"The Lions' defensive line has a simple plan for stopping San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers: Hit him.

The earlier and more often, the better.

"It's very important to get to him early, to make him feel our presence early," Lions defensive end Cliff Avril said Tuesday. "They have a good O-line. You definitely want to put pressure on Rivers to rattle him a little bit and make him worry about the pressure more so than his receivers and DBs downfield.""