(SportsNetwork.com) - Better a thousand go free than one innocent man be punished. Thats known as Blackstones formulation in criminal law and kind of explains why embattled Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh will be playing this Sunday in Detroits wild-card playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys. While thats not a popular outcome for many who find the notorious bad boy to be a blight on the game of football, hearing officer Ted Cottrell got it right by cutting the one-game penalty down to a $70,000 fine. Suh, of course, was punished for twice stepping on Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers left leg in the fourth quarter of the Packers NFC North-clinching 30-20 victory over the Lions last Sunday at Lambeau Field. The video of the incident, though, was not nearly as damning as the one that cost Detroit center Dominic Raiola, another Lions player with a reputation that would make Conrad Dobler blush, the Week 17 contest against the Packers for his Randy Orton-like stomp of Ego Fergusons leg the week prior. In the case of Suh, you could at least make the argument that he had no idea that Rodgers was lying prone on the ground before he laid the boots to the star quarterback. And most who hate Cottrells judgment can at least understand that perspective but look at Suhs litany of misdeeds in the past as evidence that the 6- foot-4, 305-pound All-Pro had ill intent toward a player who routinely dismembers the Lions defense. This incident was the second time Suh was suspended for stepping on a player, following a two-game ban in 2011 for tap dancing on the arm of then-Packers lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith. Meanwhile, hes been fined on eight other occasions. The NFLs official statement on Suhs suspension never mentioned his past acts for good reason, however ... it couldnt. According to league rules, a player who goes 32 games without a violation is removed from the repeat-offender list. Suhs last infraction was in Week 1 of the 2013 season, when he was fined $100,000 for an illegal chop block on Vikings center John Sullivan, the biggest fine in NFL history for on-field conduct. So NFL vice president of football operation Merton Hanks was forced to limit himself to Suhs actions last Sunday. As Rodgers lay on the ground in a defenseless posture, you (Suh) backed up and stepped on his left leg with your right foot, Hanks claimed. You then inexplicably stepped on Rodgers left leg again, this time with your left foot. The video then shows that you raised your right foot, applied pressure, and unnecessarily pushed off Rodgers unprotected leg with your left foot. Rodgers reacted to your actions by pushing you away with his right hand as he lay on the ground. You did not respond in the manner of someone who had lost his balance and accidentally contacted another player who was lying on the ground. Hanks and plenty of others certainly believe that spin but the last time I looked the former 49ers ballhawk isnt Carnac the Magnificent and reasonable people could look at the same video and come to a far different conclusion. Ed Reed, the Ex-Ravens All-Pro, had a far more compelling, albeit fruitless, argument on SHOWTIMEs Inside the NFL When you have stuff like this in the game, that shouldnt be tolerated, Reed said. He probably should have (been suspended more than one game) because of the things that hes been doing up to this point -- kicking guys and really disrespecting the game of football and the brotherhood that we have. Some things you just dont do. Reeds take is far more coercive than Hanks assumptions but like most of Suhs detractors, Reed is basing his argument on the pattern, not Sunday s actions. Hanks didnt have that luxury. Think of it this way. The next time you are saddled with jury duty, you might get a burglary case with a career thief as the defendant. Any maybe that long- time criminal has a rap sheet longer than your right arm but for whatever reason judge rules that suspects past 10 arrests were inadmissible. Guess what? Youre never going to hear about those past incidents and you are going to have to make your decision based on the evidence in front of you. Thats exactly what Cottrell was facing and expecting the long-time defensive coordinator to ignore his role in order to play activist and flout the law because Suh is a bad guy is an ends-justifies-the-means mentality that we have seen fail time and time again on the personal-conduct front. Its fair to say Suh probably acted intentionally but all of our perspectives are clouded by his past, which was inadmissible. Meanwhile, if Ziggy Ansah, Jason Jones, C.J. Mosley or any other Lions defensive linemen did the same thing to Rodgers in Week 17, they wouldnt have been punished. At the bare minimum, thats plausible deniability for a serial offender like Suh and enough to keep him on the field this weekend. As for the $70K stipend? Call it a stupidity tax for Suhs ludicrous numb-feet defense. WILD-CARD WEEKEND (All Times Eastern) Arizona (11-5) at Carolina (7-8-1) (-6), Saturday, 4:35 p.m. - The Panthers didnt win a football game for over eight weeks at one point this season and now they are set to host a wild-card playoff game as the favorite. Such is life in the war of attrition that is the NFL. The NFC South champions will open up the NFL postseason against an 11-win Arizona team that will likely be relying on its third-string quarterback in Ryan Lindley. Despite ping-ponger from Carson Palmer to Drew Stanton back to Palmer and back to Stanton before Lindley due to injuries the Cardinals tied a franchise record with the 11 victories and have won 21 total games in their first two seasons under likely NFL Coach of the Year Bruce Arians. Arizona has also won four of its past six postseason games, including a 33-13 win at Carolina on Jan. 10, 2009. Its a whole new season now, Arians said. Were all 0-0 and were in the tournament. Were going to get ready for this playoff game. Were not planning on being one-and-done. Despite their less-than-stellar record, the Panthers enter the tournament red hot, having won four straight and outscoring opponents 111-43 over that span. Under head coach Ron Rivera, Carolina is the first team to win back-to-back division titles in the NFC South after taking a dominating 34-3 road win at Atlanta last weekend. In December, the Panthers are ranked second in the NFL in rushing offense (199.3 yards per game) and points allowed (10.8 points per game). We put ourselves in this position by playing the way we did in December, Rivera said. Weve won the NFC South two years in a row and thats something to build on as we move forward as a football team. Panthers 21, Cardinals 17 Baltimore (10-6) at Pittsburgh (11-5) (-3), Saturday, 8:15 p.m. - One of footballs fiercest rivalries amps up with a primetime postseason matchup. The AFC North combatants will meet after the Ravens qualified for the playoffs with a 20-10 win over Cleveland combined with a San Diego loss in Week 17, while the Steelers earned the division title with a 27-17 win over Cincinnati in the regular-season finale. Anything can happen when you get into the playoffs, said Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, who guided Baltimore to a Super Bowl title in 2012 as the No. 4 seed. The Steelers used a perfect December to lock up the AFC North and boast an . offense featuring quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (4,952 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, 103.3 passer rating), running back LeVeon Bell (1,361 rushing yards, 854 receiving yards, 11 total touchdowns) and wide receiver Antonio Brown (129 receptions for 1,698 yards and 13 touchdowns). Bell, though, is unlikely to play Saturday after hyperextending his knee against the Bengals. Were going to make the right decision, said Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin. We wont be swayed by circumstance -- the magnitude of the game and so forth. If hes healthy and able to protect himself and can be a positive contributor to our efforts, well play him. If we cant answer yes to all of those questions and then some, we wont. Its just that simple. The Steelers brought in veteran running back Ben Tate on Tuesday for insurance. Tate spent time with both Cleveland and Minnesota this season. The Ravens (0-3) have never beaten Pittsburgh in the postseason. Steelers 24, Ravens 21 Cincinnati (10-5-1) at Indianapolis (11-5) (-3 1/2), Sunday, 1:05 p.m. - Its been nearly a quarter century since the Cincinnati Bengals last won a playoff game and they will be back for a fourth straight year to try again, this time in Indianapolis on Sunday. The Bengals come in having won five of their past seven games. At the end of the day, there are only so many teams that get this opportunity, said Cincinnati left tackle Andrew Whitworth. It doesnt matter what your record is anymore. It doesnt matter where youre seeded. All that matters is if you win. Winning AFC South titles had been a way of life for the Colts over the years. Indianapolis has taken nine of the past 12 South division crowns and will be looking to build a deep playoff run off of that. Its one-and-done now, said Colts head coach Chuck Pagano. We all know the stakes get higher and its single elimination. Whatever we have to do to win a game, thats what were going to do. Were going to do whatever it takes. Back in Week 7, Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who led the NFL with 40 touchdown passes, threw two scores as Indianapolis whitewashed Cincinnati 27-0. Colts 28, Bengals 23 Detroit (11-5) at Dallas (12-4) (-7), Sunday, 4:40 p.m. - Wild Card Weekend wraps up with a matchup showcasing strength against strength as the Lions stingy defense prepares to try to stop the Cowboys explosive offense. Detroit led the NFL in rush defense (69.3 yards per game) and ranked second in total defense (300.9 yards per game), holding opponents to 100 rushing yards or fewer in 14 of the teams 16 games, including five games with 50 rushing yards or fewer. Conversely Dallas running game ranked second in the NFL (147.1 yards per game) behind the games best offensive line and Pro Bowl running back DeMarco Murray, who set a franchise-record with 1,845 rushing yards. Controlling the line of scrimmage is important, said Detroit head coach Jim Caldwell, who tied a franchise record with 11 wins in his first season with the club. Our defense has been really strong in that area throughout the year. Both teams also have dynamic quarterback-to-wide receiver connections in the Lions Matthew Stafford-to-Calvin Johnson and the Boys Tony Romo-to-Dez Bryant. Johnson compiled a franchise-record 329 receiving yards in his last game against Dallas -- the second-best single-game total in NFL history, and piled up 211 yards in his only postseason contest against the Cowboys. Romo, meanwhile, led the NFL with a club-record 113.2 passer rating and Bryants 16 receiving touchdowns were a team record and topped the league. Were just getting started and were excited about the opportunity in front of us, Romo said. Cowboys 30, Lions 20 Colorado Avalanche Shirts . -- Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh says he isnt going to change what he does on the field. 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STILLWATER, Okla. -- Brady Heslip scored a season-high 20 points to help Baylor beat No. 8 Oklahoma State 76-70 on Saturday and end a five-game losing streak. Rico Gathers scored 14 points, Gary Franklin scored all 11 of his points in the second half and Cory Jefferson had 11 points and 13 rebounds for Baylor (14-7, 2-6 Big 12), which greatly improved its fading NCAA tournament hopes. The Bears had scored fewer than 70 points in four straight games, but shot 52 per cent from the field and outrebounded the Cowboys 32-26. Markel Brown scored 24 points and made 6 of 8 3-pointers, LeBryan Nash scored 19 points for Oklahoma State (16-5, 4-4), which lost to rival Oklahoma 88-76 on Monday night. Marcus Smart added 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Cowboys, but he made just 3 of 14 field goals. Oklahoma State had rallied from a nine-point deficit to take the lead in the final five minutes before Franklin, who had scored just two points all game, drained three contested 3-pointers in just under three minutes to put Baylor in control. After the third triple, Royce ONeal stole the ball and took it in for a dunk to give Baylor a 74-67 edge with 37 seconds to play. Baylor led 21-15 in the first half before Brown hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to give the Cowboys a jolt. Kamari Murphy, who averages 5.8 points per game, scored three baskets in 2:20 to help the Cowboys tie the score at 27. Gatthers converted a 3-point play, then dunked to give Baylor a 32-29 edge.dddddddddddd Oklahoma State had a chance to take the lead at halftime, but Smart was called for his second foul on a post-up with 3.9 seconds left in the first half, and Baylor led 32-31 at the break. Oklahoma State shot 52 per cent in the first half but was outrebounded 17-12, missed four of nine free throws and committed nine turnovers. The Cowboys finally took the lead on a pair of free throws by Brian Williams in the opening minutes of the second half, but Baylor gained it right back on a 3-point play by Austin. Smart bounced the ball off a players back while inbounding, caught it, then scored and was fouled. The free throw gave the Cowboys a 41-40 lead. Baylor responded with a 6-0 run, including two baskets by Jefferson, to take a 46-41 lead, and the Bears extended that edge to 55-46 on a baseline jumper by Jefferson with just over 10 minutes to play. Oklahoma State continued to battle. Smart stole the ball and went for a layup, but Baylors 6-foot-8, 270-pound Gathers hit him hard on the way to the hoop and was called for a Flagrant 1 foul. Smart made both free throws with 7:09 remaining to cut the Bears lead to two, then on the extra possession, Smart found Brown on a lob for a two-handed dunk to tie the score at 57. Smart finally gave the Cowboys a 64-63 lead on two free throws with just over four minutes to play. ' ' '