Lions, in First Place All Season, Stay There : NFC: They win division title with victory over Packers. The same two teams will play in Detroit next Saturday.

They aren’t called Team Trauma for nothing.

The Detroit Lions, with third-stringers Erik Kramer and Eric Lynch leading the way, beat the Green Bay Packers, 30-20, Sunday for their second NFC Central title in three years.

As a result, the Lions (10-6) get to play host to the Packers (9-7) in a first-round playoff game next Saturday. But it was never easy for the Lions, who:

--Wasted a 7-2 start by losing four of their last seven, including three in a row in the Silverdome before the victory over Green Bay.

--Endured three quarterback controversies that took them from Rodney Peete to Andre Ware, back to Peete, then finally to Kramer.

--Fired offensive coordinator Dan Henning and replaced him with Dave Levy after 12 games.

--Played their last five games without Barry Sanders and their last 12 without safety Bennie Blades.

“It’s been a long, hard road,” said Detroit Coach Wayne Fontes, whose job was thought to be on line at the height of the team’s tailspin. “I’m just glad to be a part of it.”

Kramer, who rescued the Lions in the final half of the 1991 season, completed 15 of 29 passes for 182 yards with one interception against the Packers. He completed an eight-yard touchdown pass to Rodney Holman in the fourth quarter.

Lynch, a free agent from Grand Valley State, is the second fill-in for Sanders. Making his second start because backup Derrick Moore has sore ribs, Lynch had 115 yards in 30 carries, including touchdowns of five and one yard. Lynch also caught four passes for 22 yards.

The Lions’ defense, led by All-Pro linebacker Pat Swilling, forced five turnovers, including four interceptions.

“I’ve never been a part of anything like this in eight years,” said Swilling, who was in the playoffs many times during his days with the New Orleans Saints. “This is just great. The stakes are very high now, but that’s what it’s all about.”

Jason Hanson kicked field goals of 37, 53 and 48 yards for the Lions.

Brett Favre, second in the NFL with 20 interceptions entering the game, completed 23 of 37 for 190 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown pass to Edgar Bennett. But the four interceptions were more than the Packers could overcome.

“Turnovers once again,” Packer Coach Mike Holmgren said. “When we’ve lost games this season, that’s been the main reason. We were careless with the football, and that was the game.”

Sterling Sharpe had six receptions for 33 yards, giving him an NFL-record 112 catches for the season. He broke his record of 108 receptions in 1992.

The Lions held first place since opening day for the first time since the 1954 season.

“We wanted next week’s game in Green Bay and they wanted it here,” said Holmgren, who led the Packers back from a 1-3 start this season. “They got their wish.”