Hot! Detroit Lions

Hey, Stranger.

Here's a playoff head-scratcher: accompanying your Patriots and also Packers, Steelers and also Giants, are the Lions and Texans.

On Saturday, the actual Texans kick heli-copter flight NFL playoffs by means of internet hosting Cincinnati. It's just his or her first postseason game around franchise history, a life regarding 10 seasons.

At night, that Lions, whose past getaway to help that playoffs came in 1999 and whose last earn seemed to be nine seasons previous to that enjoy at New Orleans.

Jan. 7, 2012

Jan. 5, 2012

Bengals, Texans search for playoff state of the art Jan. 5, 2012

Houston safeguard helps make outstanding turnaround Jan. 4, 2012

Bengals QB Dalton misses perform using flu Jan. 4, 2012

There many people are, Detroit in addition to Houston, both 10-6, within now there within latest winners in addition to repeated playoff qualifiers.

The deficiency of knowledge of these kinds of environment doesn't find a way to concern Detroit private coach Jim Schwartz, who has seventeen players having playoff experience, but exclusively kicker Jason Hanson received the idea using your Lions.

"We have not continually played our very best, I do not think virtually any staff at any time does, but I think we now have discovered from a few of the things which may have transpired as well as I believe we have been somewhat more battle-tested, more closely seasoned," this individual said. "There's a very important factor with studying related to something, there exists yet another thing going through that firsthand and also viewing the best way the idea affects the staff in addition to items like that. I are convinced whenever we're exhibited some of those situations, we have now completed a great occupation of undergoing it better the second time."

This is definitely their first playoff appearance around more than some sort of decade, nevertheless their second go-round along with the actual Saints (13-3) in five weeks. The Lions droped 31-17 on the Superdome about Dec. 4.

Born in 2002, Houston failed to employ a winning report right up until previous season. Their AFC South crown looked most likely going while Peyton Manning was sidelined around Indianapolis, nevertheless that they not been as successful straight down your expand as well as displaced their particular final three games.

Indeed, Houston's final win seemed to be at Cincinnati 20-19. And it's the Bengals (9-7) that check out Reliant Stadium on Saturday.

Fourteen Texans include made it for the playoffs by using different clubs.

This will be Cincinnati's third playoff visual appeal around seven seasons, however the Bengals have flopped every time. Their last postseason wining was in January 1991.

"It would be a marvelous feeling for all of us to obtain purge of their stigma connected with not currently being in a position to find the actual playoffs plus gain it," offensive handle Andre Smith said.

On Sunday, Atlanta (10-6) is at this Giants (9-7), as well as Pittsburgh (12-4) at Denver (8-8).

Yes, that wild-card squads with individuals a couple of games include greater files compared to split winners.

WILD CARD PLAYOFFS

Saturday

Cincinnati at Houston, 2:30 p.m.

Detroit during New Orleans, half a dozen p.m.

Sunday

Atlanta at New York Giants, 11 a.m.

Pittsburgh with Denver, 2:30 p.m.