Winless Detroit, in danger of becoming the first National Football League team to lose every match since each club began playing a 16-game schedule in 1983, will try to end a 12-game skid here Sunday.
The toothless Lions play NFC North division leader Minnesota (7-5) in their domed stadium in what might be their best remaining chance for a victory.
"We need a win. We've got to get one," Lions center Andy McCollum said. "We got a whole quarter of this season left and we've just got to make sure nobody packs it in and make sure we get a victory out of this. Somewhere. Somehow."
Detroit's closest loss of the season was a 12-10 defeat in October at Minnesota. The Lions lineup includes former Minnesota quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who was confident Detroit can come back from the abyss.
"If we prepare to win, I think we can," Culpepper said. "It's all about getting on a winning streak and getting used to winning. When we start that, that's when all the wins are going to start coming around here.
"And I can see it. I can see it happening."
It would be a repeat of history for the Lions, who began the 2001 campaign 0-12 as well but then defeated Minnesota 27-24 at home the following week on the way to a 2-14 season.
The Vikings, however, have won 13 of their past 14 games against Detroit. Still, they know the Lions will have extra motivation.
"It can be scary. (The Lions are) going to come out fighting, that old adage of a dog backed into a corner," Vikings safety Darren Sharper said. "They are going to give us their best shot."
The Vikings have won four of their past five games and improved since the first meeting with Detroit, Minnesota star rusher Adrian Peterson said.
"Let people think what they want," he said. "I know we're going to come in prepared to play. We have definitely made some strides since then. We're a better team."
After Sunday, the Lions visit Indianapolis (7-4) on December 14, play host to New Orleans (6-5) on December 21 and visit the Green Bay Packers (5-6) to end the season December 28.
The Lions are 8-54 on the road in the past seven years and have not defeated the Packers on their home turf since 1991, a losing streak of 17 games.
