EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – While the Detroit Lions and New York Giants have been two of the biggest surprises in the NFL this season, the reason for their success isn’t startling.

Taking the ball away on defense, holding it on offense and preventing big plays on special teams usually translates into winning records.

Unlike a year ago when they combined for nine wins and fell out of playoff contention early, the Lions (3-2) and Giants (4-1) will have a lot at stake on Sunday when they meet at Giants Stadium.

The Giants are riding a four-game winning streak that includes road wins over Green Bay and Dallas in the last two games. The run under new coach Tom Coughlin matches their win total in 2003.

“People on the street treat you a lot better than they did when we were 4-12, trust me,” Giants defensive end Michael Strahan said. “Our thing is to go out there and give them something that they can cheer for, and hopefully, that is a 5-1 record.”

New York has struggled in games after the bye week. It has lost three straight, six of seven and 12 of 15 since the week off was introduced in 1990.

“It’s a home game and we have to win our home games,” said Giants halfback Tiki Barber, whose 577 yards rushing is second in the NFC. “That’s what our focus is. It’s the oldest axiom in sports. We are preparing for the long run.”

The Lions, who were 5-11 a year ago, also have something to prove after a 38-10 loss to Green Bay last week.

Not only didn’t Detroit play well, but coach Steve Mariucci said the team did not react well to adversity.

“You’re going to have up and down weeks,” Detroit quarterback Joey Harrington said. “The teams that are alive in January are the ones that can manage the ups and downs of a season.”

The key for both teams this season has been defense, particularly their ability to generate takeaways.

The Giants have taken the ball away from opponents 15 times. The Lions have 12. Both are among the league leaders in turnover differential.

Neither offense has been explosive, but both have been great at maintaining possession. Each has just four giveaways.

Coughlin is very concerned with the Lions’ special teams. Eddie Drummond is third in the league in kickoff returns with a 29.0 yard average. The Lions also have stopped opponents inside the 20-yard line on eight of 21 kickoff returns.

Detroit, which went three years without a road win, has won two in a row away from home.

“I love going back to New York and playing, especially against a good team,” Mariucci said. “You’ve got to be able to be good on the road and even better at home. So as we go through this we’re learning how to do this. This is going to be a very physical game.

“You watch that team play and they’re very strong and physical and veteran-like,” Mariucci added. “Kind of like the Giants’ playoff team from recent years. They kind of went into a tailspin last year, but prior to that they were a playoff team.”

If there is a difference between the teams, the Lions have a greater mixture of youth and veterans. Coughlin still has many members of the nucleus that took New York to a Super Bowl appearance in 2000.

“We’re trying to do things with long-term in mind and to build a solid foundation of youngsters that can be with us for a long time and that’s our plan and we’re sticking to it right now,” Mariucci said. “We do have a long ways to go, but I like the direction that we’re heading and I like the energy that this team has.”

The Giants and Lions have not played a regular-season game since 2000, when Detroit posted a 31-21 win. Detroit also beat the Jets here that season. Overall, the Lions have won their last four games at Giants Stadium, also sweeping both New York teams in 1994.

AP-ES-10-21-04 2043EDT