NFL Playoff Predictions: Detroit Lions Fans Will Be Heartbroken After Epic Loss

Fans of the Detroit Lions are going to be extremely disappointed when the New Orleans Saints beat them in the first round of the 2012 playoffs.

Don't let Lions fans fool you, this game means the world to them.

Many will claim they are just happy to be in the playoffs or that they are just excited that the team is progressing, but we all know the truth.

Detroit is a city that lives and dies with its professional football team, and that's something to respect given all it's gone through.

Lions fans are hoping for a win, as every fanbase in the playoffs should, but the chips are stacked against them.

The heart of Lions fans says this team can restore the roar and make a run through the playoffs, but the logical mind has to think differently.

Let's take a look at what the heart says, but then come back to reality with a dose of cold, hard logic:

Heart: Lions' offense will keep them in this game

There's no doubting the Lions are developing a prolific offense, and it all revolves around Matthew Stafford. 

He had an incredible season, and he has the best wide receiver in the NFL to throw to.

Calvin Johnson can win this game single-handedly, and at the very least Detroit's fourth-ranked passing offense can keep up with New Orleans.

Logic: Lions' defensive ineptitude offsets offense's potency

The Lions defense couldn't stop a backup quarterback in Matt Flynn last week on a team that didn't have anything to play for.

If it allowed 480 yards and six touchdowns to Flynn, what is Drew Brees going to do to the Lions defense in the playoffs, in a dome where the Saints haven't lost once this season?

Brees finished the year with 5,476 yards and 46 touchdowns, which is unbelievable. The Saints are on a roll right now, having won eight in a row. They put up a grand total of 287 points compared to 150 by opponents during the streak.

Heart: Lions defense is ttenacious

With a line that boasts Cliff Avril and his 11 sacks on the season and the powerful Ndamukong Suh, the Lions are a threat to the quarterback on every down.

Logic: Saints will use running game to offset pass-rush

The best way to offset an aggressive defense is to run the ball up its guts, and that's something the Saints are very good at.

If you're looking for the biggest advantage the Saints have over the Lions, this would be it right here.

The Saints are sixth in the league in rushing for 132.9 yards per game. The Saints offense is the picture of balance, and it has a plethora of different options to go to.

The Saints can hand it off to Pierre Thomas or Chris Ivory, who are both very potent runners, and they also have Darren Sproles, who is arguably the most dangerous third-down back in the league and can beat a defense on the ground or through the air.

The Lions front four is really aggressive, but it also has a tendency to run itself out of plays. 

A good running game will expose that as a weakness, especially in the playoffs.

Heart: The Lions will play better this time around

Last time these two teams played, the Lions committed 11 penalties for 107 yards and didn't have Suh, who was suspended.

Logic: The Saints will play better this time around

Are the Lions the only team that can improve and mature in this matchup? 

The Saints have arguably gotten a whole lot better since the last time these two teams played, and not only that, they clearly have more playoff experience.

Don't underestimate how different the playoffs are from the regular season.

Conclusion

The Lions are a year or two away from being Super Bowl contenders, depending on free agency and how they decide to grow via the NFL draft.

Lions fans have waited a long time to get to this point, so it's understandable to get really excited and overzealous about the team's chances in the playoffs.

The heart makes some good reasons. This Lions offense is more than capable of keeping the team in this game, and the defense is known for making big plays.

When all is said and done, though, logic and the superiority of the Saints has to take precedence.

It's going to be a great game, and in fact I think it will be epic.

Lions fans will have to brace themselves for a dose of heartbreak, unfortunately.

It's going to be an epic loss.