Detroit (6-4) welcomes Minnesota (6-4) to Ford Field for the Lions’ 77th annual Thanksgiving Day Classic
The Lions and Vikings have clashed before in the Thanksgiving Day game three times in the teams’ series history, including most recently in 1995 when Detroit won 44-38. In the two teams’ meeting earlier this season, Detroit defeated Minnesota 22-16 in its first-ever trip to U.S. Bank Stadium.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS at DETROIT LIONS – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24 – 12:30 p.m. ET
TRANSACTIONS
- The Lions have signed QB Jake Rudock to the active roster from the practice squad. The move was in response to other teams interested in signing Rudock to their roster.
INJURY REPORT
- The following players have been listed on the Detroit Lions Injury Report today: DE Ezekiel Ansah (ankle), S Don Carey (hamstring), C/G Graham Glasgow (ankle), LB DeAndre Levy (knee), RB Theo Riddick (ankle) and DT Khyri Thornton (foot) were limited in practice. GAME STATUS: Ansah, Carey, Glasgow, Levy, Riddick and Thornton are questionable.
- The following players have been listed on the Minnesota Vikings Injury Report today: WR Stefon Diggs (knee), DT Sharrif Floyd (knee), CB Terence Newman (neck) and CB Marcus Sherels (rib/ankle) did not practice. LB Eric Kendricks (hip), CB Captain Munnerlyn (ankle) and S Harrison Smith (ankle) were limited in practice. CB Mackensie Alexander (shoulder), DT Tom Johnson (illness) and S Andrew Sendejo (illness) participated in full practice. GAME STATUS: Floyd and Sherels are out. Newman is doubtful. Diggs, Kendricks, Munnerlyn and Smith are questionable.
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL…
On DE Ezekiel Ansah’s four-sack performance on Thanksgiving Day against the Eagles in 2015: “If you just look at the numbers it’s rare. You know what I mean? It’s a pretty special day. You don’t have many like that, but he’s a pretty special guy, too, but that was a while back.”
On what makes a quarterback good in late-game comeback situations: “I’m not going to get into comparisons between who does what. Let me tell you why our guy is good because he’s unflappable. He has a real good sense of timing in terms of when to get the ball out. He’s gallant. He’s daring. Like I mentioned before, he’s not afraid to lose. He likes big moments. Oftentimes I’ve seen through my long career that sometimes individuals shrink back from that moment. They don’t want the ball in their hands. They are afraid to lose and they play like it. He has that, but then he also has confidence. He’s never lacked any. He’s a believer in himself and I think his teammates also believe in him as well and they execute for him and they catch the ball for him. Those are things that I think make a huge difference. He’s got the poise and moxie and all of those things that go along with it.”
On if there are required attributes quarterbacks like Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Stafford must have that make them good in late-game comeback situations: “No, because you’ll find some guys do it differently, but I think every one of those guys, obviously superior talents, superior focus and great leaders. All of those things are part of it, but I think all of those guys have similar qualities, but may express it differently.”
On if players realize the significance of playing on Thanksgiving: “I think so, but I think you have to experience it. They hear about it, they watched it on television the great majority of them. You know, just kind of on my way back and forth home the last couple days I’ve heard different guys talk about the game. Matter of fact, I think Brett Favre was on the radio talking about Thanksgiving Day games and how special they were, et cetera. I think you have to experience it and then you get certainly real, either like with us, you know, we have an opportunity to play at home all the time, or other places when they have to go somewhere and participate in it. You know, there’s some unique things about it because of the fact, number one, that you’re fortunate and you do get an opportunity to kind of take part in almost everybody in the nation’s Thanksgiving Day celebration. You’ve got a lot to be thankful for in that regard. I think the guys look at it and say, hey, you know what, this is a great opportunity for all eyes to be on us. If we want to show how good we are, how well we play, how tough we are, you know, this is a grand stage. It’s almost as big as it gets, except for maybe one or two games in our league, so it’s pretty special in that regard. It’s a lot of fun.”
On if winning on Thanksgiving makes Thanksgiving dinner sweeter: “You know, we’ve had our Thanksgiving Day celebration on various days after or before, you know, in some cases, but regardless I mean, there’s nothing like winning in this league, you know. But the winning is also hard to come by. We have as tough as an opponent as we’re going to ever face on this particular day. A team that plays hard, tough, gritty, they’re well coached, you know, they have excellent players. It’s going to be a real challenge for us, but certainly thankful to be a part of it.”
On if he’s praying for LB DeAndre Levy to be healthy for Week 12: “I think there’s time and a rhythm to everything. I think whenever he’s ready, he’ll be ready. The thing that we don’t do in any case regardless of who it is, I think when you start putting your focus on one individual coming back or not coming back, then you’re saying to the rest of your team that, ‘We don’t think you can do it without this guy, or without that guy.’ In our business, we have to win regardless of what the situations are. So, we focus in on the guys that are there, that are with us. The guys that are going to play for us, the guys that are going to make a difference in the game. If we happen to get some help coming back, the cavalry does indeed return, which we’re not waiting for the cavalry. We’re trying to get a win. So that’s kind of how we look at it, he’s a great player. Any guy that we’ve missed over the couple weeks, we didn’t have (Darius) Slay a couple weeks ago, there’s a number of guys that have been missing. But our focus is on trying to get the guys that we have that are capable and ready to go, ready to play the game. We’re not praying for a miracle in that regard. Whenever it happens, good Lord has him ready to go, he’ll be ready to go.”
On the development of the Vikings pass rush since Week 9 and the challenge it brings: “They always put pressure on you, that’s what they do. That’s why they keep the scores down so low, they get after you. It’s always been their MO and will always continue to be. You just know and understand you’re going to have to deal with that, that’s why they can make you look bad sometimes. But then also, a catch in the flat and one missed tackle they can turn it from five-yard gain into a 40-yard gain. That’s what you have to do, but you have to sometimes be patient along with that as well, and just don’t turn the ball over.”
On captains for Week 12 against Minnesota: “Riley Reiff on offense, Tavon Wilson special teams and Tahir Whitehead on defense.”
Jim Caldwell praised his team for grinding out wins after the Lions became the first team in NFL history to finish their first 10 games by a margin of seven points or fewer. Listen to Caldwell discussing the team’s character.
LIONS FANS SHOULD EXPECT ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC ON THANKSGIVING DAY
Lions fans attending Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field (November 24, 2016; 12:30 PM) should be prepared for additional road closures due to America’s Thanksgiving Parade and Turkey Trot races. The Turkey Trot 10K starts at 7:30 AM, followed by the Turkey Trot 5K at 8:30 AM. America’s Thanksgiving Parade is scheduled to begin at 8:50 AM on Woodward Ave. near Kirby St. and ends on Woodward Ave. near Congress St.
Guests coming to the game are advised to exit the freeway on whichever side of Woodward Ave. they plan to park. For those parking at lots surrounding Ford Field, please exit on the east side of Woodward Ave. If planning to park away from the stadium, exit on the west side of Woodward Ave.
America’s Thanksgiving Parade and Turkey Trot 5K and 10K Closures
- Woodward Ave. will be closed completely from W. Grand Blvd. to Warren Ave. from Wednesday, November 23 at 5 PM through Thursday, November 24 at 2 PM.
- Woodward Ave. will be shut down from Warren Ave. to Jefferson Ave. beginning at 2 AM until the parade concludes on Thursday, November 24.
- There will be pedestrian breaks throughout the parade near the stadium for pedestrians to cross Woodward Ave. at Montcalm St., Elizabeth St., Adams Ave. and Park Ave. /Witherell St.
- Southbound M-10 will be closed from Larned St. exit to W. Jefferson ramp and the Northbound M-10 Jefferson exit, this includes the closure of the Joe Louis Arena parking lot until 10:30 AM.
- The signals at I-75 will be replaced as soon as the parade passes to assist with game day traffic.
Detroit People Mover
The Detroit People Mover will have free rides from 6 AM to 7 PM on Thanksgiving. Please visit the Detroit People Mover’s website for locations, http://www.thepeoplemover.com/
Detroit Lions schedule.