I’ll tell you after the game
Lorenzo Reyes: Broncos 22, Lions 17
The Broncos have won six of their last seven and have covered five of those. The Lions have failed to cover three of their last four and have a turnover problem on offense. The Broncos also are tied for the NFL lead with 24 takeaways. Detroit, in fact, hasn’t beaten a team by more than five points since October 15. I love the Broncos with the points, but I’d consider them on the moneyline, too.
Tyler Dragon: Lions 25, Broncos 21
Detroit’s defense has given up 28 points in two straight games, including a 28-13 loss to the lowly Bears. The Lions’ last two games have exposed some defensive issues. This week they have a tough test against a Broncos club that’s won six of its last seven games. The Lions are 3-0 against AFC West teams this year. They’ll pull off the AFC West sweep on Sunday.
Safid Deen: Lions 26, Broncos 23
This will be a tough test at home for the Lions against a Broncos team surging at the right time. Despite their recent hiccups, Detroit has plenty of offense to outpace Denver, whose offense is the only thing that concerns me even if they reach the playoffs this season.
Victoria Hernandez: Broncos 23, Lions 21
The Lions showed their inconsistencies last week in a loss to the lowly Bears. The Broncos have won six of their last seven and are within a game of the AFC West title. Courtland Sutton is one of the top playmakers in the league right now and Russell Wilson will find him and another win.
Jordan Mendoza: Lions 31, Broncos 30
Detroit suddenly doesn’t look like the powerhouse team it was early in the season. The defense can’t seem to stop much right now, something Denver will love to expose. But the Lions’ offense wakes up and squeaks by in a much-needed home win.
PRISCO:
Denver Broncos at Detroit Lions (-5)
Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET (NFL Network, fubo)
The Broncos are playing a third consecutive road game, which is brutal to do. The Lions, though, are coming off a bad loss to the Bears last week. They are a different team at home, which is why I think this is where they can get back on track. It won’t be easy, but they find a way to win it.
Pick: Lions 29, Broncos 20
BREECH:
Denver (7-6) at Detroit (9-4)
Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
After watching the Lions play for the past three weeks, I’ve noticed a few troubling things about them: Their defense has gotten progressively worse, their offense has gotten progressively worse and Jared Goff is playing like he just got visited by the Ghost of Christmas Future, who just showed him how depressing the rest of the Lions’ season is going to be if the QB doesn’t get his act together soon.
Although the Lions have a much better record than Denver, I’m a “what have you done for me, lately” guy and the Broncos have done way more for me, lately. Since the start of Week 7, the Broncos have gone 6-1 and their defense has been one of the best in the NFL over that span. They have a +11 turnover margin over the past eight weeks and they’re only surrendering 15.6 points per game, and both those numbers rank in the top-two in the NFL over that span.
On the other hand, the Lions have been the exact opposite: Since Week 7, they have a -8 turnover margin and they’re surrendering 28.3 points pre game, which both rank in bottom-two of the NFL over that span. When it comes to the turnovers, one of the biggest issues for the Lions is Goff, who has turned the ball over 12 times since Week 7. That includes turning the ball over three times in three of Detroit’s past four games. Let’s check in with Lions fans and see how they’re feeling about Goff right now.
OK, you know what, let’s cancel that check-in. I think we all get the point after just one tweet.
If your quarterback is turning the ball over three times, you usually don’t win the NFL. To put Goff’s 12 turnovers in perspective, there are four teams in the NFL that haven’t even turned the ball over 12 times THIS SEASON and Goff has hit that number just over the past eight weeks.
So what we have on Sunday is one of the most turnover-prone quarterbacks in the NFL going up against one of a defense that’s been forcing turnovers at a wildly impressive rate. I feel like that can’t be a good thing for the Lions.
The pick: Broncos 23-20 over Lions
That’s been so embarrassing. Ravens did it and was like WTH. Then Packers did it thanksgiving and go 53 yards on the first play. You know your defense is for shit when you see that.
Lions look good for 3 qts. Even outscore Denver 20-10 in quarters 1,2 and 4.
But that ■■■■■■■ 3rd quarter… Denver scores 14 points to our zero.
24-20 Broncos. NFL gets its ship back on course.
They’re due for a well put together game. Overdue…
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My choice of “high frustration and blood pressure” wasn’t available.
And Chicago last week.
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Yup forgot about that!
And GB on Turkey day. And the first Chicago game.
We need to step up our defensive effort against the scripted portion of the opposition’s offense. I do get that it’s a challenging ask but we’ve been reliably unreliable at doing so.
50 denisons with a prediction. A little lighter than usual, sooooooo. BUMP!
You can tell the board is in panic mode when the Broncos have almost as many votes as the hometown team.
I wouldn’t call this a must win but it’s pretty darn close, for their psyche if nothing else.
Denver has a hard time stopping the run….so we need to put up 200 plus on the ground and remind everyone who we are. Plus it keeps our defense off the field lol.
28-22 Lions
Lions 57 Broncos 54
AG’s defense has a career day. 
I’m certain of my uncertainty. And for that I’m grateful.
As much as I’ve been sour on the Lions recently, I feel like this is a get right game for them. Lions 27-21
I am going back a forth on this game all week. I was done with the lions on Monday tell the packers lost lol I was about to get into draft stuff lol just because I have been heart broken so many times by this franchise and the last time they made the playoffs they backed in 2016.
It depends who they bring up from the PS for me lol Irvin or bust!
But I say this if they don’t turn the ball over they win!
Which is going to be hard to do against this team.
Run the ball all day please! 40 rushes tomorrow
Dave Birkett
This isn’t a must-win game by any means; the Lions have a two-game lead in their division with four games to play and enter the week with a 99% chance to make the playoffs. But it feels extra important given the way they’ve played of late. They’ve lost two of their past three games, have generally been mediocre since the bye and have struggled with turnovers and defending the pass. The Broncos are a lot like last year’s Lions in that they’ve found their mojo after a rough start. They’re not a great team, but Sean Payton has done wonders with the roster and their defense has put them in playoff contention with its nose for the ball.
There’s a good chance this game will be decided by turnovers. The Broncos are plus-11 while winning six of their past seven games and have lost the only time they’ve had a negative turnover differential in that span. The Lions have 10 turnovers in their past four games. Playing at home isn’t a panacea for their turnover problems, but I think the Lions will do just enough to score points while keeping the ball out of harm’s way to give Dan Campbell a win over his mentor and move one step closer to the playoffs. The pick: Lions 23, Broncos 17.
Carlos Monarrez
The Broncos are hot. The Lions are not. Denver’s not only playing better defense lately, but it also boasts the Lions’ kryptonite in a mobile, elusive veteran quarterback. This one might get ugly, though I’m sure Sean Payton will control any urge to hang 50 on his former assistants. The pick: Broncos 35, Lions 27.
Jeff Seidel
A Lions game on Saturday night in Ford Field? With everybody “pregaming” all day? Heck yes, sign me up for that. This is gonna be wild and fun and loud as heck. Under Dan Campbell, the Lions have a history of bouncing back from a loss with a win. As long as they don’t hurt themselves, as long as they stay away from silly penalties and take care of the ball — no easy feat against the turnover-producing Broncos — the Lions will win this game. The pick: Lions 28, Broncos 26.
Shawn Windsor
Denver’s defense is more opportunistic than stout, and the Lions should take advantage, as long as they’re ready to take care of the ball and rediscover the early efficiency that sets up their explosive plays. This is an important game for this group, and they’ll show it in focus and discipline. The pick: Lions 27, Broncos 20.
It’s a must win