The Detroit Lions saw the 2012 NFL Playoffs for just a brief moment in the grand scheme of the postseason spectacle. They lost to the New Orleans Saints on Saturday evening, 45-28. In a game that had a potential shootout, the two teams combined for 1,038 total yards of offense.
Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford went touchdown for touchdown, each throwing three in the game. However, Stafford wound up putting the ball twice into the hands of a Saints defender. Brees out threw Stafford, 466 to 380. Marques Colston and Robert Meachem finished with 120 and 111 receiving yards, respectively.
The Saints' ground game also proved pivotal as Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles combined to rush for three touchdowns and 117 yards. Stafford rushed for the Lions' lone touchdown on the ground while Kevin Jones was the team's leading rusher with 21 yards on six carries.
The Saints will travel to San Francisco to face the 49ers next week.
For more on this game, visit Lions blog Pride of Detroit and Saints blog Canal Street Chronicles. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.