Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke to the media Wednesday as Detroit began on-field preparations for Sunday night's monster matchup at Ford Field against the Minnesota Vikings to determine the NFC North champion and the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
Here are all the key questions from Campbell's Wednesday press conference:
What is the status of linebacker Alex Anzalone?
The Lions opened the practice window for Anzalone Wednesday. It was the first time he's back at practice since breaking his forearm in November in a win over Jacksonville. He was listed as a limited participant in the walkthrough at the Meijer Performance Center on Wednesday.
"He'll be out there running around today, so we'll see how he does," Campbell said of his veteran linebacker. "It's really going to be how he – tomorrow's going to be, I think, a really big day for us to see where he's at."
Anzalone is a team captain on defense and has 56 tackles (40 solo), seven tackles for loss, a sack and four passes defended in nine games played this year and is one of Detroit's best cover linebackers on the roster.
How much is this team looking forward to the challenge the Vikings pose in the final game of the NFL regular season?
Minnesota ranks No. 9 in points scored (26.4) and fourth in points allowed (18.8), and have a plethora of talent on all three phases, including All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
"Real good opponent we're getting ready to face here," Campbell said. "They're well-coached, got a lot of good players – lot of good players and they create issues, really, in all three phases that we're going to need to be prepared for."
Campbell said he and the team are looking forward to the challenge in their house.
"These are exciting times, to be able to play in these types of games, so we're looking forward to it," he said.
How much respect does Campbell have for the job head coach Kevin O'Connell is doing in Minnesota?
Campbell singled out the job O'Connell has done with the offense in particular with how creative his scheme is and his ability to put players in position to have success.
"I like what they do in the run game as well, and then he's just – you can't argue with the production of this team, what they've done," Campbell said.
"Had some tough games last year, they had some injuries, and they were able to battle through it and finish on a positive note just for the season itself, and to get through that and come back battling this year. He's made the most out of that personnel, man they've got really good personnel and they're playing at a high level."
There's a good chance the winning coach Sunday night between O'Connell and Campbell is the NFL Coach of the Year.
When did getting the No. 1 seed become a legitimate goal for this football team?
Campbell said for him it was walking off the field at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara in last year's NFC Championship Game after a three-point loss to the 49ers.
"You try to set yourself up the best you can and that's why you put those goals out there," he said. "So yeah, it's been there for a while, so certainly this is something we want to do, and we've had in our minds – division and one-seed and all that, and it's right here in our hands."
How big of an advantage is hosting Sunday's game vs. the Vikings?
The Lions finished the regular season with a perfect 8-0 record on the road, the first time in franchise history they've accomplished that feat, but the noise level and energy at Ford Field does give Detroit a distinct advantage, according to Campbell.
"We've got the best fans in the league, and so, look, it's the whole reason you talk about the one-seed, because you feel like you've got an advantage when you play at home, and not everybody can say that. We can because we do," Campbell said.
"The way our fans and our stadium are set up, it's a special environment, so I look forward to it, we're looking forward to it."
