It used to be that we just worried about price and brand name when shopping for a new TV, not anymore.

Now you have to know the lingo, plasma, LCD, LED ...

It's enough to make you feel like Lions quarterback Matt Stafford getting sacked by the New Orleans Saints. We caught up with Jason and Melanie Kruise shopping at the Art Van Store on 14 Mile.

He told us, "We have no idea what we're looking at, they all look the same."

Certainly, we cannot answer all your TV buying questions, but we can give you some things to think about before you head to the store.

So, here's the Ruth to the Rescue TV Shopping Playbook, just in time for all those pre-Super Bowl sales.

Up first- what kind of t-v would be perfect for watching the big game?

Paul's TV sales associate Brian Correa told us, "Plasma has the highest refresh rate, great fluidity of motion, wonderful coloration, and really for sports, particularly football, you know the best way to capture the game."

A sales expert at Best Buy agreed, telling us that if you watch a lot of sports, a plasma is probably the most affordable television you can find.

But wait a minute, the plasma isn't always the perfect choice. Itts screen can be susceptible to a nasty glare. So, before you head to the store, Todd Williams from Best Buy says to ask yourself, " Where is the TV going to be located and what type of room what type of lighting do you have, so that's going to be really important."

The sales associates we talked to both agreed an LED TV will have a better picture in rooms with lots of light. They're also more energy efficient, have a longer life, and have great internet features. Another thing you should know, the LCD and the LED are basically the same thing, but the LED's are even more energy efficient , brighter, and looks great anywhere. Right now, the LCD's are still less expensive, but once the prices come down on the LED's, you'll probably just see plasmas and LED's on store shelves as the LCD goes away.

If you're looking to play lots of video games on a new TV, you have to get more in-depth on what you're looking for. We're told you need a TV with at least 120 hertz processor.. and you should check the resolution. A higher resolution will make the experience much better. Williams told us, " If you bought a Playstation Three which has 1080p resolution, and you want to maximize what that Playstation three can do, you need to have a television that is 1080p."

Now, might also be a good time to start looking at "smart" TV's. They allow you to surf the internet and stream movies and music without having to be wired to other appliances. You will pay more for the smarter TV's, but Williams calls a smart TV a good investment, especially when the pre-game sales are bringing prices lower.

There's a saying that "knowledge is power", we're hoping this article has given you more information to use when you head to the store to look at TV's.

Of course, ask the salespeople questions, a lot of questions. You're going to have that TV for a long time, so make sure its a good fit for you, your family, and your home.

Finally, Art Van's Correa offers a few final tips:

1. Look for information about the stores before you go to browse. Know their policies on delivery and refunds. Make sure you can expect good customer service.

2. Do some research on price. You want to make sure you're looking at stores that are in the same ballpark, so you don't overpay.

3. In the end, don't overcomplicate things. If you're a casual TV viewer who doesn't want all the bells and whistles, focus on the basics and get a TV you can afford that does what YOU need.