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A capsule look at Week 8's game between the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos at Denver. Game time is 4:05 p.m. ET.

What s at stake

After all hoopla that surrounded Tim Tebow s 15-point comeback in the fourth quarter and overtime, Week 7 must be viewed through the prism that it was against the Miami Dolphins, who are 1-12 in their past 13 home games and winless in 2011. This week will be a more accurate measure of how equipped Tebow is to handle starter s duties, given that Detroit's defense, despite its flaws, is arguably the best one Tebow s seen in his half-dozen NFL games.

The Broncos remain in rebuilding mode, but with a win they would creep into the AFC West race despite their many flaws since no team is running away with the division.

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The Lions are steaming mad coming off two losses following a 5-0 start. That could put any such illusions of immediate contention to rest and allow the Broncos to focus on evaluation and continuing to develop players.

Key matchup

Broncos CB Champ Bailey vs. Lions WR Calvin Johnson. Bailey was reminiscing this week about the best players he encountered in his career. Even he admits Johnson s current roll of 10 TDs and the physical domination he s demonstrates is remarkable, bringing back memories of a young Randy Moss but with added bulk and toughness.

This figures to be the third consecutive week Bailey has been assigned to shadow an elite receiver. San Diego s Vincent Jackson and Miami s Brandon Marshall combined for nine catches but didn t reach the end zone with Bailey, a the 10-time Pro Bowl selection, in primary coverage.

Denver will mix up its defensive looks and give Bailey safety help. Still, the battle to watch is within the first five yards of Johnson s routes, when he tries to extricate himself from Bailey. It's Bailey's job disrupt Megatron s timing and footwork before he can do downfield damage.

X-factor

Broncos RG Chris Kuper. Relentless Lions DT Ndamukong Suh will be matched often against Kuper, Denver s top interior lineman, who plays with tenacity and fight of his own. Center J.D. Walton will try to help with double-team attention. Walton and Suh were conference foes in the Big 12 a few years back.

Much of the Broncos' rushing success has come between the tackles, but that was with Willis McGahee in the lineup and he s out with a broken hand. Broncos linemen move Suh out of the hole to provide RBs Knowshon Moreno and Lance Ball room to operate to prevent Suh from getting to Tebow when rushing the passer.