NFL Picks Week 8: Tim Tebow and the Broncos Will Shock the Lions

I hate to be the bearer of bad news…but the Detroit Lions aren’t that good.  

The darlings of the NFL for the first month of season, teams are figuring them out fast. They can’t run the ball and they can’t stop it either.  

With Javid Best out, the Lions are relying on Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams to carry the load for the 27^th ranked rushing attack. You wonder why they tried to trade for Ronnie Brown.  

The Broncos defense isn’t great, but they’ll have no trouble making the Lions one-dimensional.

Rookie Von Miller is a menace, with D.J Williams and Joe Mays making plays all over the field as well. In other words, the linebacking corps is in good hands.  

The Lions passing game will certainly put up points, but Calvin Johnson should be limited because of the wily old veteran Champ Bailey. He may be 33 years old, but Bailey is still one of the best cover corners in the business.

The rest of the Lions receiving core is average at best.

Don’t forget that QB Matthew Stafford has been wearing a protective boot all week that has limited him in practice. Shaun Hill has taken some of the starter reps this week.  

As for the Broncos offense, they are lead by a guy named Tim Tebow. Have you heard of him?  

We all know he absolutely stunk for 55 minutes last Sunday, but his team still won. This guy will not secure any beauty points for his play, but the dude finds a way.  

While he won’t be throwing for 300 yards, I foresee him making the proper reads and the right decisions as coach John Fox calls lots of short slants and curls to keep the game plan simple.  

The Lions are going to bring the pressure, but quietly it’s not that great.

Ndamukong Suh is way off his sack total of last year and the line is allowing five yards a carry.

Jason Whitlock of FoxSports.com has an interesting theory that the new labor agreement is to blame.  

It hurts that starter Willis McGahee has broken his hand and will miss the game, but that gives Knowshon Moreno a second chance.  

He is finally playing with some real passion in the passing game after surrendering the starters spot to McGahee. He knows he has to produce or this will be his last season in the Mile High City.  

Factor in the first home start in 2011 for the 23-year-old QB that will surely bring out Tebow Nation, with a wacky week of weather in Denver that saw snow on Wednesday, and this game has the makings of another Tebow miracle.  

As long as Tebow doesn’t bail at the first sign of pressure, and he stays patient with his reads…the legend will continue to grow.    

Prediction: Broncos 23, Lions 21