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ALLEN PARK — Many of the Lions will be wearing specially painted shoes in the game at the Ravens on “My Cause My Cleats” Sunday.

It won’t be just the players who will be identifying their causes on their footwear.

Coach Jim Caldwell said he was given the option and jumped at it along with several coaches on his staff and general manager Bob Quinn.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)

“Mine in particular kind of falls in line with my wife and I’s foundation, Jim and Cheryl Caldwell Foundation. My cleats are for the Midnight Golf Program which is one that’s been in here in the Detroit area for quite some time,’’ Caldwell said on Friday. “Reneé Fluker actually started it, and it’s not playing golf at night just in case anybody wants to know. What they use is they use golf to obviously attract young people and kind of teach them how to live their life around the game of golf. But it’s a mentoring, tutoring sort of initiative that really have several thousand applicants, and they choose 250, or 260, or so. And of those individuals, they follow them through their senior year in high school, help them in terms of going on to college with funding. Once they’re in college, it gives them support mechanisms, and then also after college and starting their careers, internships, etc.

“I had an opportunity to go over for the first time and see the young people that have come out of the program, and it was absolutely, unbelievably impressive and so we got involved in it. So, that’s kind of what we’re going to do wear the shoe for the Midnight Golf Program,’’ Caldwell said. “So, it should be a great time I think for all. I know a number of our players are also wearing cleats for different reasons and different causes. So, I think it’ll be certainly well worthwhile.”

Golden Tate will honor veterans with his cleats, while Matthew Stafford will highlight “S.A.Y. Detroit.” Don Carey reps his own foundation while Tahir Whitehead goes with “Downtown Boxing Gym.”

ALLEN PARK — If Teryl Austin knew how to get his defense off to a better start each game, they wouldn’t have fallen behind in the past three games 10-0, 10-0 and 13-0.

Searching for answers is fine, but the Lions defensive coordinator is also making a few adjustments that have nothing to do with injuries and one that does.

The Lions (6-5) play at the Baltimore Ravens (6-5) on Sunday. It’s a win Detroit needs to keep its playoff chances alive.

Three things to know about defensive changes:

1. Rookie linebacker Jarrad Davis’ snaps have decreased in the past two games. He started playing 100 percent of the defensive snaps in Week 1, got hurt in Week 2 so he was down to 75 percent. Then he missed Weeks 3 and 4 with a concussion and neck injury. The next five games he also played every snap on defense. Then in Week 11, in the win at Chicago, he was down to 78 percent of the snaps and last week, in the loss to the Vikings, he was at 73 percent.

Austin explained the decision on Thursday.

“I think that the reason it was scaled back is because we thought again like anything, thought Tahir (Whitehead) was doing really well in terms of how he was handling the coverage. So, we wanted to put, like anything, whatever we think is the best for us to win that game,’’ Austin said. “And so, at that point, we’re looking to win the game. At this point in the season we want him to develop, but we can’t have him develop at the chance that we’re setting a guy that could probably do that position better at this particular time.

“And Jarrad will get better because he’s working at it. He’s getting reps in practice. But right now we think in some of those positions that Tahir is going to be a better fit for us right now,’’ he added.

In other words, they are not giving up on Davis, their first-round pick. At this point they have to put guys on the field who will give them the best chance to win.

2. Due to Tavon Wilson being placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, Miles Killebrew will get his third start this season. Killebrew, a second-year safety, has excelled at times playing in certain defensive packages but he appreciated the invaluable experience of starting in Weeks 2 and 3. He’s ready. He said the safeties play a variety of roles during practice so he will be comfortable on the field.

“With a guy who’s a backup and everybody wants him to be the starter, and then when he’s a starter maybe he’s not as effective as you thought he was because now he’s playing 60 plays instead of 20. So, it’s an adjustment,’’ Austin said. “But in Miles’ case he has had a few games when he’s had to start, and he’s had to play a lot of plays. So, I think he’ll adjust to that accordingly.”

3. Expect to see newly acquired defensive end Dwight Freeney get in the game Sunday.

“Since he’s been here, Dwight’s the ultimate pro. Really sharp, understands what’s going on, and we’ll be looking to use him, so the impressions are good,’’ Austin said. “He’s bright, we all know what he’s done in the past. Are we going to get the 24-year-old Dwight? No, but we still think he’s got some juice and the ability to rush the passer.”

Freeney and Austin go back to when Freeney was in tenth grade and attended football camps at Syracuse where Austin was a defensive assistant. Then in Freeney’s  freshman year at Syracuse in 1998 when Austin was still on the coaching staff.

Freeney was acquired last week off waivers from Seattle. Since he had played on Monday night with the Seahawks, he didn’t have enough turn-around time to play on Thanksgiving.

Freeney also goes back with Jim Caldwell when they were both with the Indianapolis Colts.

ALLEN PARK >> Matthew Stafford was injury plagued in his first two seasons with the Lions. As a rookie in 2009 he played in 10 games and the next season was only healthy enough to start three.

It was so bad fans were turning on him (imagine that) and his teammate linebacker Zack Follett called him a “china doll.”

Once he regained his health in 2011, Stafford has 107 consecutive regular season starts.

With Eli Manning’s streak of 210 consecutive regular season starts coming to an end due to coach Ben McAdoo’s bonehead decision to start Geno Smith, that moves Stafford up to No. 3 on the NFL’s active consecutive starts by a quarterback list behind the Chargers’ Philip Rivers (148) and Atlanta’s Matt Ryan (126).

“It’s difficult. I think you look across this league, there’s guys at every position showing up on Sunday and playing and doing a great job that I feel like the normal human being wouldn’t be out there doing that,’’ Stafford said on Wednesday. “These guys are impressive people. I’m just happy to be a part of it. I’ll try to play as many games in a row as I possibly can and play at a high level. I think that’s the biggest thing.”

Stafford said his streak means a lot to him.

“I think just coming from my first couple of years in the League and some of the tough times that came with that as far as injuries go and missing games and not being able to be out there with the guys,’’ Stafford said. “So, it’s nice to be able to be out there and have a bunch of games under my belt.”

Stafford’s teammates appreciate his durability.

“We all know what Eli bought to that team and what he brings to the team. Obviously we have an ironman quarterback ourselves and that’s a good thing to have. To know that when it  comes down to it, your guy is going to be out there for you,’’ wide receiver Marvin Jones said.

It extends beyond game day with Stafford to everyday practice. He is always there.

“All of us tip our hats off to him, it’s a lot of meetings and a lot of extra stuff that goes with being in that position. To be able to do that for a long period of time it’s to be applauded,” wide receiver Marvin Jones said.

Stafford gets credit from around the NFL, including Baltimore coach John Harbaugh whose Ravens (6-5) play the Lions (6-5) on Sunday.

“I just think it’s one of the great accomplishments because you’re the target. You’re the quarterback, you’re the target, and this is a rough game. And that guy is a guy that really runs everything. Especially there, I mean Matthew does just an amazing job of running the offense on the field,” Harbaugh said in a conference call on Wednesday. “He operates. Coach (Jim) Caldwell and Coach (Jim Bob) Cooter they have a really good system, and he’s the guy that runs it on the field. So, it’s a really important for him to be out there, and he’s just done a fabulous job of consistency and how well he plays from week to week, and being out there, and overcoming the bumps and bruises that are usually even more than that. He seems like he’s a very tough guy. It’s just been very impressive to see.”

Brett Favre is atop the all-time consecutive starts for a quarterback chart with 297. Eli Manning is at 210 while his brother Peyton Manning sits at 208.