Every week during the regular season we get an opportunity to talk with the opposing head coach via Zoom. This week it was Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. I also scanned the Tennessee media websites and the Titans website to see what else Tennessee players and coaches are saying about this week's matchup with the Lions.
Here's what they had to say:
1. Vrabel told the Tennessee media this week that the Titans are preparing for Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford to play Sunday. Vrabel said he had a lot of respect for Stafford's toughness, and expects him to be out there until he's told he won't be.
2. It's pretty interesting how well Vrabel knows Detroit's offensive line. He was coaching at Ohio State when Taylor Decker was there. He got to know Frank Ragnow trying to recruit him to Ohio State. Vrabel was in Houston when Oday Aboushi was with the Texans. He said he didn't know Jonah Jackson personally, but said he looks to be playing well for a rookie. He also evaluated Tyrell Crosby and Matt Nelson in the draft process.
"I feel like I know this offensive line," Vrabel said. "Pretty unique to have a personal relationship at some level with a handful of those guys, and they all seem to be working well as a unit."
3. Titans players don't have to be reminded how big this week is and what this week's game vs. Detroit means for their playoff hopes in the AFC. A win against Detroit would be huge for the Titans' chances at their first AFC South title since 2008. The Titans and Colts are tied at 9-4, but the Titans currently own the tiebreaker based on division record. The Titans are 4-1 against the division, while the Colts are 2-2.
4. The Lions hired Chris Spielman Tuesday to be an advisor to owner Sheila Ford Hamp and team president Rod Wood. Asked about Spielman, Vrabel thinks he'll do just fine in Detroit's front office.
He said he got to know Spielman and his family as a young player in the league, and said Spielman has passion and love for the game. Vrabel said whatever the Lions ask Spielman to do, he will do it to the best of his ability, will grind through it and will be diligent with whatever role they ask him to do.
5. Titans running back Derrick Henry has 1,532 yards on the season and could become the eighth 2,000-yard rusher in NFL history with a strong finish down the stretch.
"I just think you have to look at the situation and see what is going on, understand how excited the players are for Derrick, and the offensive line," Vrabel told tennesseetitans.com this week.
"I think they feel as much a part of what he does, like it's them doing it. And I think that's great for our psyche, and our confidence, and everything that we're doing. But also being smart with where he is at physically, and where everybody is at physically."
View photos of the starters for the Tennessee Titans.

HC: Mike Vrabel
Offensive Coordinator: Arthur Smith

WR: Corey Davis
Backed up by Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

TE: Jonnu Smith
Backed up by MyCole Pruitt, Anthony Firkser & Geoff Swaim

LT: David Quessenberry

LG: Rodger Saffold III
Backed up by Jamil Douglas

C: Ben Jones
Backed up by Jamil Douglas

RG: Nate Davis
Backed up by Aaron Brewer

RT: Dennis Kelly
Backed up by Isaiah Wilson

WR: Adam Humphries
Backed up by Kalif Raymond

WR: A.J. Brown
Backed up by Cameron Batson

QB: Ryan Tannehill
Backed up by: Logan Woodside

RB: Derrick Henry
Backed up by Jeremy McNichols, D'Onta Foreman, Khari Blasingame & Senorise Perry

DE: Jack Crawford
Backed up by Larrell Murchison

NT: DaQuan Jones
Backed up by Matt Dickerson

DT: Jeffery Simmons
Backed up by Teair Tart

OLB Derick Roberson

ILB: Rashaan Evans
Backed up by Daren Bates

ILB: Will Compton
Backed up by Nick Dzubnar

OLB: Harold Landry III

CB: Adoree' Jackson
Backed up by Desmond King & Chris Jackson

SS: Kenny Vaccaro
Backed up by Joshua Kalu

FS: Kevin Byard
Backed up by Amani Hooker

CB: Malcolm Butler
Backed up by Breon Borders & Chris Milton

K/KO: Stephen Gostkowski
Backed up by Brett Kern

P/H: Brett Kern
Backed up by Stephen Gostkowski/Logan Woodside

KR/PR: Kalif Raymond
Backed up by Desmond King, Adam Humphries & Cameron Batson

LS: Matthew Orzech
Backed up by Ben Jones & Anthony Firkser
6. The Titans' defense held Jacksonville to a 35.7 percent conversion rate on third down (5-of-14) last week in a win, which was a big improvement over the previous week against Cleveland, who converted on 62.5 percent of their third-down tries (10-of-16). On the year, Tennessee's defense ranks 32nd on third down, allowing conversions 52.2 percent of the time.
"Once you can get off the field on third down, it changes the whole game," Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler told the Tennessean. "You can't really win a game if you're not getting off the field on third down. We won the last game, but we put emphasis on getting off the field on third down, and it was a big change."