--The Vikings are 15-2 against the Lions since the 2000 season, losing at Detroit in 2001 and 2007. The 2007 loss was the first in 11 games.

--The Vikings are 28-18-1 all-time against the Lions in Detroit. Their 62 all-time victories versus Detroit are the most against any opponent in the NFL.

--The Lions actually won the first five games of the series from 1961 to 1963 but have won only 25 of the 89 games since that streak.

--The Vikings have played the Thanksgiving Day game at Detroit only three times in their history, going 2-1 against their longtime division rival. Minnesota has not visited Detroit on Thanksgiving since Nov. 23, 1995 when it lost 44-38. The Vikings also have played at Dallas on Thanksgiving three times.

--S Darren Sharper posted his first career interception when he picked off Lions quarterback Scott Mitchell on Nov. 2, 1997 and returned it 50 yards while playing for the Green Bay Packers. Sharper has at least one interception in four of his six games against Detroit since joining the Vikings.

--P Chris Kluwe set a Vikings record with a 57.5-yard gross punting average (230 yards on four punts) on Sept. 16, 2007 at Detroit. That broke Mitch Berger's mark of 55.8 set in 1998 against Cincinnati.

BY THE NUMBERS: 3 - The Vikings' NFL-leading total of blocked field goals this season. The team also leads the NFL with nine opposing team's missed field goals, including blocks.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It really doesn't matter what my thoughts are. It is what it is and we're staying right here in the now and right now we're not going to have them." - Coach Brad Childress when asked if he thought the four-game suspensions for Pro Bowl defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams was fair.