Broncos Get Blown Out In Detroit 42-17

The Broncos got blown out in Detroit 42-17 as their record fell to 7-7. Below is the recap and postgame interviews:

Detroit started with the ball on offense. Amon-Ra St. Brown took an out route up the sideline for a 21 yard gain, moving the ball to mid-field but the drive would stall and the Lions would be forced to punt.

On the first play for the Broncos offense, Russell Wilson hit Jerry Jeudy over the middle for a 40-yard gain. After a Marvin Mims end around that gained 11 yards, it seemed like the Broncos would be the first team to get points in the contest but a safety blitz forced a sack/fumble by Russell Wilson and DE Isaiah Buggs scooped up the ball and returned it to the Denver 37 yard line.

It was a major shift in momentum but the Broncos defense did a tremendous job stopping the Lions offense from finding any success and, in fact, forced them to move backward after DJ Jones sacked Jared Goff on 3rd down and Detroit was forced to punt the ball back to Denver.

So, no harm no foul but the Broncos offense was unsuccessful getting anything going on their next drive from the 20 yard line and, after a 3 and out, was forced to punt the ball right back to the Lions.

Detroit's offense kept working the passing game with completions to Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond as they quickly entered Denver territory but the Defense was able to stall the drive at midfield and forced a punt. The third Broncos drive of the game would begin at their own 17 yard line with 5:04 remaining in the 1st quarter.

The Broncos offense went to work and, on 3rd and 9, Russ showed some great escapability and found Courtland Sutton down the left sideline for a 23 yard gain to move the ball to the 40 yard line. Unfortunately, the offense was only able to gain 6 more yards on the drive before a pass to Adam Trautman on 3rd down was incomplete because rookie Brian Branch hit him helmet to helmet. No call. Riley Dixon's punt set up the Lions offense at their own 20 yard line for their next drive with 1:38 remaining in the 1st quarter.

The Lions picked up 11 yards on back-to-back runs before hitting rookie TE Sam LaPorta over the middle for a 17 yard gain. Detroit was, once again, quickly to midfield. On 3rd down, Goff found LaPorta again on 3rd down to keep the drive going and, after hitting Josh Reynolds for 20 yards to get into the Red Zone, Jared found his rookie TE again on the left sideline and he broke multiple tackles to take the ball into the end zone for the first score of the game. Lions lead 7-0 with 12:31 remaining in the 2nd quarter.

The Broncos offense, needing to string together something, did the opposite. Russ was hit on his first drop back for an incompletion and then sacked on 3rd down to force another 3 and out. The Lions took over at their own 39 yard line with 10:58 remaining the 1st half.

Once again, the Lions offense gained huge chunk plays, one after another, as they briskly moved into Denver territory. Josh Reynolds and Jahmyr Gibbs starred on the drive as, from the 9 yard line, Jared Goff found the rookie running back out of the backfield over the middle for another Detroit touchdown. The Lions extended their lead 14-0 with 8:15 remaining in the 1st half.

Russell Wilson and the Broncos offense needed to find some kind of response now trailing by two scores on the road. Russell Wilson was able to convert a 4th and 1 at their own 30 yard line but their drive, once again, stalled and Riley Dixon punted the ball back to Detroit at their own 19 yard line with 4:21 remaining in the 1st half looking to add to their lead.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, who had been relatively quiet for the 1st half, finally got going as he caught two big passes from Jared Goff, one of 29 yards, and Detroit was again in Denver territory. David Montgomery helped get the Lions into the Red Zone on the ground. On 3rd and 7 with 28 seconds left in the 1st half, Jared Goff found a WIDE OPEN Amon-Ra St. Brown over the middle for another Lions touchdown. Detroit extended their lead 21-0 at halftime.

Broncos offense got the ball to start the 2nd half and, on 3rd down, Marvin Mims drew a 44-yard defensive pass interference call from Alex Anzalone, setting Denver up at the Detroit 33. A nice mix of run and pass gave the Broncos a goal to go situation. On 3rd and goal from the 3 yard line, Russell Wilson found Lil'Jordan Humphrey in the back of the end zone for a touchdown to give the Broncos some life as they cut the lead 21-7.

Now it was time for the Denver defense to help keep the momentum shift going but they couldn't hold up against the Lions rushing attack as Jahmyr Gibbs gashed the defense for 45 yards on two carries, setting them up in a goal to go situation. Two plays later, Jared Goff hit rookie TE Sam LaPorta for his 2nd touchdown and the Lions extended their lead 28-7 with 7:01 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

Back in a 3 score hole, the Broncos offense went back to work. Russell Wilson did a great job avoiding the pressure and finding Adam Trautman for a 24 yard gain down the right sideline that helped get Denver into Detroit territory at the 40 yard line. Russell found Jerry Jeudy for a HUGE 3rd and 10 conversion for 19 yards and Denver drove, once again, to the goal line. A controversial offsides was called against Quinn Meinerz on 4th and goal wiped a Michael Burton touchdown off the board and Denver settled for a 23 yard field goal.

Sean Payton was unhappy.

The Lions did what they had done all night which was moving quickly down the field and punched another touchdown, this from 12 yards out, with Jahmyr Gibbs. Lions extend their lead, now 35-10, with 12:12 remaining in the 4th quarter.

The Broncos offense moved the ball to their 44 yard line but a deep pass to Marvin Mims was ruled incomplete and they were forced to punt 10:59 remaining in the game. Lions got the ball back at their own 23 yard line after Tremon Smith tackled Kalif Raymond, who called for a fair catch. The Denver defense was finally able to force a 3 and out after Jonathon Cooper sacked Jared Goff on 3rd down. Detroit punted the ball back to Denver with 9:18 remaining in the game.

Russell Wilson hit Samaje Perine for an 11 yard checkdown to start the drive and then a slant to Jerry Jeudy for 15 yards where he took a shot to the throat and immediately went to the medical tent. Courtland caught a 14 yard pass and the Broncos were quickly just outside the Red Zone. Russell Wilson ran a QB sneak from the 1 yard line and scored a Broncos touchdown, to cut the lead to 35-17. Jerry Jeudy was cleared to return.

The Lions recover the onside kick, which effectively ended the game even though some might argue it was over much earlier. The Lions went for it on 4th and 2 and Sam LaPorta got his 3rd touchdown of the game as Dan Campbell, who said earlier this week that Sean Payton was coming into Detroit to embarrass the Lions, turned the tables and embarrassed his former coach as the final was 42-17.

The next broadcast will be on Sunday, December 24th as the Broncos return home to host the New England Patriots. Coverage starts at 9am and kickoff will be at 6:15pm.

Below are the postgame interviews with Sean Payton, Russell Wilson and Fabian Moreau.