The Lions gave it a good effort but in the end they just couldn’t match up with more experienced Saints as they fall 45-28 in the opening weekend of the NFL playoffs.
What remains clear though is the the Lions are a team that the rest of the league is going to have to contend with.
In their first playoff game since 1999, the Lions showed that they can go on the road and score points. However the Lions also showed that they are still at least a year away from making any kind of significant run.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees took full advantage of a very vulnerable Detroit secondary as he completed 33 of 43 passes for 466 yards and three touchdowns. The Saints ground game also took advantage of some very weak tackling from the Lions defenders as Pierre Thomas rushed for 66 yards and 1 TDs while Darren Sproles had 51 rushing yards and 2 TDs. Sproles also had 34 yards receiving.
Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson though displayed they will be an elite tandem for years to come.
The 23-year-old Stafford many times looked like a seasoned veteran in his first playoff game completing 28 of 43 passes for 380 yards, 3 TDs, 1 rushing TD and 2 INTs. Calvin Johnson was also freakishly good catching 12 passes for 211 yards and 2 TDs.
Still, the Lions were unable to get the ground game going managing only 32 total yards rushing. This was a far cry from New Orleans’ 167 yards on the ground further proving that good teams know when to get the ground game going.
That wasn’t the only place though the Lions lost the game.
Suspect tackling and being unable to stop the Saints on third down ended up being the Lions’ downfall.
The Lions have plenty to do this offseason which may start with trying to improve the secondary either through free agency or the draft.
But unlike previous seasons it’s pretty safe to say this is a team that’s truly on the rise.
We’ll see you next year Lions.
Ref: Mlive.com, ESPN.com, AP (image)
