What do you WANT the NFC playoff positions to look like...

[Tarlam!]

Its funny but I had more faith in the 2009 and 2010 playoff teams than this one.

Prolly a symptom of the way the defense has been playing recently and the KC game.

[mraynrand]

You are truly a sub-genius, BD.

How persheptive you are!

[Tarlam!]

So, how do we feel? The only thing that we can be certain of is that the Packers will not face NO. Otherwise, NYG. Dirty Birds or DET.

Does anybody think the Lions can go down to NO and beat them in their dome?

The Saints have, per Week 16, the 3rd worst passing defense and rank 12th best against the run. Overall, the NO D ranks 22nd. I doubt the Lions intend on running it much.

The Lions rank 22 against the pass and 23 against the run. 23rd overall (per week 16). The Saints have a legitimate run game and now that the pass record padding is over, they can mix it up a bit more and control the clock.

I see the keys are this: The Lions find themselves in the wrong dome, Brees and the Lions non-existant pass defense and NO running game. Sure, Stafford and co. will run with them if they get a few calls, make a few plays and get lucky. Clinching it is, IMHO, playoff experience. The Saints have been there before. The Lions have youth, but no playoff experience. I don't think it will even be close.

[Tarlam!]

If the Lions DO knock off the #3 seed, they'll grow a foot before coming back into Lambeau. Just like tha Packers did last year after they disposed of Philly. They went on to throttle Atlanta in the Georgia Dome. What might make the Lions show the Packers respect is that just got beaten by the Packers' record-setting varsity team.

I hate the idea of either NYG or Atlanta. Why? Well, my views on NYG are well known. Atlanta will go into Lambeau looking for Payback, BIG TIME!!

Any of these three teams will face a rabid crowd and intense cold They will not play a varsity team. Instead they meet a well rested, healthy, highoctain offense, but a still pitiful defense. A team full of vets that have "been there, done thats!" and very reliable, well adjusted rookies. The Lions and the Birds will be motivated to the max and the Giants have proven they can win in January at Lambeau.

[hoosier]

Det and Atl don't have a chance of beating the Packers, in Lambeau or anywhere else. The Giants are a much bigger threat, especially if their defensive line is all healthy and Eli isn't throwing picks.

[mmmdk]

Det and Atl don't have a chance of beating the Packers, in Lambeau or anywhere else. The Giants are a much bigger threat, especially if their defensive line is all healthy and Eli isn't throwing picks.

I agree 100%; Giants are a slightly lesser bonafide underdog with actual Championship qualities a la Packers 10-6 wild card team from last season.

[pbmax]

I suspect that Detroit has a punchers chance. If they don't fall behind by more than 2 scores (unlike last game there) they have the offense to keep pace with NO. They got an out of hand game there down to one score late. The only thing I don't know is if that was only garbage time points.

But I think a second go around will boost the Lions chances early. Brees can be picked off. I don't think it'll be a slam dunk, Schwartz and Cunningham can design a defense. I just hope they do a better job this week than last.

[King Friday]

I give Detroit a chance in NO...probably the only team other than GB who could give them a game in their dome. I don't see Detroit getting it done though. Brees > Stafford at this point, and the Lions don't have the threats in the running game that the Saints do.

Detroit is also highly likely to garner too many penalties, especially at critical times.

[Bretsky]

NO
Blowout

NO pick Stafford twice

[ND72]

NO will beat Detroit...I'm not so sure the giants will beat Atlanta. The winner of that game though is dangerous for us. Not very confident right not.

[BobDobbs]

Good entertaining games this weekend. The night game should be high flying, it might take fifty to win. Lots of talking. Saturday night in New Orleans. If I could I'd fly down for the weekend just for the party. Detroit's secondary is horrible though. I don't see how they keep up. If Schwarz would just coach in a big diaper it'd be fantastic.

I'll watch the Atlanta V New York game too. I'd love Atlanta to win because we'll trounce 'em. They've got a ceiling. New York is all over the place, you might catch em on a good day and then its a problem. I think Atlanta is 1-3 outside this year, so that's a problem. They match up ok though. Maybe the birds do us a favor and win in NY, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[RashanGary]

The Giants are absolutely nasty, but ATL is a tough matchup for them. ATL is more of a running team, so those pass rushers won't be as prominent as they would against the Packers or Saints.

I hope to hell we don't get the Giants. They're healthy up front for the first time all year I think. First time in a long time, anyway. They could line JPP, Osi and Tuck up on 3rd down and we'd be fruckin toast. Similar to Brady in 2007.

I don't love the idea of playing either ATL on a cold windy Lambeau day, or the Giants. We're going to have a tough, tough road if we're going to even get to the SB. Detroit is the only pretender. The rest of them can win it all.

If we get to the SB, boy, it's a tough year in the NFC, we will have to earn it. The Giants are really underrated.

[easy cheesy]

Talk is cheap (and so am I... *wink*) May the best team win. I'm tired of all the "what if's" and "if only's". Let the post season begin and GO PACK GO!

[easy cheesy]

Watch out for those little ol' Giants... but... again... the better team shall win.... GO PACK GO!