Lions vs. Raiders: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Radio, Game Time and More

Two teams battling for a playoff spot will square off on Sunday when the Detroit Lions travel West to take on the Oakland Raiders. 

The Lions (8-5) are fighting for a wild-card berth, but are in decent position to grab it, sitting a game ahead of their nearest followers. This would be their first playoff appearance since 1999.

The Raiders (7-6) enter the contest losers of their last two, and are a game behind the surging Denver Broncos.

This will be the first time that the two teams have met since 2007. That game was also in Oakland, and the Lions won 36-21.

Where: O.co Coliseum. Oakland, California.

When: Sunday, Dec. 18 at 4:05 p.m. EST

Watch: Fox

Listen: 97.1 FM WXYT, Sirius: 135 in Detroit. KITS 105.3 FM, Sirius: 92 in Oakland. Streamed at nfl.com (not a free stream).

Betting Line: Lions (-1.5), according to Bodog. 

At this spread, you're betting on the winner and nothing else. I don't have any confidence in the Raiders right now. The Lions have struggled recently, but those struggles have been against some of the better teams in the league. The Raiders are just not playing that way right now. 

What's at Stake?

An awful lot, for both teams. The Lions have a one-game lead on the Bears and Cowboys for the No. 6 seed in the NFC, but have a game against the Packers remaining. If they don't win here, chances are good that they will be caught. 

The Raiders are a game behind the Broncos, who host the Patriots this week. If Oakland doesn't pick up a game this week, the tiebreakers do not set up well for them. Chances are good that the Broncos will win the AFC West, even if the Patriots beat them.

Lions' Injury Report

Lions DE Lawrence Jackson, CB Chris Houston, S Louis Delmas, RB Kevin Smith, DT Nick Fairley, CB Eric Wright, CB Aaron Berry and LB Justin Durant are questionable. 

Raiders Injury Report

Raiders RB Darren McFadden is doubtful.

Raiders WR Jacoby Ford, RB Taiwan Jones, WR Denarius Moore, CB Chris Johnson and WR Chaz Schillens are questionable.

Fantasy Start 'Em, Sit' Em and Sleeper

Start 'Em: Calvin Johnson. The Raiders' pass defense is hardly a unit that strikes fear into the opposition. Matthew Stafford will look Johnson's way an awful lot.

Sit 'Em: Carson Palmer. While his yardage totals aren't bad, 13 interceptions in seven games is just too much to overcome from a fantasy perspective.

Sleeper: Maurice Morris. The Raiders have had a hard time defending the run in recent weeks. When they need to go away from Johnson and the passing game, Morris is a nice option.

What They're Saying

Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press feels that the Lions need big production from stars Ndamukong Suh, Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson.

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Schwartz said Sunday that none of the recent injuries looked like season-enders. But there are only three weeks left in the season, and the Lions have suffered more than their share of key injuries. They can't get healthy in three weeks.

This is why they need their stars to play like stars. That means Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Suh. Stafford and Johnson have to keep the offense humming, because the defense is wounded. And Suh is capable of making a few game-changing plays every week.

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Paul Gutierrez of CSN Bay Area was candid after the Raiders' blowout loss to the Packers on Sunday, saying that the team doesn't belong in the postseason.

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The Raiders don't deserve to taste the postseason for the first time since the 2002 season. Not with the putrid product they've put on the field in their last two games.

It's embarrassing, really, what they showed in Miami last week and in Green Bay on Sunday. Twice they've fallen behind 34-0 before putting points on the board in what even coach Hue Jackson referred to as "garbage" time.

 

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Lions Player to Watch: DT Ndamukong Suh

This is his first game back from suspension. On top of that, you had better believe that players will be trying to get him to take bad penalties. Suh needs to be sure that doesn't happen.

Raiders Player to Watch: RB Michael Bush

He needs to have a good day. The Lions defense is still vulnerable against the run. Bush needs to exploit that. 

If the Lions offense spends too much time on the field, the Raiders are going to lose.

Key Matchup

Lions' defensive line vs. Raiders' offensive line. If Carson Palmer is rushing his throws, this will be a long day for the Raiders.

On the Hot Seat

A case could be made that either coach is on the hot seat. The Raiders have not progressed since last season. The Lions have, but they started 5-0 and are now on the brink of missing the playoffs. Still, Hue Jackson and Jim Schwartz have done enough to earn the 2012 season. 

The man who hasn't, is Carson Palmer. The Raiders gave up an awful lot to get him and he just hasn't delivered. If they don't make the playoffs, the team will be looking at other QB options for 2012. Palmer is still contracted, but he'll be in a tough fight for his job.

Prediction: Lions 34, Raiders 27

The Raiders defense is not the unit that's going to stop Detroit. The Lions' pass rush will do enough to force early throws from Palmer, keeping him off balance. It won't be a low-scoring game, but the Lions will pull it out.

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