Quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions put their unbeaten record on the line tonight in front of a national audience.

Associated Press

Consider this: The 2,000 standing-room-only tickets for tonight's game the Detroit Lions put on sale Thursday sold out in four minutes.

The Lions are unbeaten and playing host to a "Monday Night Football" game (8:30 p.m., ESPN) for the first time since 2001.

Hotels are booked solid and the bars will open early, The Detroit News reports.

Even the players are fired up.

"It's going to be an awesome experience," Lions kicker Jason Hanson told The Detroit News. "We have to back it up as a team. The fans deserve it. I just can't wait for the atmosphere."

With the Detroit Tigers playing the Texas Rangers today in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series (4:19 p.m., TBS), Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp has declared this "Nirvana Monday."

LIONS

• Detroit Free Press: Going to the game? You can wave a pink towel
• MLive.com: How the Lions and Bears match up
• MLive.com: A Q&A with Lions cornerback Eric Wright
• ESPN.com: ESPN's 'Monday Night' HQ

TIGERS

• MLive.com: Ordonez out, so Tigers examine roster options
• Detroit Free Press: The pitching matchups for Game 2