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ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Every year, the Detroit Lions head up to Wisconsin to take on the Green Bay Packers. Every year, they come home with another loss.
Detroit has lost every time it has traveled to play Green Bay since 1991, 24 straight games. Some have been close, like a 16-13 overtime loss in 2005. Some have been have been blowouts, like a 40-14 setback in 2002. But they've all been losses.
When asked to reminisce about what he was doing they last time the Lions won in Green Bay, Matthew Stafford said, "I was probably still sucking my thumb."
Darryl Tapp said he was, "probably chilling somewhere, drinking a juice box."
The Lions, who have clinched a spot in the playoffs, will cap off the regular season Sunday in Green Bay with a chance to finally end the lengthy losing streak.
"This is a whole different group from any other group that has been there," Tapp said. "Yeah, there's a stigma about (Lambeau Field). It's a hard place to play, but we take each task as it is. Winning this game is the only thing we're really worried about."
Jim Caldwell said there are certain negative streaks associated with every program. He remembers answering questions about the Colts' inability to win in the state of Florida.
Those things don't concern him.
"They're great narratives for (media and fans), but they don't mean a whole lot to us," Caldwell said. "What matters is getting ready for this game, focusing in on this game and going in and doing your job.
"We approach it like we do any other game. It's not the Super Bowl, so you have to look at it for what it is and go out and play well."
Although Caldwell preaches the one-game-at-a-time mentality, this one will mean a little more for him. Caldwell grew up in Beloit, Wisconsin and will have plenty of family and friends at the game.
"Quite a few of them are asking for tickets, but just like when they came here for the game, I might have to lift up their shirt to make certain there's not a Packers shirt underneath," Caldwell said. "I do have some die-hard Packers fans in my family."
Not only can the Lions snap the skid with a win. They can also claim their first divisional title since 1993 and a first-round bye.
"I'm excited to go on the road and get another win," Ndamukong Suh said. "I don't really care if it's in Lambeau or Chicago or Minnesota — we go each and every one of those places every year. We should be used to it by now. We have to deal with the elements as they come."
The Packers are one of just three teams in the NFL, along with New England and Denver, with a perfect home record this season. Green Bay has outscored opponents by an average of nearly 21 points at Lambeau Field, with all but two games decided by a touchdown or more.
But Detroit, which can post its first winning record in road games since 2011 with a victory Sunday, and the players say they are up for the challenge.
"Since I have been here, it's the best defense we have had, no question," Stafford said. "Any time you can go on the road with a defense like we have, it gives you a chance to win. And we have belief in each other. We have done it time and time again, whether it be at home or on the road. We won over in London, overseas. It doesn't matter where we play, we just want to go play."
Stafford will have one big offensive hurdle to overcome Sunday. His center, Dominic Raiola, will be sidelined after the league suspended him for an incident in Sunday's win over Chicago.
Travis Swanson will take over for Raiola. Stafford says it shouldn't be too much of a problem because he and Swanson take reps together every Wednesday and Thursday during practice.
"Raiola is a very intelligent player. Obviously, he has 14 years of experience under his belt. You can't replace that with a guy that's young," Stafford said. "But Swanson has gotten a chance to learn under Dom for quite some time now . and he has a bunch of that knowledge stored up from this year. I'll do everything I can to help him."
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