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AP File PhotoJeff Garcia was 37-of-45 for 316 yards against Detroit last season in a losing effort.

ALLEN PARK - If the Detroit Lions are going to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Lions coach Rod Marinelli knows he has to turn the game into a track meet, as in Jeff Garcia running and a lot of Lions chasing him.

Garcia, the Bucs' veteran quarterback, lost two fumbles in last year's game between the two teams and was a big reason why the Lions won, 23-16. In that game, though, Garcia completed 37 passes in 45 attempts for 316 yards and, at one point, completed 18 straight passes.

"You've got to rush him extremely hard, because one thing you can't do is start getting too soft with him, because then he'll sit and pick you apart,'' Marinelli said. "Somebody's got to shoot his gun at him, if you miss you've got to overlap your rush lines, save your speed, and stay alive. You've just got to chase him all over the field.''

Press File PhotoJeff Garcia didn't fare so well in his return to Detroit last season.

Five players to watch when the Detroit Lions (0-10) host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Ford Field:

1. Jeff Garcia
The former Lions quarterback fumbled twice in a loss at Ford Field last year. Forget about it. He is performing at a much higher level for the Bucs in their fight for the NFC South title with the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints this season.

He's the NFL's No. 8-rated passer -- ahead of Jay Cutler, Matt Ryan, Donovan McNabb and both Peyton and Eli Manning.

Lions head coach Rod Marinelli indicated today that it's highly unlikely that center Dominic Raiola (thumb) and receiver Mike Furrey (concussion) will play Sunday against the Bucs but he's hopeful they'll both be ready for the Titans game on Thanksgiving. Defensive end Dewayne White (calf) is not expected to play on Sunday and appears doubtful for the Tennessee game.

There've been a couple of minor skirmishes between some members of the media and Detroit Lions head coach Rod Marinelli. It has some MLive readers wondering what the media has to gain by Marinelli lashing out and demoralizing his team.

But Marinelli doesn't mind the aggressive questioning, says MLive Lions Insider Tom "Killer" Kowalski. Instead, he uses it to his advantage.

Some fans may clamor for the Detroit Lions to fire head coach Rod Marinelli immediately, if for no other reason than for the team to send a message that it's serious about change.

But this is one scenario where MLive Lions Insider Tom Kowalski thinks the Lions are making the right decision to keep the third-year coach on board, and to evaluate when the season's over.

ALLEN PARK -- With Jason Hanson on quite a kicking tear these days, it would be safe to assume that if the Detroit Lions needed a long field goal to help notch their first victory of the season, Hanson should come through.

Well, there could be one problem. The Lions will be starting a three-game homestand Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and if Hanson must boot a long field goal, the Lions' logo at the middle of the field will come into play.

Despite Detroit's 0-10 record and its title as the only winless team in the league, Lions insider Tom Kowalski said players haven't quit on coach Rod Marinelli.

"I have not seen any fracturing of this team at all this year," Kowalski said during his weekly hour-long show, The Point After on WDFN.

Because more than 6,500 tickets remained unsold by the 1 p.m. Thursday deadline, the Lions' game on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be blacked out on local television. It's the third straight blackout for the Lions -- ending a string of 50 straight sellouts at Ford Field.

There are still about 1,000 tickets left for Detroit's game against the Tennessee Titans on Thanksgiving. That game has to be sold out prior to 1 p.m. Monday to have the blackout lifted.

Receiver Calvin Johnson, after missing one day with a thigh injury, returned to practice on Thursday and will start Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Receiver Mike Furrey, who was sidelined last week after suffering a concussion against Jacksonville, went through some individual drills but it's unlikely he'll play.

Center Dominic Raiola didn't work out on Wednesday but was ruled out for Sunday's game. Raiola (broken right thumb) is waiting for a special cast that might allow him to play and snap with his right hand. Defensive end Dewayne White (calf) did not practice and isn't expected to play.

Dustin: Marinelli seems to be obsessed with Culpepper and he has only been with the team for two weeks, what is it about Stanton that him and the other coaches just don't like?

Tom Kowalski: Head coaches love veteran quarterbacks. You're right, Culpepper hasn't "proven'' anything yet, but look around the league and see how veterans have replaced young up-and-comers -- Kerry Collins in Tennessee, Kurt Warner in Arizona and Gus Frerotte in Minnesota, to name a few.

Let's wait and see how the Culpepper thing works out. If he continues to show progress the rest of this sesaon, he'll go into next year as the starter and Stanton will be looking at a backup role. If Culpepper levels off and doesn't show anything special, the quarterback job should be wide open.

If you have a Lions-related question you'd like to get answered, please e-mail me. I'll take the best questions and answer them both in my blog and also on my radio show Thursday night on WDFN. Please include your name, hometown and state.

Rob Widdis | The Grand Rapids PressDaunte Culpepper heads onto the field before his first home game with the Detroit Lions on Nov. 9.

ALLEN PARK -- It's not often that an NFL coach acknowledges he made a mistake, but the Detroit Lions' Rod Marinelli says he may have goofed in signing free-agent quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Not that he signed him, but that he didn't sign him sooner.

Marinelli has done nothing but rave about Culpepper since the nine-year veteran joined the Lions a few weeks ago.

"I'm thankful he's here," Marinelli said Wednesday as the 0-10 Lions prepared to face the 7-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Ford Field. "I'm very lucky and very fortunate."