Resurgent Broncos Look to Stay Hot Against Lions in Primetime
Broncos vs Lions Tips: Detroit 4-1 Against Over in Last Five
The Denver Broncos schedule increases in intensity again in Week 15 with a trip to Detroit. Despite dropping two of their last three games, the Lions remain atop the NFC North with a record of 9-4.
The odds for Saturday’s primetime (8:15 p.m. ET) NFL matchup have fluctuated, ranging between 3.5 and 5 points in favor of Detroit.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Detroit had climbed to a 4-point favorite and -218 on the moneyline, with Denver coming in at +180 to win outright. Meanwhile, the projected total was 48, slightly leaning toward the Under at -112. This after opening at 47.
Who has the edge? Read on as we break down both teams and deliver our Broncos vs Lions tips.
Broncos vs Lions 
Day/Time:
Location: Ford Field; Detroit
Streaming: NFL Network
Betting Trends
The Denver Broncos are 5-7-1 ATS but 5-2 in their last seven games. Denver’s also gone Under the projected total in seven of its previous eight games and eight times overall. Conversely, the Detroit Lions are 8-5 ATS, including 3-3 at home. The Lions have gone Over the projected total in eight of their 13 games. That’s important to remember when assessing our Broncos vs Lions tips.
Broncos Heating Up at Right Time
The Denver Broncos continued their resurgence in Week 14, upsetting the Chargers 24-7 for their sixth win in the last seven games. The Broncos, 3-point underdogs, improved to 7-6, one game behind the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs atop the AFC West.
Oddsmakers are still skeptical of the Broncos’ ability to overtake Kansas City, pricing them as +750 longshots to win the division. That said, the Broncos are reasonably priced to make the NFL playoffs at +130.
Russell Wilson — who else? — has had a big hand in Denver’s turnaround, improving his play after a disastrous first season in Denver. Wilson’s 23 touchdown passes are already seven more than all of last season, while his completion rate (67.2%) has also considerably improved.
Although the Broncos rank in the bottom 10 in yards per game (300.8), they’re averaging a modest 22.1 points. Nevertheless, they’ve gone Under the projected total in seven of their last eight games. They’re just 5-8 against the Over/Under for the NFL season.
Detroit Looking Vulnerable
The Detroit Lions struggled again in Week 14, falling 28-13 to NFC North rival Chicago. The Lions, 3-point favorites, mustered only 267 yards of total offense and dropped to 9-4. Despite losing for the second time in three games, Detroit still holds a comfortable two-game lead on Minnesota atop the division.
Oddsmakers expect the Lions to hold on, pricing them -1000 to win the North. However, they’re still down the pecking order in the NFC. For context, the Lions are +950 to make the Super Bowl. The three NFL teams ahead of them — San Francisco, Philadelphia and Dallas — are all priced +380 or better.
That the Lions suddenly look vulnerable is a tad alarming, Injuries haven’t helped. David Montgomery, Detroit’s leading rusher, recently returned after missing two games with a rib injury. But the Lions are now without a few key faces along the offensive line in center Frank Ragnow (knee) and tackle Taylor Decker (back). That’s in addition to losing safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson to IR with a pectoral injury.
Detroit’s ability to overcome that adversity and reestablish itself as a legitimate Super Bowl contender may depend on Jared Goff, who’s thrown for 3,449 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Lions are averaging 390.3 yards, ranking third in the NFL, while scoring 26.2 points per game.
Fittingly, Detroit has gone Over the projected total in four of its last five games and eight times overall. Only one team has covered the Over/Under at a higher rate than Detroit (61.5%). Keep that in mind when analyzing our Broncos vs Lions tips.
Handicapping the Game
Detroit has fared reasonably well at home, going 4-2 SU and 3-3 ATS. Its performance over the last few weeks is a bit concerning, but that shouldn’t diminish what the Lions have accomplished as a whole. That Dan Campbell is a +200 favorite for NFL Coach of the Year speaks to their performance. The Lions shouldn’t be overlooked.
While Denver’s taken a big step forward under Sean Payton, it’s in a difficult spot in Week 15. The Broncos are 3-3 on the road, having covered the NFL point spread just twice. At the same time, they’ve made significant strides since getting embarrassed 70-20 by Miami in Week 3. This isn’t the same team.
Taking that into account, this is shaping up to be one of the week’s most competitive matchups.
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