Few took more heat for the Vikings' passive and poor defense last season than ­then-coordinator Alan Williams. A year later, Williams has rebounded well as defensive backs/safeties coach on the 9-4 Lions team that will play host to the Vikings on Sunday.

The Lions enter the game with 17 interceptions, good for No. 2 in the league. The defensive backs have 13 picks, including one by safety Glover Quinn in the red zone against Teddy Bridgewater in Week 6.

"He made a great play," Bridgewater said. "He did a great job of reading my eyes."

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, often praised for his work with defensive backs, said the Lions secondary looks much different this year.

"They're much more aggressive," he said. "It's not so much soft zones. They're on guys pretty close." – Mark Craig