5 things to watch
1. Tebow, Week 2, the drama builds
Just about everything that could happen to a young quarterback in a game happened to Tim Tebow last Sunday in Miami. After a dismal start — 24 yards passing through three quarters — Tebow made a historic rally, as did the Broncos, for an improbable win over the Dolphins. Now, for the first time in his brief career as a starter, Tebow will face a team that is more than one game over .500. The Lions are 5-2 but have promised to be more physical than they were in consecutive home losses to the 49ers and Falcons.
2. Champ vs. Megatron
Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey has lined up against some of the league’s greats in his 13-year career, but few, if any, of those players have the physical attributes of Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson. He is a 236-pound player with elite speed. He ran 4.3 40-yard dashes when he came into the league. He also has a huge reach and quality body control, and he leads the league in touchdowns with 10. Should the Broncos match Bailey on Johnson, it will be one of Bailey’s biggest one-on-one challenges of his career.
3. Can the Broncos block Suh?
Ndamukong Suh is described as hard-nosed and relentless by many, borderline dirty by others. It is a tad that ironic many offensive linemen who have cut-blocked defensive linemen from behind for years are now pointing fingers at Suh. But no matter what the Broncos think of all this, the bottom line is Suh is the biggest, baddest, most relentless challenge on their offense’s to-do list in this game. Suh, a tackle, disrupts things from the inside, collapses the pocket in the middle of the field, often leaving a quarterback no place to step up to escape the Detroit defensive ends.
4. Short-handed without McGahee
Simply put, the Broncos have not exactly shown they can consistently run the ball if Willis McGahee isn’t the one carrying it. Tebow ran for 65 yards last weekend against the Dolphins, but a quarterback who has designated himself as a runner surrenders the protection the officials give to quarterbacks. The Broncos can’t rely on Tebow pounding away at defenses as a primary rusher if they want to keep him healthy. Knowshon Moreno and Lance Ball have to find a way to grind out some carries without negative plays. In a combined 32 carries this season, Moreno and Ball have a combined eight carries for negative yardage or no gain.
5. Time for Broncos to wake up early
Stunning comebacks are inspiring, but they cannot be a team’s standard operating procedure. The Broncos will have to play with a little more zip early in this one. The Lions are 3-0 on the road this year, having already won at Tampa Bay, Minnesota and Dallas, the latter two victories after monster second-half comebacks. That’s a sign of a team that enjoys getting down to business in somebody else’s stadium.
Game plan
When the Broncos run
The Lions are aggressive on defense, always looking to get up the field, so there is room to run against Detroit’s front seven. The Lions had a pile of missed tackles in their loss to the Falcons last Sunday, and five of their opponents have rushed for at least 122 yards. But if the Broncos can’t get tackles Ndamu- kong Suh and Corey Williams and middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch out of the way, they won’t find many run lanes. Edge: Broncos
When the Lions run
Detroit’s run game has taken some hits with rookie Mikel Leshoure having suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp and Jahvid Best having suffered his third concussion since his final season at Cal. Detroit is usually a throw-first offense — it has thrown the ball 111 more times than it has run it in seven games — but has shown it can run well at times. Edge: Lions
When the Broncos pass
The Lions haven’t surrendered many big plays in the passing game because they don’t give quarterbacks much time to look that far down the field. They are tied for eighth in sacks, have one of the league leaders in forced fumbles in defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch and lead the league in turnover margin at plus-10. Tim Tebow simply cannot get impatient, especially early when the Lions will be looking to get the quick turnover. Some screen passes and a little play-action could at least slow the Lions’ defensive front. But opposing quarterbacks, including Josh Freeman, Tony Romo, Jay Cutler and Matt Ryan, have combined for just a 74.6 passer rating against the Lions. Edge: Lions
When the Lions pass
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford limped off the field last Sunday with a badly sprained right ankle. He was a limited participant in some of the Lions’ practices last week but is expected to play today. The 49ers and Falcons pressured Stafford in what were back- to-back losses for Detroit, and the Broncos may turn up the heat if Stafford’s mobility is limited. The Broncos have struggled to consistently cover backs and tight ends in pass patterns, and the Lions use those players often in the passing game. Edge: Lions
Special teams
Matt Prater rebounded from two misses last Sunday to boot the 52-yard game-winner in Miami. There don’t figure to be many kickoff returns in this one, but Lions returner Stefan Logan has shown some pop. Logan did fumble a kickoff last Sunday against Atlanta, which led to an early Falcons touchdown. Lions kicker Jason Hanson, in his 20th season, has missed once this season — a 52-yard attempt against the 49ers. Edge: Broncos
Injury report
Lions
Out: RB Jahvid Best (concussion).
Doubtful: WR Rashied Davis (foot), DT Nick Fairley (foot).
Questionable: DT Sammie Hill (ankle), QB Matthew Stafford (ankle).
Probable: OT Gosder Cherilus (knee), CB Chris Houston (back), G Rob Sims (illness), DE Willie Young (calf).
Broncos
Out: RB Willis McGahee (hand).
Questionable: DE Elvis Dumervil (ankle), DT Marcus Thomas (knee).
Probable: S Brian Dawkins (illness), TE Julius Thomas (ankle).
