Gameday Graphic for Game on 9/27/2009

The Redskins travel to Detroit to face the Lions on Sunday, Sept. 27 at Ford Field. Kickoff is 1 p.m. ET.

Ford Field is an indoors facility. The stadium has an artificial surface called FieldTurf and seats 65,000.

It is the first of two games the Redskins will play indoors in the regular season. The Redskins are 7-2 in indoor facilities in the last six years, including 2004 and 2008 wins over the Lions at Ford Field.

The Redskins are 1-1 in the NFC so far this season and 0-1 on the road, with a season-opening loss to the New York Giants.

It's the only game the Redskins play against the NFC North this season.

The game is a homecoming for Devin Thomas and Chris Wilson, both of whom hail from the Detroit region.

The Redskins-Rams game will be televised to a regional audience on FOX. Thom Brennaman calls the play by play with color commentary by Brian Billick.

On radio, the game will be broadcast locally on the Redskins Radio Network. Larry Michael calls the play-by-play with former Redskins and Hall of Famers Sonny Jurgensen and Sam Huff adding color commentary. Former Redskin Rick 'Doc' Walker reports from the sidelines.

Jorge Andres and Mario Alfaro call the game in Spanish on ESPN Deportes 730.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS

SERIES HISTORY

The Redskins-Lions series dates all the way back to when the teams were known as the Boston Redskins and the Portsmouth Spartans in the early 1930s.

The two franchises have met a total of 40 times, including three times in the playoffs, with the Redskins holding the series lead with a record of 27-10 in the regular season and 3-0 in the postseason.

From 1968 until 1997, Washington won 16 consecutive regular season games and two postseason games in the series.

In 1982, the Redskins handled the Lions 31-7 in the NFC divisional playoffs at RFK Stadium. It was the Redskins' first of four postseason wins en route to winning their first Super Bowl title.

The Redskins and Lions also played in the 1991 NFC Championship game at RFK Stadium, with the Redskins dominating 41-10 to advance to the Super Bowl.

In 1999, the Redskins and Lions played in the only playoff game ever played at FedExField. The Redskins won that game 27-13.

Washington and Detroit last played on Oct. 26, 2008, with the Redskins winning 25-17 at Ford Field.

Jason Campbell completed 23-of-28 passes for 328 yards and one touchdown, a 50-yarder to Santana Moss.

Moss had a huge game, catching a game-high nine passes for 140 yards and the touchdown. He also fielded a punt and returned 80 yards for a touchdown that provided the game-winning points. He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts.

Shaun Suisham also connected on four field goals in the Redskins' win.

TALE OF THE TAPE

FAMILIAR FACES ON THE LIONS

Right tackle Jon Jansen played for the Redskins from 1999-2008. He was a fixture at right tackle with the Redskins and started 123-of-126 games in that span.

Defensive line coach Bob Karmelowicz coached the Redskins' defensive line from 1994-96.

Assistant general manager Martin Mayhew played for the Redskins from 1989-92. He was a member of the Redskins' Super Bowl XXVI championship team.

Head athletic trainer Al Bellamy served as an assistant athletic trainer with the Redskins from 1988-2000.

Coordinator of physical development Jason Arapoff served as a conditioning director for the Redskins from 1988-2000.

Strength and conditioning coach Malcolm Blacken served as a strength and conditioning assistant for the Redskins from 1996-2000.

Coordinator of athletic medicine Dean Kleinschmidt served as head athletic trainer for the Redskins under Steve Spurrier from 2002-03.

Regional scout Cary Conklin played for the Redskins from 1990-94. He was a fourth-round draft pick by the team in 1990. In 1993, he completed 46-of-87 passes for four touchdowns and three interceptions.

REDSKINS-LIONS NEWS & NOTES

-- How the Redskins' Roster Was Built

The Redskins have 24 players on the roster that the team drafted, including 2009 first-round pick Brian Orakpo and 2009 supplemental draft pick Jeremy Jarmon. Draft picks account for 45.2 percent of the Redskins roster.

Chris Samuels is the longest-tenured Redskins. He has played for the franchise since 2000.

Washington has used free agency to acquire 22 players, including Mike Sellers in 2004, Casey Rabach in 2005, Andre Carter and Antwaan Randle El in 2006, London Fletcher in 2007, DeAngelo Hall in 2008 and Albert Haynesworth and Hunter Smith in 2009. Free agents account for 43.3 percent of the roster.

Three Redskins players were acquired as undrafted rookie free agents. This group includes starting right tackle Stephon Heyer.

The team has acquired two players via trade. Clinton Portis was acquired in a 2004 trade with the Denver Broncos and Santana Moss joined the Redskins as part of a 2005 trade with the New York Jets.

The Redskins have claimed two players off waivers: Anthony Alridge and Marcus Mason.

-- Local Connections for Lions' Schwartz

Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz is a Baltimore native who attended Georgetown University in his formative years.

At Georgetown, Schwartz was a four-year letterwinner as a linebacker. He earned his degree in economics and received Distinguished Economics Graduate honors.

Schwartz began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Maryland, tutoring the Terrapins' linebackers from 1989-90.

Prior to joining the Lions last offseason, Schwartz was a defensive assistant for 10 years with the Tennessee Titans. He spent two years learning under former Redskins defensive coach Gregg Williams. He also coached alongside Sherman Smith from 1999-2007 and Jerry Gray from 1999-2000.

As Tennessee's defensive coordinator from 2001-08, Schwartz guided the Titans to one of the top defenses in the league. He had current Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth on his side. Haynesworth played for the Titans from 2002-08.

-- Redskins Coaches In Detroit

Jim Zorn got his start as an NFL coach with the Detroit Lions in 1999-2000. He was hired by Bobby Ross, the former University of Maryland head coach who guided the Lions at the time.

Zorn served as quarterbacks coach of the Lions in 1999. One of his pupils was Gus Frerotte, the former Redskins quarterback. Zorn and Frerotte faced off against the Redskins in a 1999 Wild Card playoff game at FedExField. The Redskins won that contest 27-13.

Redskins special teams coordinator Danny Smith coached along-side Zorn in Detroit from 1999-2000. Smith served as tight ends coach with the Lions.

Also, Redskins offensive line coach Joe Bugel previously served with the Lions, working in the same capacity, from 1975-76.

-- Gray's Interview With the Lions

Before the Detroit Lions hired Jim Schwartz as head coach, the club interviewed Redskins secondary-cornerbacks coach Jerry Gray for the job.

It turned out to be a great opportunity for Gray to get his name out in NFL circles as a head coaching candidate.

"What I did was, I asked [Lions officials] for feedback," Gray said. "How can I get better [at the interview process]. What can I do to make myself more presentable? I'm always trying to get better.

"To get a head coaching job in this league, the big thing you have to do is be part of a winning team. That means a whole lot. [Teams] want to bring winning guys into a program. Winning is what can get players to understand what you can do."

-- Team Captains

The Redskins have elected captains for the offense, defense and special teams.

For the offense, it's Jason Campbell and Chris Samuels.

For the defense, it's Cornelius Griffin and London Fletcher.

For special teams, it's Rock Cartwright and Mike Sellers.

Sellers is the newcomer of the captains this year. The other five were also voted team captains in 2008.

-- Strength of Schedule

Washington's strength of schedule for the 2009 season is in the middle of the pack.

The Redskins' strength of schedule is ranked 16th in the NFL at .492. Their opponents' 2008 cumulative record was 125-129-2. They play a total of seven games against 2008 playoff teams.

The Miami Dolphins have the NFL's toughest schedule at .594. Their opponents' 2008 cumulative record was 152-104.

The Chicago Bears have the NFL's easiest schedule at .414. Their opponents' 2008 cumulative record was 105-149-2.

-- For the Defense

Since 2000, the Redskins' defense has finished in the top 10 in yardage allowed seven times.

Last year, in Greg Blache's first season leading the defense, the Redskins were ranked fourth overall in the NFL. They were ranked eighth against the run and seventh against the pass.

The Redskins also finished fourth in 2000, 10th in 2001, fifth in 2002, third in 2004, ninth in 2005 and eighth in 2007.

Since 2004, when Blache joined the Redskins as defensive line coach, the Redskins have the NFL's fourth-ranked defense.

-- September Wins

The Redskins are among 16 NFL clubs that have posted winning records in the month of September the last 10 years.

From 1999-2008, the Redskins are 17-15 in the month of September, a .531 winning percentage. Last year, the Redskins were 3-1 in September.

The New York Giants have posted a 20-13 mark in September--a .606 winning percentage--since 1999.

Best in the NFL in September wins since 1999? The Indianapolis Colts, with a 25-7 record. That's a .781 winning percentage.

-- What's Next?

The Redskins return to FedExField for an Oct. 4 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kickoff is 1 p.m. ET.

The last time the Redskins and Buccaneers played was on Nov. 25, 2007, when the Bucs prevailed 20-17 at Raymond James Stadium.