Rams, Lions to give starters more time

DETROIT -- Other than on Thanksgiving, the nation has rarely had a chance to see how bad the Detroit Lions have been in recent years.

The Lions haven't played a nationally televised game in prime time since 2001, when St. Louis beat them 35-0 -- one of their NFL-high 48 losses the past four years.

Even though it will be just a preseason game, Detroit hopes to show it is not a laughingstock anymore when it hosts the Rams tonight.

"It's a special chance for us to showcase what we can do," Detroit's Terrence Holt said. "With John Madden and Al Michaels up in the booth, we can show everybody that this is a new team, not the same old Lions."

Both teams will be playing their third exhibition game, which is traditionally the one in which coaches use their starters longer than usual in the preseason.

"It's as close to the real thing as you're going to get in August," Detroit's Eddie Drummond said.

The Lions plan to have their first-string offense and defense play the entire first half and part of the third quarter.

"The halftime score is going to be important," Detroit coach Steve Mariucci said.

St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger expects to play about three quarters, and he's looking forward to working out some kinks on offense.

"I don't think we've been consistent; that's what the preseason is for" Bulger said. "At times, we've looked pretty good."

Rams coach Mike Martz said his offense, which will have Tom Nutten moving from right to left guard, is starting to gel.

"It's time to kind of settle in on some things, just play together over a long period of time," Martz said. "That cohesiveness is what we're looking for."

Terrence Holt said he's going to be looking for his older brother, Torry, when the Rams have the ball.

"I can't lie and say I haven't been waiting on this game for a while," Terrence Holt said. "We both have."

While Torry Holt has established himself as one of the NFL's top receivers in St. Louis during his six-year career, Terrence Holt enters his third season as a regular starter at free safety for the first time.

"When I watch him on film, I always get a little choked up," Torry Holt told the Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat earlier this week. "Seeing him as a little youth running around, and now he's a professional athlete and I have the opportunity to go against him.

"Man, it just brings a lot of joy, a lot of smiles to my face."

The Holts faced each other for the first time -- other than backyard games -- in a regular season game two years ago.

"I didn't make a play on him," Terrence Holt said.

If he gets a chance to hit his brother Monday night, how will he react?

"It's tough," Terrence Holt said. "I'll say that I'll try to hit him harder, but I know if I had the choice, I'd hit him lighter. But when I'm out there on the field, I don't think about any of that. I play him like a number.

"After the game's over, we'll give each other a hug and I'll wish him well for the rest of the season."

The Lions will debut their alternate black jerseys, which they will also wear twice in the regular season.