Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell is the master of the analogy, both during team meetings and news conferences.
He compared Sunday's 24-23 comeback against the New Orleans Saints to a heavyweight boxing match in 1980 between "Big John" Tate and Mike Weaver.
"I believe Weaver had lost every single round just in terms of the points," Caldwell said. "Then in the last round, he found a bit of a burst of energy and was able to knock Tate out to win the championship.
"We haven't won any championship, but I do think that we found a burst of energy at the end."
The Lions scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes, 38 seconds to overcome a 13-point deficit.
"I think you can sense and see that we're a team that's got some character," Caldwell said. "We certainly have talent but they have the wherewithal and a desire to play hard and not give up. I commend them for that."
It was no ordinary victory, to say the least.
"This one was a bit different," Caldwell said. "I think this one will serve our team well down the road.
"We didn't play as well as we're capable, but I think just in terms of the sheer magnitude of what it took to get it done, this is a good memorable victory for us and hopefully a steppingstone."
INJURY UPDATE
--- Caldwell confirmed that receiver Calvin Johnson, who has missed the last two games because of an ankle injury, will make the trip to London.
His status for the game won't be announced until later in the week.
"When they say he's cleared, he's ready to go and he's feeling great, when the doctors give us that OK, that's when it's going to happen," Caldwell said. "There's not going to be a whole lot of in-between."
--- The Lions were without Eric Ebron (hamstring) and Joseph Fauria (ankle) on Sunday and then Brandon Pettigrew suffered a leg injury during the game.
"We're thin there so that's a concern," Caldwell said. "He (Pettigrew) was a hobbling a bit.
"But the effort he put forth to finish that game out was quite admirable. Those are the kind of guys we have. They're tough and they get after it and find a way."
On Monday afternoon, the team signed former Michigan State tight end Kellen Davis, a former fifth-round pick by Chicago who spent five years with the Bears.
To make room for Davis on the 53-man roster, Detroit released safety Jerome Couplin.
--- Running back Reggie Bush returned after missing a game because of an ankle injury, but he clearly wasn't at full strength against the Saints.
The Lions relied more heavily on Joique Bell, but Bush did try to fight his way through it.
"You could see, it was obvious, that as the game went on, he has a few issues, but he kept going in, kept trying to give us everything he has," Caldwell said of Bush. "He's a real pro in that regard."
EXTRA POINT
--- The Lions signed 6-foot-7 receiver Ifeanyi Momah, who was undrafted coming out of Boston College in 2012, to their practice squad.
