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.''

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.

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."

Stuart Schweigert really isn't sure how his career got derailed so suddenly, but now his focus is getting it back on track with the Detroit Lions.

Schweigert, who signed as a free agent on Wednesday and was at practice in the afternoon, had a sudden fall from grace. A full-time three-year starter with the Oakland Raiders, Schweigert was cut in the off-season and then couldn't win a job with either the Washington Redskins or New York Giants.

ALLEN PARK -- After missing four games with a sprained foot, veteran safety Dwight Smith returned to practice today and the Lions are hoping to have him back in the lineup against the Buccaneers on Sunday. Smith will bolster the team's defense, especially against Tampa Bay's rushing attack.

Backup Kalvin Pearson, who started in place of Smith, is a solid role player and blitzer, but did not hold up well against the run during his extended playing time.

AP PhotoLions quarterback Daunte Culpepper (11) loses the ball as he attempts to score on a two-point conversion during the second half.

STORIES

• Panthers' running game keeps Lions winless

• Lions' Marinelli on 0-10: 'Have I failed? Yes'

• Grading the Lions: Turnovers trouble for offense

• Extra points: Hanson still bright spot for Lions

COLUMNS

• Kowalski: Time running out on Marinelli's tenure with Lions

• VanOchten: Culpepper still looking to have fun as Lions' QB

MULTIMEDIA & MORE

• Kowalski on WDFN: Marinelli froze with game on the line

• Photos: Carolina Panthers 31, Detroit Lions 22

• Live blog recap: Carolina Panthers 31, Detroit Lions 22 | Box score

AP PhotoCarolina's Jonathan Stewart (28) celebrates after a touchdown run in the second quarter against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- When you can't keep a firm grip on either the football or the opposing ballcarriers, it's going to make for a tough day. And so it was with the Detroit Lions yet again.

The Lions turned the ball over four times on offense and, on defense, several missed tackles led to a 264-yard rushing day by the Carolina Panthers, who beat Detroit 31-22. The Panthers now are 8-2 while the Lions remain the NFL's only winless team at 0-10.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Detroit Lions coach Rod Marinelli seems to get the same question every week: "How can he have any hope for this team?'' And he keeps giving the same answer. His response Sunday, though, appeared to be a little more testy than usual.

After the Lions lost 31-22 to the Carolina Panthers and dropped to 0-10 this season -- the only winless club in the NFL -- Marinelli was asked how he could remain encouraged.

"I've got unbelievable encouragement. Why? Because I believe in these players,'' said Marinelli, who was then asked "How?'' by a reporter.

AP PhotoDetroit's Daunte Culpepper had two interceptions, include one late in the fourth quarter.

Grading the Detroit Lions on their 31-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday:

OFFENSE: D
Two turnovers -- Michael Gaines' fumble and Daunte Culpepper's fourth-quarter interception -- were lethal, but the Lions did put 22 points on the host Panthers. Carolina's defense went into the game ranked No. 2 in points allowed.

Rookie Kevin Smith got his first 100-yard game (112 yards on 24 carries for an impressive 4.7-yard average). The Lions also did a good job of moving the chains and eating minutes -- they had three drives of more than 6:46 and won the time of possession battle by more than eight minutes. The turnovers, though, ruined an otherwise solid performance.

AP PhotoLions quarterback Daunte Culpepper warms up prior to last week's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.The 31-year-old Culpepper will get the start again today against Carolina.

STORIES

• Winless Lions have become mockery of NFL

• Lions running back Smith just wants the ball

• Lions' Owens has eyes on game ball from TD

• Lions' Stanton could play, but not at goal line

• Injuries put Lions' young defensive lineman in play

COLUMNS

• VanOchten: The matchup, Week 11: Lions at Panthers

• VanOchten: Can Lions' Culpepper shake off rust this week?

MULTIMEDIA & MORE

• Live blog: Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers

• Kowalski: Lions have more important things to address than replacing Backus

• Kowalski's 'The Point After': Lions not looking at Billick, for now

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- To help illustrate just how bad the Detroit Lions' 0-9 record really is, compare it to some other sports.

If the Detroit Red Wings or Detroit Pistons had started their seasons in the same fashion, their record would be 0-46. If the Detroit Tigers had stumbled out of the gate as poorly as the Lions, their record would extrapolate to 0-91.

AP PhotoDetroit's Kevin Smith had a career-high 96 yards rushing against the Jaguars.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Detroit Lions running back Kevin Smith has never lacked for confidence. Now the rookie third-round draft pick is eager to back it up.

For the second straight game, Smith is expected to get the bulk of the carries against the Carolina Panthers today.

Last week, Smith had career highs in rushing attempts (23) and yards (96) and he's ready to add to those numbers.

ALLEN PARK -- It's possible quarterback Drew Stanton could see some playing time in the Detroit Lions' game Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, but it won't come in the goal-line package.

Stanton was inserted in the game in a goal-line situation last week and threw his first career touchdown pass, a 1-yard toss to tight end John Owens. Offensive coordinator Jim Colletto said Daunte Culpepper, who will start his second game, can now handle most of the offense.

"He's getting better, but we're restrictive in what we're doing. He's able to do more things," Colletto said. "We're able to get him involved in the goal-line stuff this week, which we didn't do last week."

ALLEN PARK -- Every day after practice for the past six weeks, four young Detroit Lions defensive linemen would gather with assistant coach Joe Cullen, who would put them through an extra 20-minute workout.

One day the emphasis would be on stopping the run and the next day, they would work on rushing the passer.

For several weeks, it is all the action some of them would get. Until now.

Rob Widdis | The Grand Rapids PressDaunte Culpepper says his timing is getting better with the Detroit Lions' receivers.

ALLEN PARK -- The starting position has been awarded to Daunte Culpepper, but that doesn't mean the Detroit Lions' quarterback situation has been resolved.

Lions coach Rod Marinelli said Wednesday that Culpepper would take the first snap when the 0-9 Lions visit the 7-2 Carolina Panthers on Sunday. However, Marinelli wouldn't reveal what role backup Drew Stanton might have in the game and he wouldn't discuss the status of Dan Orlovsky.