NFL / TONIGHT’S GAME

DETROIT (5-8)

AT SAN FRANCISCO (10-3)

* Kickoff: 5:15 p.m.

* TV: Channel 7.

* Story line: While Barry Sanders still draws much of the defensive focus from teams playing the Lions, rookie quarterback Charlie Batch has joined him as a threat the opposition must account for. That leaves the 49ers and their injury-depleted defense with multiple concerns tonight. “For a rookie, the kid’s got a lot of poise,” safety Tim McDonald said. “He’s had his ups and downs, but he’s been pretty consistent. That’s the big thing you look for in a rookie.” Batch has had many more ups than downs in his last four games, leading Detroit to three wins with a 111.0 passer rating. Batch, the third quarterback taken in last April’s draft after Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf went 1-2, is 5-6 since taking over for Scott Mitchell after Detroit’s 0-2 start. Batch said he also benefits from being able to hand off the ball to Sanders, who ran for 175 yards en route to his third NFL rushing title the last time he faced the 49ers, a 24-14 Lion loss in the 1996 regular season finale. “When defenses go through their game plan, they’re preparing for Barry, not me,” Batch said. “I’ve got the best rusher in the history of the game behind me and the defenses are a lot more scared of Barry than myself.” San Francisco looks especially vulnerable after being shredded for 203 yards rushing in a 31-28 victory at Carolina last week--its first game since defensive tackle Bryant Young suffered a broken leg and was lost for the season.

* The Line: 49ers by 10.