"Last chance?

There's a good chance it is, and Daunte Culpepper knows it. The Lions' backup quarterback -- an 11th-year pro getting another chance subbing for injured No. 1 Matthew Stafford this week -- can only hope the third time's more charming than his first two starts this season.

Culpepper's first game ended in an avalanche of sacks against Pittsburgh on Oct. 11, and his second the following week was a disaster that ended early en route to 26-0 loss at Green Bay. In those two starts, he was 29 of 51 for 330 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions and nine sacks.

But Culpepper, a three-time Pro Bowler who hasn't quarterbacked a team to a victory since Nov. 25, 2007, gets another crack at proving he's still a capable starter. He's 0-7 since coming out of semi-retirement and signing as a free agent with Detroit in the middle of last season.

"When you've got an opportunity, you have to take a hold of that and go with it," said Culpepper, 32, who's in the final year of a two-year deal with the Lions. "So I'm very excited about the chance to play against a great football team, a defense that over the years has been great. I'm looking forward to it."

The Ravens' defense hasn't been as dominant in 2009 as it has been in recent years. And the Lions could catch a break with Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed and linebacker Terrell Suggs both expected to miss Sunday's game with injuries.

Still, the Ravens rank sixth in scoring defense, 10th in total defense and 10th in opponent passer rating. And they're feeling a bit desperate at the moment, having lost six of their last nine games in the middle of a crowded AFC wild-card race.

So they'll be coming hard after the quarterback Sunday, and Culpepper knows that, too."