The Denver Broncos saw their playoff chances take a hit on Saturday night when they lost to the Detroit Lions 42-17 in Week 15.
Denver’s defense forced a Detroit punt on the game’s opening drive. The Broncos then went 41 yards before quarterback Russell Wilson was strip-sacked at the Lions’ 39-yard line. Detroit recovered Wilson’s fumble and returned it to Denver’s 37-yard line.
The Lions failed to capitalize on that turnover and punted it back to the Broncos after going three-and-out. After Denver and Detroit traded punts to close out the first quarter, the Lions scored in the second quarter when Jared Goff threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Sam LaPorta to take a 7-0 lead.
Goff later threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to running back Jahmyr Gibbs to extend the lead to 14-0 midway through the second quarter. Just before halftime, Goff threw a third touchdown pass — this time a 15-yard toss to Amon-Ra St. Brown — to increase the lead to 21-0.
The Broncos started the second half well, going 75 yards and scoring on Wilson’s three-yard touchdown pass to Lil’Jordan Humphrey to make it 21-7. The Lions matched that score on their next drive when Goff threw another touchdown pass to LaPorta, making it 28-7.
Denver then went 70 yards down to Detroit’s one-yard line before Javonte Williams was ruled short of the goal line and coach Sean Payton chose not to challenge the potential score. Broncos fullback Michael Burton scored on the next play but the score was nullified by guard Quinn Meinerz being penalized for his helmet being offside at the snap.
After being backed up to the five-yard line, Denver settled for a 23-yard Wil Lutz field goal to make it 28-10 just before the start of the fourth quarter. Gibbs later scored on a 12-yard run to make it 35-10.
The Broncos went 62 yards on their next drive and Wilson scored on a one-yard run to cut the deficit to 35-17. Goff later threw another touchdown pass to LaPorta to make it 42-17 late in the fourth quarter.
With two minutes remaining trailing by 25 points, Denver put in backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham for the final drive of the game. Stidham did not attempt any passes as they ran out the clock with running plays to seal a 42-17 loss.
Up next for the Broncos is a Christmas Eve showdown with the New England Patriots in Week 16. That game is another NFL Network special.
