Lions vs. Broncos: 10 Reasons Denver Will Upset Detroit on Sunday

The Detroit Lions are currently 5-2 and are in second place in the NFC North. They are in the playoff picture.

The Denver Broncos are 2-4, last place in the AFC Wes, and struggled to beat winless Miami on Sunday.

This is a Detroit win! A no-brainer!

Not so fast. Here are 10 reason the Broncos will pull the upset.

10. Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium

You may think with the Broncos sitting at 2-4 the local fans have given up on the season.

You'd be wrong.

The fans in Denver are re-energized with Tim Tebow having been named the starting quarterback, and this will be Tebow's first home start this season. The Bronco fans will be out in full force to make things difficult for Detroit.

9. Champ Bailey

If the Broncos are going to pull the upset Sunday, they will need their 10-time Pro Bowler Champ Bailey to be at the top of his game.

Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson is averaging eight catches per game at nearly 17 yards per catch and has 10 touchdowns on the season.

Bailey did a nice job on Sunday against the Dolphins' Brandon Marshall, holding him to just six catches, but he will have to do a better job against a much better receiver in Johnson on Sunday for the Broncos to win.

8. Chris Kuper

Chris Kuper will have the unenviable task of trying to stop the Detroit Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Through seven games this season Suh has just three sacks. However, that statistic may be a bit misleading. It isn't the sacks that make Suh so disruptive.

His ability to clog the middle, shut down the running game and pressure the quarterback can completely change a game.

If Chris Kuper has a great game on Sunday, the Broncos will definitely have a chance to knock off Detroit.

7. Mike McCoy

Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy can be a big part of upsetting the Lions on Sunday, but his offense struggled mightily on Sunday in Miami for about 55 minutes.

McCoy needs to come up with a game plan that can keep Detroit's defense off balance while keeping his young quarterback, Tim Tebow, comfortable and able to make plays.

The Lions have a young athletic defensive line, and McCoy is going to have to neutralize their speed and quickness with his offensive scheme.

6. Ross Kurcab

Don't know Ross Kurcab?

He may be a key to the Broncos upsetting the Lions on Sunday.

In the past 10 years the Detroit Lions have played on natural grass 48 times. They have lost 41 of those games.

Kurcab is the Denver Broncos' turf manager at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

Let's make sure the natural grass looks great on Sunday, OK, Ross?

5. Matt Prater

Matt Prater is 6-of-9 on field goals this year and 11-of-11 on extra points. Prater struggled last week at Miami, missing field goals from 49 and 43 yards, though he redeemed himself in overtime by hitting the game winner from 52.

The Broncos need Prater to be solid this week if they are going pull the upset. If the Broncos can count on Prater's leg when they do get into Detroit territory it will put that much more pressure on the visiting Lions defense.

Prater could be the difference Sunday.

4. The Broncos Defensive Line

The Detroit Lions are only averaging 92.7 rushing yards per game, and thee Broncos defensive line must keep them below their average if they want to knock off the Lions.

If the Lions are able to run the ball on Denver it may end up being a long day.

The defensive line needs a very solid effort Sunday.

3. Knowshon Moreno

The Broncos offense took a big hit Sunday when they lost running back Willis McGahee to a broken hand. He had surgery on Wednesday and is now listed as "day-to-day."

McGahee was averaging 4.5 yards per carry.

If the Broncos are going to beat the Lions they are going to have to run the ball. It will not only keep the Detroit offense off the field, it will take pressure off quarterback Tim Tebow.

If McGahee is out, Knowshon Moreno is going to have to step up.

Moreno has struggled with injuries for most of his three-year career, but the Broncos need Moreno to stay healthy and carry a load on Sunday.

2. Von Miller

While the Detroit Lions haven't been rushing the ball all that effectively, their passing game is ranked No. 7 in the NFL.

If Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is able to sit comfortably in the pocket, that ranking could get better on Sunday.

That's where rookie Von Miller comes in.

Miller has six sacks and 23 tackles so far this year, and if Miller can put some pressure on Stafford (who will be nursing a lower leg injury) the Broncos have a legitimate chance of getting the win.

1. Tim Tebow

If the Broncos are going to win Sunday, Tim Tebow is going to have to be better than he was in Miami.

Sure, the pass rush was heavy, but he needs to look downfield and go through his progressions.

Tebow is a much more accurate passer than he showed Sunday, and the Broncos will need him to be on target against Detroit.

If nothing else, the Broncos need to keep it close until late in the game on Sunday. That seems to be when Tebow shines the most.