THE STORY: Teams trying to build momentum for the 2011 season meet Sunday when the Minnesota Vikings visit Ford Field for the regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions. Minnesota is 3-2 under interim coach Leslie Frazier and coming off a big win in Philadelphia. Detroit has won three straight games for the first time since 2007 and posted road wins in consecutive weeks, beating Tampa Bay and Miami for the first time since 1993.
TV: Detroit, 1 p.m. EST, FOX
OPENING LINE: Detroit -3, O/U 42
WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the upper 20s with 10 percent chance of precipitation
ABOUT DETROIT (5-10): Second-year head coach Jim Schwartz finally appears to be turning fortunes around in the Motor City after the club won a total of two games in 2008-09. The Lions snapped an NFL-record 26 game road losing streak two weeks ago against Tampa Bay and another NFL record of 19 straight divisional losses the week previous against Green Bay. Detroit used two interceptions and scored 17 points in the final 4 ½ minutes to rally past the Dolphins 34-27 last week. Shaun Hill completed 14 of 26 passes for 222 yards and one TD to go with a season-high 108.2 passer rating.
ABOUT MINNESOTA (6-9): Minnesota was one of the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl in preseason, but a turnover-happy Brett Favre and an underperforming defense combined to put Minnesota behind the eight ball early in the season. Favre was being investigated by the NFL for inappropriate behavior and dealing with several injuries while having a public spat with head coach Brad Childress. The Vikings made a change when Childress was mercifully terminated after a 31-3 loss to Green Bay dropped them to 3-8.
WHO'S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Detroit is averaging 22.8 points per game, good enough for 14th in the NFL. The last time the Lions ranked higher was 1997, when Detroit averaged 23.7 points – fourth best in the league. The offense has committed no turnovers in the last two games. Lions rookie Ndamukong Suh leads all defensive tackles with nine sacks and was selected to the Pro Bowl along with wide receiver Calvin Johnson – the first Lions picked since 2006. Suh is the first Detroit rookie selected since Barry Sanders in 1989 and the first Lions defensive rookie since Al Baker in 1978.
QUARTERBACKS: Minnesota rookie Joe Webb had an impressive starting debut Tuesday in a 24-14 victory over the Eagles. Playing in place of injured starter Brett Favre and backup Tarvaris Jackson, Webb ran for a touchdown and committed no turnovers on the road. Hill, who along with starter Matthew Stafford has been injured twice this season, will be appearing in his 11th game this season. He’s completed over 60 percent of his passes for 2,428 yards with 15 TDs, 11 interceptions and 16 sacks. He’s passed for over 220 yards in every game he’s started and finished this season.
RECENT HISTORY: Minnesota beat Detroit 24-10 on Sept. 26 for its sixth straight win in the series. Peterson ran for a season-high 160 yards on 23 carries, including a career-long 80-yard TD scamper in the fourth that salted away the game. Hill passed for 237 yards on 43 attempts and threw two picks and the Lions were limited to 63 yards rushing. Minnesota has won the last two here and is 17-2 in the series since 2001.
KEY INJURIES: Detroit, WR Calvin Johnson (ankle); LB Landon Johnson (concussion); CB Chris Houston (shoulder); CB Tye Hill (undisclosed). Minnesota: WR Sidney Rice (concussion); LB E.J. Henderson (head); QB Brett Favre (concussion); S Madieu Williams (head); G Steve Hutchinson (thumb)
LAST WORD: This game is important for the Lions, who can post their first four-game winning streak since 1999 and head into the offseason with an abundance of confidence and positive vibes. A solid performance by Webb will allow the Minnesota organization to breathe a little easier entering the offseason since Favre is likely done and Jackson isn’t signed.