Saints vs. Lions: Game-Time 'Open Thread'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 7, 2012 8:00 PM EST

Not that it will mater to Baltimore Ravens fans too much, at least until we get into the Super Bowl, tonight's game with the New Orleans Saints hosting the Detroit Lions figures to be another shoot-out on the scale of the Lions-Packers slugfest last week. Keep it here on Baltimore Beatdeown to post your thoughts and comments as the start of the NFC post season begins.

Watch and see if the Saints can end the Lions season and then go west to put one of the best offenses in the NFL against one of the best defenses in the league for the right to battle it out to survive and face the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game.

In the meantime, stick with this 'Open Thread' and post your comments tonight.

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Comments

Lions come out throwing to Young. Great plan.

by Evan Skev on Jan 7, 2012 8:19 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Why couldn't Detroit

advance that fumble? I didn’t see anyone touch down the player who had the ball. He picked it up and was headed for six.

by Sam25 on Jan 7, 2012 9:11 PM EST reply actions

In retrospect, that was a huge play.

Likely 7 points off the board for Detroit. Huge difference.

You come at the king, you best not miss.

by organizedchaos52 on Jan 7, 2012 11:00 PM EST up reply actions

Nevermind

the announcers just answered that question.

by Sam25 on Jan 7, 2012 9:13 PM EST reply actions

knuckle head ref blows a detroit TD.

by raven on Jan 7, 2012 10:04 PM EST reply actions

Ravens vs texans will be a good game but if Schaub couldnt beat us i dont see Yates beating us. We have the run game going, healthy, and motivated.

Ravens win 23-7.

by Raven_all_day on Jan 7, 2012 11:08 PM EST reply actions

Drew Brees first down

Ok later in the third quarter when this was a game DRew Brees jumped up , hung the ball out over the first down marker , pulled it back and safely fell to the ground with the ball . This is the same move that finished the Vikings two years ago . My point is that if you voluntarily retreat from first down territory it is not a first down . This isn’t a goal line stand ; there arte different rules !!!!!! No one talked about it then and no one mentioned it tonight !!! This is All Star Wrestling when all 6 officials forget the rules all at the same time . Add that to the fumble recovery called back from touchdown and you have a 48 point swing in favor of NO

by notsnhoj on Jan 7, 2012 11:22 PM EST reply actions

forward progress

by kryptonianjorel on Jan 8, 2012 3:13 AM EST up reply actions

Lame Fans

When the referees forget the rules and no one talks about it they choose the winners . If your chips are salty enough you don.t care ? String ’em up !!! At least care !!!!! Try to care !!

by notsnhoj on Jan 7, 2012 11:28 PM EST reply actions

None of it matters in the end

Saints won easily, so it’s unlikely the few questionable calls had a strong effect on the outcome. There was one crucial moment that caught my eye though. Before the Saints went crazy in the 2nd half, they had a 3rd down catch near their own end zone by Colston that was ruled a 1st down… when he was pretty clearly short. No challenge by the Lions. That play could have swung the momentum in DET’s favor. We’ll never know at this point.

Don't be shocked that people die
Be surprised you're still alive

by onethingiknow on Jan 7, 2012 11:32 PM EST reply actions

this

But New Orleans looks absolutely stellar. I’ve said all along that they won’t travel well to Lambeau, and while I know they won’t put up 620+ yards on the tundra, I am actually beginning to wonder if they might be able to pull off a win. Scary team.

I love it knowing that there are a handful of Ravens fans in this area who despise the fact that Joe will be our QB for the next 10 years. --Mr. MaLoR

by jackmca on Jan 8, 2012 2:38 AM EST up reply actions

I actually think they could. their running game is a lot better than the packers and if it’s bad weather they are capable of pounding the ball and great using screens.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Jan 8, 2012 11:16 AM EST up reply actions

The 7pts would have made a HUGE difference

Detroit would have been down 3pts instead of 7 with 4+ minutes on the clock, instead of 10, so they wouldn’t have needed to do an onside kick; force a 3 and out, get the ball around the 2 minute warning, and drive downfield. Instead, they gave up great field position while demoralizing their players, and then Stafford had to make plays he normally wouldnt, forcing a lot of turnovers.

So yes, the bad officiating had a HUGE effect on the outcome

by kryptonianjorel on Jan 8, 2012 3:16 AM EST up reply actions

Seriously?

Brees throws for almost 500 yards and you want to put the outcome on the refs? Seriously?

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 8, 2012 10:44 AM EST up reply actions

While they were not the reason Detroit lost,

(that was their inability to stop NO ever), that inadvertent whistle cost Detroit a lot. Instead of getting a potential 7 points off the return, they went 3 and out and punted the ball back to NO, who promptly marched down the field for the tying TD.

You come at the king, you best not miss.

by organizedchaos52 on Jan 8, 2012 4:13 PM EST up reply actions