Welcome back, everybody. I apologize for my three-week hiatus, but I guess that's what the first playoff appearance (and loss) in 12 years will do to us die-hards. For the second consecutive year, I have decided to preview the biggest game of the season the only way I know how: On Paper.

For those of you unfamiliar with my style of previews, last year's Super Bowl post has an overview of the purpose of these previews and a guide to the charts. Here's a snippet:

"On Paper" focuses on a few important stats to predict the outcome in many phases of the games. The key aspect of my previews is a focus on past game performances but taking into account the strength of the opponent. For example, a team that allows 270 passing yards in a game is seemingly having a bad day. However, if that game is against the Saints, who average around 277 passing yards a game, the defense actually did a somewhat good job holding the Saints below this average. These previews focus on such statistics that mostly go unnoticed.

The only difference from last year's style is that I have now added yellow to my charts. A yellow cell signifies that the team performed within 5% of the opposition's average.

Anyway, I will try and add some interesting statistics along the way that you can use to impress the other people at your Super Bowl party. Enjoy.

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We've waited 12 years for this moment, and it's almost here. The elusive playoffs. Though last week has left a bad taste in our mouths, focus has shifted to the deadly New Orleans Saints. The Saints are playing at an extremely high level and have literally been unbeatable at home. The Detroit Lions, too, are hitting their stride, especially on offense (averaging over 35 points in their past four games).

The two teams faced off in early December, with the Saints holding off a late comeback from the Lions. Statistically speaking, the two teams played a nearly identical game. The Saints had 338 yards passing and 100 rushing; the Lions had 379 passing, 87 rushing. The Saints averaged 7.2 a play, Lions 6.8. The biggest difference was penalties. The Lions had 11 for 107 yards, while the Saints only had three for 30.

So are the Lions doomed to stick with the Saints only to have another letdown? Will the surging Saints blow the Lions out of the water on their way to another Super Bowl run? Or will the Lions shock everyone and send the Saints home for the second consecutive wild-card weekend? All that, AND MORE, on the first ever Lions Playoff Edition of "On Paper!"

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It's the final game of the regular season, but the Detroit Lions find themselves in a completely unfamiliar spot. Instead of having little motivation to win because they are already out of the playoff race, they have little motivation to win because they already have the playoffs wrapped up. Now I know the difference between a win and a loss could mean facing New Orleans versus facing Dallas, but if the Lions are going to make a playoff run, they're going to have to go against good teams eventually. No matter what happens, the game being played next week will be more important than the game this week.

The Lions are getting healthier but will have to face some tough decisions. Should they give some players an extra week of rest, or fight for that five seed. The Packers, on the other hand, have nothing to play for. They already have the one seed wrapped up and will likely rest a good amount of starters at some point in the game. I figure most starters will get some playing time, just to stay fresh (especially considering they will have next week off), but I don't expect to see much of Aaron Rodgers and the gang past the first half. Vegas appears to have the same sentiment, as the Lions actually enter Lambeau as a 3.5-point favorite. Here's where the teams stand statistically:

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Here we are. One win away from the postseason for the first time in over a decade. Many of you predicted we would be here, others thought the schedule was too tough or that we're still a year or two away. Regardless of what we predicted, this is the reality: the Lions are 9-5 and have a very good opportunity to be playing into January.

On Christmas Eve, the Lions face a team that is in desperate need of a win to have a shot at the playoffs. After a mid-season six-game losing-streak, playoffs were the last thing on Chargers fans' minds, but after an extremely impressive three-game winning-streak, San Diego's postseason hopes are alive, though hanging by a thread. Vegas has the Lions favored by around one point. The charts, too, predict an extremely close matchup, but do they agree with the favorite? Keep reading to find out.

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After holding off the Vikings last week and Marion Barber fumbling away the game for the Bears, the Lions find themselves in a playoff spot once again. In order to stay there, the Lions will have to take down a talented Oakland Raiders team in a hostile environment this week. The Raiders are coming off of an embarrassing spanking by the undefeated Green Bay Packers. The Raiders are 7-6 overall and just 3-3 at home. The Lions are one-point road favorites this week. In other words, it's a toss-up. Let the charts decide their fates.

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The Lions face the Vikings for the second time this season. The last time the two teams met, the Lions overcame an early 20-point deficit to shock the Vikings. This week, the stakes are much higher for the Lions. If the Lions are going to make the playoffs, this is an absolute must-win for them. A loss will cost them their best opportunity for a win on the schedule and will be a devastating in-division loss, likely costing them the tiebreaker with the Bears. The 2-10 Vikings seemingly hate Detroit and would love for nothing else than to keep them out of the postseason. Let's go to the charts.

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The schedule makers in the NFL are a cruel, cruel bunch. A week after facing the defending champion Green Bay Packers on national television, the Lions are headed to the Big Easy to battle a New Orleans Saints team that just destroyed the New York Giants. Once again, the Lions will be on display for the entire nation, but not the Detroit Lions that we know. The Lions defense has been depleted by injuries and suspensions, and possibly at the least convenient time. Not surprisingly, Vegas is not optimistic about the Lions' chances this week. The Saints are around a nine-point favorite and almost all the pundits are predicting a Saints win. Will the charts provide any glimmer of hope? Only one way to find out ...

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Here we are again. Another boring Thanksgiving Day. The Lions are playing for nothing more than the opportunity to not embarrass themselves on a national stage. Get ready to shove stuffing down your throats to kill the pain of another Lions loss ... what? What's that you say, little voice in my head? The Lions are 7-3 and in the midst of a heated playoff race? The Packers are coming into this game undefeated, but on a one-game losing streak at Ford Field? Why, that sounds like a somewhat entertaining matchup. Yes, yes it does, and I think everyone in Detroit agrees.

Ford Field will be rocking on Thursday as the Lions face their toughest opponent of the year. Vegas isn't giving Detroit much of a chance, making them seven-point underdogs. However, the word of the almighty chart has yet to be heard.

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