--Left guard Edwin Mulitalo said the Lions aren't in a position to think they have any advantage, even if Williams and Williams don't play. "It would be different if we had won some games," Mulitalo said. "We don't have any room to say, 'Hey, it might be easier.' Yeah, it's going to be felt on that defense, but nothing that we can say, 'It's going to be an easier game.' "

--Coach Rod Marinelli has no sympathy for the Vikings. No one is giving him any sympathy because he likely will be without his starting defensive ends against the league's leading rusher, Adrian Peterson. Left end Jared DeVries is on injured reserve. Right end Dewayne White is doubtful with a calf strain. "This league, nobody has sympathy for nobody," Marinelli said. "That's what makes it beautiful. No, it is. That's the part of this league I love. There's no excuses, no crybabies. Just line up and do your job, because nobody cares."

--The Lions have only two interceptions this season, worst in the NFL, and only one by a defensive back. But that one was by cornerback Leigh Bodden against Minnesota quarterback Gus Frerotte in the Lions' 12-10 loss Oct. 12 at the Metrodome. "We just had a good call when they ran that play," Bodden said. "He threw it, and I was able to get it. This year, when I got things covered, it's like they don't throw it. Hopefully I can play a lot of tight coverage again this week and be in position to get another pick. That's my goal." Does that pick give him some confidence entering the game? "I always got confidence," he said. "But the way this season is going, yeah, it gives me confidence that maybe I can repeat that this week."

--Quarterback Daunte Culpepper said he doesn't want to show anything to the Vikings, who traded him to Miami in 2006. "I want to get a win," Culpepper said. "As far as my days in Minnesota, it was what it was. I don't have any ill feelings towards them. I'm just excited about the opportunity I have right now." Culpepper has already had his reunion with the Vikings. He played at Minnesota last year with Oakland. "Going back and playing at Minnesota, that was very exciting for me," Culpepper said. "I think it's very exciting. It wasn't awkward at all. Football's football. We went up there. Obviously we didn't win, but it was fun to go up there and go against a lot of my old friends. It's a similar situation now. I'm just with a different team, but the opportunity's still great."

--Jason Hanson has been a vocal leader lately. Marinelli doesn't think it's strange that the player stepping up is his kicker. "Not strange at all," Marinelli said. "He's one of our captains. He was voted by this team to be a captain, so he is a leader by the team electing him. But he is strong. He leads by example. He leads by practice. He leads in every phase of it. When he does say something, everybody listens. They all listen, because he chooses his words wisely."

BY THE NUMBERS: 5 -- Quarterbacks who have attempted a pass for the Lions this season, most in team history since at least 1960.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's hard when you put everything you've got into it in the off-season and this happens. It's hard, man. It's hard for people to be around me. It's hard when I leave here. It's hard everywhere I go. You're embarrassed. It's embarrassing." -- C Dominic Raiola, on dealing with being 0-12.