NFC Wild Card Weekend: Detroit Lions @ New Orleans Saints

[tripwire]

Quote: Originally Posted by RJTurneR

Just thought I'd mention that Stafford was 46 yards from also breaking Dan Marino's record. For a guy that is in his third year and was out for most of the season for two of those years, I can't help but be immensly impressed. Brees - 5, 476 yards, 46 TD's Stafford - 5,038 yards, 41 TD's Saturday is going to be an incredible display of passing.

Incredible feat for a first full season starter. The fact that he didn't make the pro bowl, or get talked about as much as some others, is bewildering to me.

[JayBee74]

Quote: Originally Posted by tripwire

Incredible feat for a first full season starter. The fact that he didn't make the pro bowl, or get talked about as much as some others, is bewildering to me.

Incredible year for QBs.

[RJTurneR]

Quote:

Incredible feat for a first full season starter. The fact that he didn't make the pro bowl, or get talked about as much as some others, is bewildering to me.

If he manages to get his team past New Orleans, or maybe even further, then I think he will already be at the bottom half of the elite QB's. If not, then he will definitely be there by midway, end of next season.

His got everything a team looks for. Arm strength, accuracy, his smart, the ball comes out of his hands well, good pocket presence, does not crack under pressure, always comes up big and makes clutch plays, and his not afraid to put the ball down field.

I'm drooling over this match-up....

[Chrisksaint]

The biggest tellers for me when you look at the Saints success and for it to continue in the playoffs.

The Saints convert 3rd downs with an outstanding 57% for the season

Meanwhile for all the problems the Saints have on D teams are only 33% against them on 3rd downs

[RJTurneR]

Quote:

Meanwhile for all the problems the Saints have on D teams are only 33% against them on 3rd downs

And the Lions are only 36% on 3rd down conversions when the Saints have converted 57% of theirs.

Getting the ball down field will be key to the Lions offence not stalling. I know for a fact that if the Saints hold us to 3 & Out once or twice, we're in trouble.

[tripwire]

Quote: Originally Posted by Chrisksaint

The biggest tellers for me when you look at the Saints success and for it to continue in the playoffs. The Saints convert 3rd downs with an outstanding 57% for the season Meanwhile for all the problems the Saints have on D teams are only 33% against them on 3rd downs

Saw that stat being flashed on screen during the game Sunday. Best conversion rate since the Colts a few years back. Just another example of how effective Brees has been this season.

[goh]

Quote: Originally Posted by JayBee74

Sounds good, but in their first meeting the Lions scored 17 points, despite Stafford's 400 plus yards. They also handled MegaTron.

And the first time the Saints played the Falcons it was 26-23...what happend last week?

[rdnk]

Our 3rd down rate as cause by us getting into 1st and 15 or worse situations. If we keep the penalties down, we should be better than 36%.

The Lions offense is in a different state of mind than it was last time we played. A lot will come down to how the defense will play. If it plays like it did last week, then we will lose.