As Tweeted, this is a "heads-up" game for me. I love reading the team releases and discovering tidbits to share during the call with PETE and GREG, but off the two-game losing streak, given it's a divisional game and the focus needs to be on CHRISTIAN and Detroit's quirky running game, the game-calling depth chart not as meaty as previous weeks.

Simply put, we have to win this game to regain confidence, achieve a badly needed win and to get the QB feeling better about his performances. As you will see, when Detroit inserts extra OL REILLY REIFF, the rookie first-rounder from Iowa, the rushing attack has become powerful. In the 23 Lions-Vikings games I have called I cannot remember ever sweating a Detroit Lions' running game, and will not do it tomorrow.

I know our rushing defense has struggled badly the last month and the tackling has fallen off at times, but I feel we will halt their rushing ways and need to focus on hitting MATTHEW STAFFORD and continuing to do a good job versus CALVIN, TITUS and BRANDON. Pettigrew dropped an easy TD versus us at Ford Field, one that could have changed the game.

I am super excited to get on to the field at 10:10 a.m. for the pregame speculation with coaches and players. There part of the plan is unveiled to me as background for the game call, and it's a treat to see if the plan is excuted. If it's not and we lose and go to 5-and-5 it could be a very chilly December.

-- The Vikings have allowed an average of 165 RYPG the last four. When Bercich and I chat it out at 11 a.m. I will ask him why it has fallen off so badly, and he'll have the right answer.

-- The Vikings are an awful minus six in the take-give.

-- HARRISON SMITH has 22 tackles the last two games. Might start calling him "Harry the Hitman" during the call.

-- CHAD GREENWAY has 32 tackles the last two games, and according to NFL.com leads the NFL in tackles with 94.

-- KEVIN WILLIAMS will start his 150th game tomorrow. he has four defensive TD's, tied for most in team lore. Same for WINFIELD, who is stuck on four defensive TD's.

-- Winfield has just six tackles and zero TFL's the last two games.

-- CB AJ JEFFERSON registered five tackles at Seattle.

-- Stafford has thrown four game-winning passes in the final minute of games.

-- Stafford threw for 319 yards, zero TD's and zero picks when we won at Ford Field.

-- Detroit is second in the NFL, averaging 410 YPG.

-- Detroit averages 307 PYPG, tops in the NFL.

-- The Lions have rushed for 10 TD's, including four last week at Jacksonville. They had nine all of last year.

-- Reiff, the rookie with short arms from Iowa, played a season-high 33 snaps versus the Jags. He has been in the game for six of Detroit's 10 rushing scores, including all four at JAX. The go "unbalanced" with him and utilize thre extra OL set.

-- The Lions have 200 first downs, second most in the NFL.

-- K JASON HANSON has led the Lions in scoring for 18 consecutive seasons. He has 19 GW FG's. He is 11-for-14 this season from 40 and beyond. His career long is 56 (two times), and his last 56-yarder was in 2008 at Carolina.

-- RB JOIQUE BELL is fourth in the NFL amongst RB's with 263 receiving yards.

-- Calvin Johnson caught five passes for 54 yards against us at Ford Field.

-- Stafford has four games this season with at least 300 passing yards. He only has been sacked 15 times through eight. Ponder has been sacked 13 times the last four.

-- BLAIR WALSH'S only miss this year was wide left from 46 at Ford Field. Kid is 19 of 20 this year with two accurate bombs from 55.

-- CHRIS KLUWE averaged 39 YPP in his 13 kicks up to the Seattle game. He responded with three punts for an average of 48 yards. He also did a masterful job holding for Walsh's 55-yarder as FRED EVANS ran on the field late and with the play clock winding down.

-- FB JEROME FELTON played 2008-2010 with the Lions.

-- TE KYLE RUDOLPH has two catches for 17 yards the last three games.

-- WR JEROME SIMPSON caught four balls for 50 yards at Ford Field and also put two PI calls on rookie CB BILL BENTLEY, who is out for the season now.

-- Ponder threw for 111 yards and zero TD's/picks at Ford Field.

-- Ponder is averaging 227 PYPG at home with six TD's and four picks.

-- ADRIAN PETERSON leads the NFL with 957 rushing yards. He went for 182 and two at Seattle. He has six 100-yard games against Detroit. He is averaging 152 RYPG the last three.

-- DEVIN AROMASHODU hasn't caught a pass in a month.

-- OLB JUSTIN DURANT leads Detroit in tackles.

-- The Lions have allowed just two rushing TD's this year, tied for third in the NFL.

-- The Lions have won three of four games since losing to the Vikings.