Lions vs. Saints: TV Schedule, Live Stream and More for 2012 NFC Wild Card

The Detroit Lions look to get their first playoff win since 1991, but it won't be easy since they have to hit the road to play the surging New Orleans Saints.

In Week 13, the Saints beat the Lions in New Orleans 31-17, having done an excellent job preventing Calvin Johnson from have a monster performance. 

This time around, the Saints may not be so lucky, especially since Detroit will have Ndamukong Suh back. He was serving the first of his two game suspension back in Week 13. 

However, as long as New Orleans has Drew Brees, it will contend. He's been on fire all season long, breaking the NFL record for most passing yards in a single season. 

With that said, let's dig into some specifics of this Wild Card Weekend showdown. 

When: Saturday, Jan. 7 at 8:00 p.m. ET 

Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA 

Watch: NBC; replay available via Game Rewind package on NFL.com (minimum $19.99 payment).

Live Streaming Audio: NFL.com Audio Pass ($29.99 for year, $27.99 team specific, $9.99 a month

Listen: WXYT 97.1 FM in Detroit, WWL 870 AM in New Orleans 

Betting Line: Saints (-10.5) according to vegasinsider.com 

What's At Stake? 

The winning team advances to the NFC divisional round and the losing team goes home with crushed spirits after getting just a taste of postseason play. 

Should the Lions win, they'll move on to face their division rival, the Green Bay Packers. As the No. 6 seed, Detroit is forced to face the No. 1 seed if it were to pull the upset. 

A victory for the Saints would pit them against the San Francisco 49ers. As the No. 2 seed, the 49ers will face the highest remaining seed after the Wild Card Weekend, which would be the No. 3 seeded Saints. 

Who Might Not Play for Detroit 

WR Calvin Johnson is probable, and safety Louis Delmas is questionable, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. 

Who Might Not Play for New Orleans 

According to the Times-Picayune, WR Robert Meachem is questionable, WR Lance Moore is doubtful and RB Mark Ingram was placed on injured reserve and

What They're Saying 

Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press, and he tweeted a quote from Lions top defender Ndamukong Suh about the Saints offense. 

I think Suh failed to realize that he doesn't play in the secondary. Brees has thrown for over 300 yards in seven straight games, and he's not slowing down anytime soon. During that time, he also threw at least two touchdowns a game, and even threw five touchdowns on two separate occasions. 

Having Suh against the Saints will definitely help, as he will get after Brees, but the Saints are still going to score. It's just what they do. 

New Orleans is averaging 44 points per game in its last three contests and it will continue to put points on the board, especially against a Lions defense that just allowed the Packers' backup QB Matt Flynn to throw six touchdown passes. 

Jeff Duncan covers the Saints for the Times-Picayune, and he tweeted a quote from Saints head coach Sean Payton. 

There's no doubt Suh will have an impact on this game, but there's only a couple things he can do to stop Brees.

Getting after the QB is one, which won't happen on every play, and the other is to motivate the secondary to step its game up. That's easier said than done. 

Lions Player to Watch 

Calvin Johnson is the star of this team, and in order for Detroit to steal a victory, he has to perform at a high level. In his last three games, he's gone over 200 yards receiving twice, and in the other he reeled in 102 receiving yards. 

Megatron is an absolute beast, but he was held out of the end zone the first time these two teams played. That will have to change on Saturday or else the Lions don't stand much of a chance. 

Since the Saints rank 30th in the league against the pass, Johnson should have a superb performance. 

Saints Player to Watch 

With Mark Ingram out, the pressure shifts to Pierre Thomas. Everybody knows that Brees is going to do his thing, but for the Saints to truly shine they need to have a good run game. 

Darren Sproles will contribute, but it's Thomas that will be running through the tackles, and he has to step up and deliver on the big stage. 

A sorry ground game will put more pressure on Brees, which is never a good thing. Sure, he can come through, but the Saints are better off if Thomas is succeeding.

Key Matchup

If the Lions are going to win this game, their secondary has to find a way to prevent Brees from destroying them. They can attempt to fully shut him down, but that is very unlikely.

Detroit's best bet is to limit his production, keep him off the field as much as possible and create turnovers. It's a tough task, but it can be done.

The more opportunities the Lions defense can make for the offense, the better of Detroit will be.  

Prediction 

The Saints are giving a ton of points here, but I actually think it will be closer than the line says. The best way to take down the Saints is through the air, and Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson are a connection firing on all cylinders right now. 

In the end, I give the edge to the Saints because Brees is more clutch, plus the home-field advantage will be a difference maker for New Orleans. 

Saints 34, Lions 28