Believe it or not the Detroit Lions are currently a playoff team in the NFC. The same can’t be said for the Denver Broncos, who are quickly falling back in the AFC and need a win versus Detroit on Sunday to right their sinking ship.
The Lions improved to 5-2 on the football season after upsetting Chicago 16-7 as a 6-point underdog last week.
The Lions, who are statistically one of the worst defenses in the league against the pass, stepped up in the win as they intercepted Bears’ quarterback Brian Griese four times. Detroit QB Jon Kitna went without a touchdown pass for the third straight game but didn’t make any mistakes to hurt the Lions while completing 24-of-35 passes for 268 yards. Running back Kevin Jones continued his comeback from offseason foot surgery with his best numbers of the year, posting 105 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.The Broncos lost to Green Bay 19-13 last week thanks to Brett Favre’s 83-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings in overtime. Denver had been a 3-point favorite in that game. Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler completed 21-of-34 passes for 264 yards with a touchdown in the loss. With Travis Henry sidelined by bruised ribs, backup Selvin Young got the start at running back and rushed for 71 yards on 18 carries.
Brandon Marshall caught three passes for 74 yards while tight end Tony Scheffler hauled in a TD for the second straight game.
This is the first meeting between Detroit and Denver since the Lions and Broncos made an offseason trade that sent corner back Dre’ Bly to Denver and running back Tatum Bell to Detroit. Neither player has made a big impact with their new team, as Bly was covering Jennings on last week’s deep touchdown while Bell lost the starting job to Jones and has rushed for only 182 yards on 44 carries.
The Lions and Broncos haven’t faced each other since 2003, when Denver edged Detroit 20-16 as a 12-point home favorite. The Lions are a 3-point favorite in Sunday’s game.
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