Lions hope to prove they're not that bad

DETROIT -- The only way most of the nation has been able to judge the Detroit Lions for the last three seasons is this: 8 wins, 35 losses.

So when the Lions face Green Bay in their traditional Thanksgiving television slot today, they hope to show the nation they're not really that bad.

"Definitely that gives you some extra motivation," Detroit cornerback Dre' Bly says. "The whole world will be watching."

While the Lions (3-8) are playing for respect and their third straight win at home, Green Bay (6-5) is seeking to improve its playoff prospects. The Packers have won two straight and three of four to pull within a game of the NFC North-leading Minnesota Vikings and also have a shot at a wild-card playoff spot.

"We're feeling pretty good, but we're not satisfied," says the Packers' Gilbert Brown, a Detroit native. "We've got to keep pushing."

Brown watched the Lions play on Thanksgiving when he was growing up -- as long as it didn't interfere with his family's spread.

"First and foremost on our mind, was eating that turkey," the 340-pound defensive tackle said. "The second thing was, if football was on when we were eating, then we would watch it.

"Where I'm from, we love to eat."

The night before every Green Bay game in Detroit, Brown invites all his teammates to dine with his family. At least 20 may show up.

"On Thanksgiving, the meal you get is bigger. It's all coming out of my pocket so I've got to watch the menu," he said. "I'm responsible for fronting the money to get the food on the table. I just sent a couple grand home and told them to take care of it."

The Lions have been playing on Thanksgiving Day since 1934, before 24 current NFL teams existed.

"It's an American tradition that's full of family and football," Lions coach Steve Mariucci said. "It's even more special to play the Packers."

Green Bay was once the annual opponents for the Lions. The Packers have made the most appearances against the Lions on Thanksgiving and are 5-10-1.

This season, the Packers have relied on their running game, in part because quarterback Brett Favre has an injured thumb. The team leads the NFL with 173.5 yards rushing per game.

In Sunday's 20-10 win against San Francisco, Ahman Green ran for 154 yards and his backups, Najeh Davenport and Tony Fisher, combined for 87 yards on 17 carries.

Green, who against the 49ers set franchise records with his fourth straight 100-yard game and his eighth of the season, leads the NFC with 1,326 yards on the ground.

"It's a very cohesive, very unselfish group," coach Mike Sherman said. "Our receivers are not catching the ball at the same rates, we're not throwing the ball at the same rate of frequency that we have in the past, but they're unselfish."

Detroit quarterback Joey Harrington is coming off a four-interception performance, his first since his first game as a starter last year against Green Bay.

Harrington's last two interceptions in the final minutes at Minnesota were returned for scores and turned a close game into the Lions' 22nd straight road loss.

"I'm recovering knowing that I'm playing Brett Favre and the Packers on national TV on Thanksgiving Day," Harrington said. "You don't need any more motivation that that.

"Last week was painful, in more ways than one, but you come back and get ready to play. If you can't get yourself up to play for this game, then I think you're doing the wrong job."