Germane Crowell's Lions (8-4) share first place with the Bucs.

If they win Sunday in Tampa, they're probably back in the playoffs.

The Lions-Bucs game features the two improbable teams tied for first in the NFC Central, a game ahead of Minnesota and Green Bay, the preseason favorites.

It also could feature two improbable quarterbacks -- Gus Frerotte for Detroit and rookie Shaun King for Tampa Bay. Frerotte, 4-2 as a starter, will go back to the bench when Charlie Batch's sprained right thumb is fully healed.

The Bucs are favored by four points after their Monday night win over the Vikings, with King throwing two TD passes and fullback Mike Alstott and the defense doing the rest.

The Lions forged their share of the tie by ending a 34-year, 18-game losing streak to Washington as Desmond Howard, signed two minutes before the deadline that would allow him to play, returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown.

Detroit won the first game at home, 20-3. But the Bucs have won five straight and King seems to give them the spark that Trent Dilfer didn't.

In a division as tight as this one, splits are usually in order. Bucs 18, Lions 13.

	CHRIS MORTENSEN'S PICKS
	Titans over Raiders Redskins over Cardinals Ravens over Steelers Packers over Panthers Bengals over Browns Colts over Patriots Bills over Giants Cowboys over Eagles Rams over Saints Seahawks over Chargers Dolphins over Jets Lions over Bucs Falcons over 49ers Chiefs over Vikings Jaguars over Broncos

Oakland (plus 3) at Tennessee (Thursday): The Raiders are in desperate straits. The Titans were shell-shocked in Baltimore. Titans 16, Raiders 15.

New England (plus 7) at Indianapolis: The Colts won't blow a 28-7 lead this time. Colts 28, Patriots 7.

Minnesota (plus 1) at Kansas City: Does Jeff George start hitting the wall now? Vikings 24, Chiefs 20.

New York Giants (plus 8) at Buffalo: The Giants got 490 yards of offense last week. Maybe 90 this week? Bills 10, Giants 3.

Arizona (plus 5) at Washington: No, Mr. Westbrook, Byron Boston will not officiate this game. Cardinals 24, Redskins 22.

Philadelphia (plus 9) at Dallas: These days, the Cowboys are only America's Team at home. Cowboys 19, Eagles 6.

Miami (plus 3) at New York Jets: The Jets will be up. But they're no match for Jimmy's defense. Dolphins 16, Jets 3.

St. Louis (minus 10½) at New Orleans: The Rams still have home field to clinch. Rams 34, Saints 10.

Denver (plus 9) at Jacksonville: This was supposed to be one of the few tough games on the Jaguars' schedule. Jaguars 24, Broncos 11.

Carolina (plus 8) at Green Bay: A replay of the 1996 NFC title game when the Packers beat the Panthers 30-13. Packers 30, Panthers 13.

San Diego (plus 9½) at Seattle: The Chargers would like to win. The Seahawks have to. Seahawks 20, Chargers 10.

Atlanta (minus 3) at San Francisco: Only three? Falcons 38, 49ers 20.

Baltimore (plus 1½) at Pittsburgh: Can things get any worse for the Steelers? Ravens 16, Steelers 6.

Cleveland (plus 7) at Cincinnati: The Bengals are on their annual late-season streak. Bengals 27, Browns 15.