Lions brace for ex-Michigan star Brady and Pats

DETROIT - Tom Brady has become one of the NFL's best quarterbacks, leading New England to three Super Bowl titles and winning two MVP awards.

Brady said his "incredible" experience in college at Michigan prepared him to play for Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

"It's a very tough football program," he said. "I think our head coach, Lloyd Carr, really demanded the best out of us every day in practice - very much along the lines of what coach Belichick does." He learned well: Brady's career record is 119-36, including the playoffs.

Since he became a starter in 2001, the Detroit Lions are 35-119.

The league has matched up the lowly Lions with a marquee QB for their annual showcase game on Thanksgiving, as usual in the hopes of holding viewers for a game that is often lopsided. Detroit has lost a franchise-high six straight games on the holiday by an average of 23.2 points, and eight of nine in its showcase game.