, .22 Oz: Beverages

Not blueberry, but it is blue!

[DTroppens]

Walmart.com: Kool-Aid: Soft Drink Mix Twists Berry Blue Unsweetened, .22 Oz: Beverages

Not blueberry, but it is blue!

If it ever happens, I'm getting it.

[John_Brian_K]

I watched the Saints game yesterday and told my wife who follows a little because she plays ffl..., but still asks stupid questions...example yesterday I said 'man first time the saints are punting the whole game and its the fourth!' she said how is that possible? She always thought kicking and punting were the same thing...

Anyway...the Saints just look unstoppable...I think we COULD beat them, but I would not bet on it and we would have to have our A game to do it.

I almost kind of want them to play San Fran....we would only have to score 21 to beat them...getting to 21 might be a problem, but if we played like we can play I can see us scoring 21 on them.

[nd1377]

IMHO, best scenario for the Lions is:

The Lions beat the Packers on Sunday

The Giants beat the Cowboys on Sunday night

The Lions play the Giants in the first round.

[Motor City Sonics]

IMHO, best scenario for the Lions is:

The Lions beat the Packers on Sunday

The Giants beat the Cowboys on Sunday night

The Lions play the Giants in the first round.

That's what I am thinking too. I think if this happens the Lions get into the second round and go right back to Green Bay - in mid January. But Green Bay will be playing their stars the whole game.

[T&P_Fan]

I want that 5th seed, playing NYG/DAL is a much more manageable task then playing the Saints on the road. Of course, all games winnable, but DAL/NYG seems way easier. Beat the packers, who are surely going to rest starters at some point (right?) and then deal with the NFC East.

Either way, how awesome is it to be discussing Detroit Lions and the playoffs, and it isn't a dream; it's reality.

I am still pretty pumped for Sundays game in GB, but my excitement for level for the Lions is off the hook right now.

[djhutch]

So if NO & SF both win this weekend, who gets the #2 seed? I don't want anything to do with NO right now, & if we end up with the #6 seed I would love to go out to SF for a little revenge.

[John_Brian_K]

So if NO & SF both win this weekend, who gets the #2 seed? I don't want anything to do with NO right now, & if we end up with the #6 seed I would love to go out to SF for a little revenge.

SF gets the 2 and the bye week.

If Atlanta wins and we lose they are the 5th seed and we are the 6th seed which would mean we would play the Saints in this scenario.

If Atlanta loses we clinch the 5th spot no matter if we win in GB or not and we end up playing eithe NY or Dallas.

6 seed plays the 3 seed and the 4th seed plays the 5th seed....1st and 2nd seeds get byes.

We REALLY want the 5th seed.

The Atlanta game will be a good watch for Lions fans this week. 4:15pm start -v- The Bucs, but if we win our 1:00pm game -v- GB it does not really matter in the Atlanta game because we will have the 5th seed locked up and will play the winner of the 8:00pm match up.

Later that day at 8:15pm will be another must watch game with Dallas and NY....if we win or both Atlanta and the Lions lose because that is who we play.

[John_Brian_K]

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers: Fan

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was faced with a regular-season finale that had no playoff implications when the Packers faced the Arizona Cardinals in the 2009-10 season. Not only did the Packers have nothing to gain, but both opponents knew that they were playing each other in the wild-card round.


The Packers elected to play their starters almost the entire game. The Cardinals played Matt Leinart and Brian St. Pierre for most of it. The Packers jumped out to a 33-0 lead in the third quarter. McCarthy had decided that maintaining momentum was more important than resting starters.


Don't expect the Packers to bench too many starters. McCarthy has already claimed that he wants to go undefeated in the division. The Packers already will have one week of rest in the wild-card round. I don't expect McCarthy to be afraid to tip off a potential playoff opponent after his handling of the situation in Glendale a couple years ago.


Even if Aaron Rodgers doesn't play more than a quarter, Matt Flynn looked like a serviceable quarterback when the Packers almost upset the New England Patriots in Gillette Stadium last season.


The Detroit Lions haven't won at Lambeau Field since 1991. The Packers almost never lose by more than four points. I don't see why this can't be a competitive game even without some starters playing. I'm expecting a run-heavy game from the Packers with Flynn taking most of the snaps after the first or second offensive series.


These games are always dangerous when evaluating how a team will play without any fear of playoff seeding. Still, it's hard to pass up Packers with points.



Final Predictions:

Against the Spread: Green Bay Packers (+3.5)

Straight: Green Bay Packers 23, Detroit Lions 20

[New_Age_X]

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers: Fan

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was faced with a regular-season finale that had no playoff implications when the Packers faced the Arizona Cardinals in the 2009-10 season. Not only did the Packers have nothing to gain, but both opponents knew that they were playing each other in the wild-card round.


The Packers elected to play their starters almost the entire game. The Cardinals played Matt Leinart and Brian St. Pierre for most of it. The Packers jumped out to a 33-0 lead in the third quarter. McCarthy had decided that maintaining momentum was more important than resting starters.


Don't expect the Packers to bench too many starters. McCarthy has already claimed that he wants to go undefeated in the division. The Packers already will have one week of rest in the wild-card round. I don't expect McCarthy to be afraid to tip off a potential playoff opponent after his handling of the situation in Glendale a couple years ago.


Even if Aaron Rodgers doesn't play more than a quarter, Matt Flynn looked like a serviceable quarterback when the Packers almost upset the New England Patriots in Gillette Stadium last season.


The Detroit Lions haven't won at Lambeau Field since 1991. The Packers almost never lose by more than four points. I don't see why this can't be a competitive game even without some starters playing. I'm expecting a run-heavy game from the Packers with Flynn taking most of the snaps after the first or second offensive series.


These games are always dangerous when evaluating how a team will play without any fear of playoff seeding. Still, it's hard to pass up Packers with points.



Final Predictions:

Against the Spread: Green Bay Packers (+3.5)

Straight: Green Bay Packers 23, Detroit Lions 20

Well when Suh goes and kicks Rodgers teeth in then we'll see what McCarthy is saying in the presser afterwords. I'm guessing if he leaves a key player in and he gets hurt and they don't make the SB because of it the fans will run him out of town even after the winning he has done these past few years.

[mr0zip0]

Well when Suh goes and kicks Rodgers teeth in then we'll see what McCarthy is saying in the presser afterwords. I'm guessing if he leaves a key player in and he gets hurt and they don't make the SB because of it the fans will run him out of town even after the winning he has done these past few years.

There is no way a coach who won a Super Bowl in one year and then led his team to a 15-1 or 14-2 record the next is getting fired for an on the field incident... Yes, fans would be pissed at him if Suh broke Rodgers ankle sacking him in the 4th quarter of a game out of hand... They would scream and yell and whine all the way until Opening Sunday 2012.

But the coach would stay.

[number20]

SF gets the 2 and the bye week.

If Atlanta wins and we lose they are the 5th seed and we are the 6th seed which would mean we would play the Saints in this scenario.

If Atlanta loses we clinch the 5th spot no matter if we win in GB or not and we end up playing eithe NY or Dallas.

6 seed plays the 3 seed and the 4th seed plays the 5th seed....1st and 2nd seeds get byes.

We REALLY want the 5th seed.

The Atlanta game will be a good watch for Lions fans this week. 4:15pm start -v- The Bucs, but if we win our 1:00pm game -v- GB it does not really matter in the Atlanta game because we will have the 5th seed locked up and will play the winner of the 8:00pm match up.

Later that day at 8:15pm will be another must watch game with Dallas and NY....if we win or both Atlanta and the Lions lose because that is who we play.

I'm pretty sure we'll end up playing the Saints. Seems the most likely scenario

[nd1377]

I'm pretty sure we'll end up playing the Saints. Seems the most likely scenario

It has been a crazy NFL season where some teams look amazing one week and then the next week look like complete garbage.

There is a small possibility that the 49ers could lose and the Saints could win this weekend.

It will not matter if the Lions beat the Packers and grab the 5th seed.