NFL Picks Week 9: 9 Reasons Why the Detroit Lions Will Upset the New York Jets

Mark Sanchez and Matt Stafford play against each other for the first time in their careers.  

The New York Jets and Detroit Lions are two teams seemingly in completely different playing modes despite each having a second year quarterback at the helm.

The Jets spent the offseason adding veterans for the sole purpose of winning right away.

The Lions are just two years removed from going winless, but are on the rise and have plenty of young talent.

This Sunday, the Jets are heavily favored.

Here are nine reasons why the Lions will play spoiler and pull the upset:

9. Home Field Advantage

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DETROIT - OCTOBER 31: Calvin Johnson #81 of the Detroit Lions celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the Washington Redskins at Ford Field on October 31, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions defeated the Redski

Expert say home field advantage is worth three points.

That boost means a lot to a team who has played in five games this season that have been decided by one score.

8. Scoring Drought

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 31: Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets scrambles against the Green Bay Packers on October 31, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The Jets were shut out last week by a battered Green Bay Packers defense.

Throw in their bye week, and by the time the game rolls around this Sunday, the Jets won't have scored a point in 21 days.

Prepare for rust.

7. Caught Looking Ahead

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 31: LaDainian Tomlinson #21 of the New York Jets reacts after dropping a pass against the Green Bay Packers on October 31, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Imag

It's just the Detroit Lions. Again, they went 0-16 just a couple of years ago.

No way in the world the New York Jets can possibly get upset with future Hall-of-Fame players on the roster like LaDainian Tomlinson, Jason Taylor, etc.

Trap game.

6. The Best Factor

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DETROIT - OCTOBER 10: Jahvid Best #44 of the Detroit Lions looks for running room after getting past Craig Dahl #43 of the St. Louis Rams on October 10, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 44-6. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Ima

Jahvid Best is one of the fastest running backs in the NFL. He can take it to the house in the blink of an eye and has a chance to do so every time he touches the football.

The only problem is, he hasn't gotten into the end zone since Week 2, but an injury has held him back.

Despite the lack of success, he's still a legitimate threat.

Rookies always play better at home. Under the lights of Ford Field, healthy again and hyped up for a game against a Super Bowl favorite, Best may just break one.

5. A Strong Special Teams

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DETROIT - OCTOBER 10: Stefan Logan #11 of the Detroit Lions returns a second quarter kickoff 105 yards during the game against the St. Louis Rams at Ford Field on October 10, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Special teams almost always plays a huge role in major upsets.

The Lions return ace Stefan Logan ranks sixth in the league for kickoff return average with 29.5 and 11th in punt return average with 13.1. Every time he touches the ball there is a chance for a big play.

Games in the NFL often come down to the final play, a field goal. The Lions' kicker Jason Hanson is one of the best in the league.

He is 10th in the NFL in field goal percentage, and just in case the Lions don't have time get the ball inside the 30 for a game-winning field goal, Hanson is tied for sixth in the league in conversions 50 yards or more.

4. A Relentless Pass Rush

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DETROIT - OCTOBER 31: Ndamukong Suh #90 of the Detroit Lions celebrates with teammate Corey Williams #99 after recovering a late fourth quarter fumble from Rex Grossman #8 of the Washington Redskins an scores a touchdown at Ford Field on October 31, 2010

A four man rush of Kyle Vanden Bosch, Ndamukong Suh, Corey Williams and Cliff Avril doesn't just sound like one of the most talented in the league. The group leads a Lions defense that is tied for sixth in the NFL in sacks.

Arguably the most valuable trait a defense can have is a lethal pass rush, and the Lions definitely possess that trait.

3. Matt Stafford Against an Inconsistent Secondary

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CLEVELAND - AUGUST 22: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions throws to a reciever against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter of their NFL game in Cleveland Browns Stadium on August 22, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Gett

Stafford is one of the fastest rising young quarterbacks in the league.

He has an 89.2 quarterback rating in just his two starts this year. He has also thrown 11 touchdowns in his last five games.

He will be facing a secondary that has let up 248 passing yards four times this season including 363 to Chad Henne and the Miami Dolphins.

2. Playmaking Defense

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - OCTOBER 03: Alphonso Smith #27 of the Detroit Lions takes the ball away from Greg Jennings #85 of the Green Bay Packers for an interception at Lambeau Field on October 3, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Lions 28-26.

Nothing swings momentum like a turnover, and that is why it is such a key for underdogs to be able to pull off the upset.

The Lions have eight interceptions on the year. Good for 12th in NFL. Solid, but nothing special.

Their ability to force fumbles and recover them, on the other hand, is special.

They have forced nine fumbles this season and recovered all nine, good for second most in the league. That's not luck, that's not coincidence, that's 11 animals flying to the football.

1. Megatron

Leon Halip/Getty Images

DETROIT - OCTOBER 31: Calvin Johnson #81 of the Detroit Lions scores a second quarter touchdown as is congratuated by teamate Tony Scheffler #85 as Lorenzo Alexander #97 of the Washington Redskins looks on during the game at Ford Field on October 31, 201

In the return of Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson had nine catches for 101 yards and three touchdowns.

That performance wasn't a fluke either as he is tied for first in the league for touchdowns by a wide receiver.

No one can stop him right now, not even Darrelle Revis. Even the on-fire DeAngelo Hall who had four interceptions the week before couldn't slow Johnson down.

Prediction

Leon Halip/Getty Images

DETROIT - OCTOBER 31: Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz watches the action during the game against the Washington Redskins at Ford Field on October 31, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions defeated the Redskins 37-25. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Image

Scoreboard

New York Jets: 21

Detroit Lions: 24

Finish

Jason Hanson of the Lions kicks a field goal with just under a minute left to take the lead in a game that was close for its entirety. After driving all the way to their own 40, a Mark Sanchez interception on fourth down clinches the upset for Detroit.

David Daniels is a Correspondent and Writing Intern at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer.  Follow him at One Yard Short.com or on Twitter