Charlie Batch is tied for fourth in the NFL with 10 touchdown passes.

Trent Dilfer was unable to generate enough offense to help the defense. Every game the Bucs are asked to hang on for their lives because the defense keeps them close. It's tough on offensive coordinator Mike Shula and a team's confidence when they are limited to a running game and play-action passing. I think Tony Dungy has bent over backwards to give Dilfer a chance to make plays, and he hasn't been able to deliver.

When you have a defense as good as the Bucs' and offensive weapons like Reidel Anthony, Jacquez Green, Mike Alstott and Warrick Dunn, you have to be able to score more than six points. I don't care who you are playing.

Eric Zeier has started 11 NFL games, but he is still an unknown and an uncertainty. What can Zeier do that Dilfer couldn't? We will find out. He might be more mobile and able to throw the deep ball, which Dilfer struggled to do consistently. Throwing down the field has to be part of the offense.

While the Bucs have questions at quarterback, the Detroit Lions have found an answer in Charlie Batch, who has played solid football. The most impressive thing about the Lions is that since Barry Sanders is no longer a part of the team, they've really come together.

The Lions have developed a toughness on offense, a reliance on one another as opposed to one player. Sanders was a great running back, but he also limited the offense. He wasn't in short-yardage or goal-line situations and was used sparingly in third-down and passing situations.

It has to be easier for offensive coordinator Sly Croom to design a game plan not specifically designed for Sanders, making sure he got his 25 carries. With Greg Hill, Sedrick Irvin and Cory Schlesinger in the backfield, Croom can just call plays. And as great a player as Sanders was, the Lions are enjoying success.

Here are the keys to Sunday night's game for each team:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1. Big plays: Cornerback Bryant Westbrook (hamstring) and linebacker Stephen Boyd (foot), two important parts of the Lions defense, are both questionable and might be back. But it's critical that Tampa Bay find a way to get at least three big plays of more than 35 yards, either passing or running. The Lions are susceptible to big plays. There isn't one receiver who Detroit can shut down consistently if Zeier can deliver the ball.

2. Get it Dunn : The Bucs can't just rely on three yards and a cloud of dust with Alstott. They have a weapon in Dunn, who is dangerous when he gets the ball in the open field. The Bucs need to look for opportunites for Dunn to make plays one-on-one against a linebacker, where he would have a mismatch.

3. Continue to stop the run: The Bucs defenses prefers a cover two, or double zone, coverage where the cornerbacks play up close to the receivers and the safeties are back. Against that defense, it will be vital for the Lions to run to the edges of the defense because they won't be able to run up the middle against Sapp and Hardy Nickerson. The Bucs, who are ranked No. 1 against the run, need to protect against the Lions attacking the outside on the ground. If the Lions can average four yards rushing, they will probably win the game.

Detroit Lions
1. Balanced attack: The Lions have been able to spread the ball out well through the air to receivers like Germane Crowell, Johnnie Morton and tight end David Sloan, and then hand the ball to a stable of running backs, although Ron Rivers is now out. They need to maintain their balance to keep the Bucs guessing.

2. Protect Batch: The Lions haven't had a lot of success minimizing the hits on Batch. He has taken a tremendous pounding through the first six games of the season. The sacks don't reflect the amount of hits he has already taken. Against an aggressive Bucs defense, led by Sapp, Batch needs time to get the ball down the field.

3. Make Zeier win the game: The Lions will go after Zeier, but they must first be conscious of the Tampa Bay running game. They must stop Alstott and Dunn on the ground and force the game into Zeier's hands. Can Zeier respond in a positive way? That remains to be seen.

Former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann works as a game analyst for ESPN's Sunday Night Football. He breaks down the Sunday night matchup every week for ESPN.com.