Due to a relatively high number of bad teams in the first half of the season, it took longer than usual for this year’s playoff picture to come into focus. But with three games to go, plenty of teams are firmly on the outside looking in and won’t get to experience a postseason game this season.
Lions vs. Saints 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
There are no playoff implications for Monday’s game between the Lions and Saints, but plenty of coaching and roster decisions could be affected.
The New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions are two of those teams, and they will play each other under the bright lights of Monday Night Football in Week 15.
There are no playoff implications in the prime time matchup, but there will be plenty on the line as far as coaching staffs and rosters are concerned. Detroit’s ownership has been talking about significant changes: they are searching for a new general manager after Martin Mayhew got the boot in November, and head coach Jim Caldwell can’t be complacent by any stretch of the imagination.
Nobody quite knows what is going to happen with Sean Payton next season, but the well-respected coach can only boost his value -- to the Saints, potential trade candidates or the open market in general -- if the Saints look like a well-coached team on Monday. Even if the Saints are bereft of top tier defensive talent and stand little chance of containing all of Detroit’s open field threats, Payton’s team can still look prepared.
The Saints are also in a position where they are looking for continued improvement from young offensive play makers. With Brandin Cooks taking over the bulk of the top receiver work this season, Drew Brees hasn't been effective as he has in recent years.
Cooks has caught 64 passes for 869 yards and seven touchdowns. He's not in danger of losing his job, per se, but the Saints would like to see more from him. Running back Mark Ingram has a 4.6 yards per carry average, but hasn't shown the explosiveness the Saints want out of the position with just 769 yards on the season.
Since 2001, the Lions have had 10 seasons with six wins or fewer, and they need to win out to prevent reaching that mark again this year. Detroit has had a weird, weird season, with a five-game losing skid to open the season followed by three consecutive wins. That streak included wins over the Green Bay Packers and Oakland Raiders -- both good teams.
Much of the frustration for the Lions in recent years has been a lack of production despite serious weapons on offense. Matthew Stafford is accurate and has a big arm, and he connected with Calvin Johnson enough to make them one of the most potent combinations in the league, but the offense has still under-performed. This year, the Lions rank just 22nd in the league in total offense, significantly below expectations.
The Saints rank fourth in the league in the same category, while neither defense has looked good this season. Detroit ranks 28th in the league, while the Saints are dead last in points allowed, the only team to allow 30-plus points per game on average this season.
How to watch
When: 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, La.
TV: ESPN
Announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters
Online: WatchESPN
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