TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- The Detroit Lions have excelled at winning games they were expected to lose. Now they'll try to win one they're supposed to win, even without starting quarterback Charlie Batch.

As one of the big surprises in an NFL season full of them, the Lions have won four in a row, their longest winning streak since 1995. They've pulled out last-second victories over Minnesota and St. Louis.

The loss of two of the NFL's best players, Barry Sanders and Herman Moore, has somehow left Detroit better than before, a team that leads the NFC Central with a 6-2 record.

On Sunday, the Lions face the stumbling Arizona Cardinals, who haven't scored more than 16 points in a game since the season opener. Even with Batch questionable with a bruised right thumb, Detroit is favored to win.

"It's dangerous because I think this is the first game we've been favored," Batch said. "Looking at Arizona, you see their record is 2-6, but they're better than that. We know that. We can't come in taking this game lightly."

Batch's backup, Gus Frerotte, started 46 games for the Washington Redskins. Just three years ago, he played in the Pro Bowl, and he's already proven his worth to the Lions.

"He's a valuable member of the football team. He's experienced and has played in crucial situations, not only in the past, but this year," Arizona coach Vince Tobin said. "He's won two ballgames for them in the fourth quarter. If he hadn't brought them back in the fourth quarter they'd be 4-4 instead of 6-2."

When Batch was hurt on the first play of the third quarter last week against St. Louis, Frerotte came on to complete 12-of-16 for 209 yards and two touchdowns, including a 12-yarder to Johnnie Morton for the game winner in a 31-27 victory. A month ago in a 25-23 come-from-behind win over Minnesota, Frerotte played the entire second half.

"We've hung in there together, even through some adversity, not only Herman and Barry, but we've had some other injuries in the course of the season," Detroit coach Bobby Ross said. "We're faced with one this week that might come about. We don't know if we'll have Charlie Batch, so we'll just have to wait and see."

Batch certainly would like to play after his miserable performance last season in the Lions' 17-15 loss to Arizona in the Silverdome.

"How can I not remember it? I got benched in that game," Batch said. "The first four possessions, I had four turnovers. I didn't get a chance to redeem myself as far as the second half. Hopefully I'll get a chance to come out and show what I'm capable of doing."

The Cardinals know all about injured quarterbacks. Jake Plummer has missed the last two games, and will sit out at least two more with a broken ring finger on his right hand. With Dave Brown in Plummer's place, the Cardinals have managed just 10 points in their last two games.

Not that it's all been Brown's fault. The Cardinals have dropped passes all season, and their running game is averaging 67.9 yards per game, worst in the NFL. Tobin will start second-year pro Michael Pittman at running back in place of Adrian Murrell in an attempt to get the ground game going.

The Cardinals, who entered the season with high hopes after last year's playoff run, had a players-only meeting on Monday to try to fire things up before the season is a total loss.

"We can take what has transpired and turn it into something truly magical," defensive end Simeon Rice said. "We can say to the world that we've been in both heaven and hell, and heaven's a better place for us. I look at the past as a necessary evil in terms of where we are going. Hopefully we can turn it around and start doing the things we need to win games."

While the Cardinals search for answers, the Lions are trying not to get carried away by their own success.

"Granted, we've gotten off to a nice start and we couldn't be more pleased," Ross said. "But we're not where we want to be. That has to take place in the second half of the season. We're only halfway up the mountain."

DETROIT Season schedule and results

ARIZONA Season schedule and results

September 12 @Seattle W 28-20 September 19 Green Bay W 23-15 September 26 @Kansas City L 21-31 October 10 San Diego L 10-20 October 17 Minnesota W 25-23 October 24 @Carolina W 24-9 October 31 Tampa Bay W 20-3 November 7 St. Louis W 31-27 November 14 @Arizona 4:15pm ET November 21 @Green Bay 1:00pm ET November 25 Chicago 12:40pm ET December 5 Washington 1:00pm ET December 12 @Tampa Bay 1:00pm ET December 19 @Chicago 1:00pm ET December 25 Denver 4:15pm ET January 2 @Minnesota 1:00pm ET

September 12 @Philadelphia W 25-24 September 19 @Miami L 16-19 September 27 San Francisco L 10-24 October 3 @Dallas L 7-35 October 10 NY Giants W 14-3 October 17 Washington L 10-24 October 31 New England L 3-27 November 7 @NY Jets L 7-12 November 14 Detroit 4:15pm ET November 21 Dallas 4:15pm ET November 28 @NY Giants 1:00pm ET December 5 Philadelphia 4:05pm ET December 12 @Washington 1:00pm ET December 19 Buffalo 8:20pm ET December 26 @Atlanta 1:00pm ET January 2 @Green Bay 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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