Broncos 17 - 42 Lions summary, scores stats, and highlights | NFL Week 15

LaPorta got his hat trick on 4th and 2 late in the 4th quarter when the Lions could have just gone for a field goal. Love him or hate him, that's the way Dan Campbell coaches and tonight the Lions fans loved him. Goff passed for 278 yards on 24/34 passing and had FIVE touchdowns on the night. 

The Lions are now in prime position to win the NFC North and will still have their sights set on the top seed in the conference with a game against the current one seed, Dallas Cowboys, coming up in the next couple weeks. 

After the loss, the Broncos now fall behind the the Wild Card picture in the AFC, Their final three games are against the Patriots, Chargers and Raiders. All are teams who have back up quarterbacks under center. They don't control their own destiny, so they need to win out and hope for some help from outside. 

The Lions two headed rushing attacked pounded the Broncos worst ranked unit against the rush. Gibbs had 100 yards and two TDs while Montgomery went for 85 yards as Detroit ran away with the game in the 4th. 

LaPorta got his second of the night right after the Broncos scored a TD to open the second half. It was a big response to keep a comfortable cushion on the Broncos who know how to make a comeback. 

The Broncos live off of their defense keeping the games close enough for Russell Wilson to make a late game drive to win it in the fourth quarter, but that wasn't the case on Saturday. The Lions went up 21-0 right before the halftime break after Amon-Ra St.Brown's flipping TD into the endzone. 

It was the night of the rookies in Detroit as LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs shined against the Denver defense. Gibbs had his first career receiving TD on this short pass from Goff, and he would have a bit more to say later in the game. 

Once the Lions got Sam LaPorta going, the offense started to heat up. He had three catches on the opening TD drive of the night and capped it off with this 19 yard catch and run into the endzone. His night was just getting started. 

The Lions came into Saturday night after losing two of their last three games, and needed a win to stop the skid and stay in the race for first place in the NFC. Neither team came out too hot, and it was the Detroit D that came up with the first big play of the game. Pressure on Russell Wilson would be a common theme throughout the night. Wilson ended the night with 223 yards and a TD, but most of those yards came when the game was already in the bag. 

IT'S ALL OVER!!!

The Lions bounce back in a big way, blowing out one of the hottest teams in the league, and are not back in the discussion for the one seed in the NFC. 

DEN get the ball from the 21 and Williams takes the first down run for 4 yards on the right side. 

2nd and 6 from the DEN 25. Two Minute Warning from Detroit. 

Jake LaPorta is having the performance of his rookie season. He has three TDs and over 50 yards receiving and is quickly becoming Jared Goff's top targets. 

Gibbs is stopped short of the marker on 3rd down after a 5 yard run to the left side. 

4th and 2 from the DEN 10 and the Lions take a timeout with 2:26 on the clock. 

Another run to Montgomery to the left side and he picks up a yard. 

3rd and 7 from the DEN 15. 

Montgomery with the carry up the middle and he gets stopped after a short two yard run. 

2nd and 8 from the DEN 16. 

Pitch to Gibbs and he moves the chains again with a 9 yard pick up from the left side. 

1st and 10 from the DEN 18. 

Montgomery to the right side for a gain of 5 on first down. 

2nd and 5 from the DET 27. 

Roll out to the left side from Goff and he finds St Brown on the flat route for a catch and run of 10 yards. 

1st and 10 from the DET 32. 

DET recover the onside kick and get the ball at the DEN 44 to start the drive. 

Montgomery gets the carry on first down and he picks up 2 yards. 

2nd and 8 from the DEN 42. 

Wilson with the QB sneak, but the offense waited too long to turn it on. 

Perine breaks through the middle of the line and takes it all the way down to the one yard line. 

1st and Goal from the 1. 

Wilson on the QB keeper but he is stopped short of the marker after a gain of one. 

4th and 1 from the DET 13. 

Wilson rolls right and finds Humphrey on the right side for an 8 yard gain before he is tackled out of bounds. 

2nd and 2 from the DEN 14. 

Short pass to the left side for Sutton and he had the ball in his hands, but dropped it. 

2nd and 10 from the DEN 22. 

Another first down on a Wilson pass over the middle, this time to Sutton for 14 yards. 

1st and 10 form the DEN 22. 

Wilson finds Jeudy over the middle and the WR takes it 15 yards on the catch and run for a first down in DET territory. 

1st and 10 from the DET 36. 

DET take over from their 38 and and Wilson finds Perine out of the backfield for a gain of 11 yards. 

1st and 10 form the DEN 49. 

Goff is dropped in the backfield by Cooper for an 8 yard sack. 

4th and 19 from the DET 14. 

Gibbs with the carry to the right side and he is pushed out of bounds after a loss of one. 

3rd and 11 from the DET 22. 

Goff with the play action and he looks for LaPorta on the right side but that pass came up short. 

2nd and 10 from the DET 23. 

DEN elect to punt and DET get the ball from the 23 after Raymond fielded the punt and was crushed after calling for a fair catch. 

Wilson takes a shot down the left side for Mims who made the contested catch but had his second foot out of bounds. 

4th and 10 coming up and what do the Broncos do here?

Wilson was it as he let the ball go down the right side and that came up well short of Jeudy on the sideline. 

3rd and 10 from the DEN 44. 

Wilson going back to Krull on first down but that pass to the right side falls incomplete. 

2nd and 10 from the DEN 44. 

DEN get the ball at the 25 and Wilson hits Krull with a pass over the middle for a gain of 19. 

1st and 10 from the DEN 44. 

The Lions have run it all over the Denver defense tonight. Gibbs has his second TD of the game,  and the LIons have 162 yards on the ground. 

Montgomery to the left side on the first down run and he pick s up 13 yards and a first down. 

1st and 10 from the 12. 

Goff with an over the shoulder throw to Reynolds on the left side and he almost dragged it in with one hand but a flag flies for defensive PI. 

1st and 10 from the DEN 25. 

Montgomery gets it back and he carries the pile for a 9 yard ride into DEN territory. 

1st and 10 from the DEN 41. 

Montgomery gets the handoff and he takes it up the middle for a gain of 4. 

2nd and 6 from the 50. 

DEt start the fourth quarter with a Goff pass to Williams on the right side for a 15 yard gain on the sideline. 

1st and 10 from the DET 46. 

DET get the ball fro the 25 and Montgomery takes the carry to the right side for a gain of 7 yards on first down and that will take us to the end of the third quarter. 

2nd and 3 from the DET 32. 

FIELD GOAL BRONCOS!!!

After the penalty, the Broncos settle for three, and that is even more interesting considering McLaughlin looked like he was in but the Broncos didn't challenge the call after he was marked short of the goal line. 

DET lead 28-10 with 43 seconds to go on the third quarter clock. 

An offsides on the offense is going to take the TD off the board by Burton and the Broncos bring the FG unit on. 

4th and Goal from the 6. 

Williams to the left side and he is tripped up short of the goal line!

4th and Goal from inches away. 

McLaughlin makes over the middle and he is popped at the goal line. It looked like he got in, but the refs mark him short. 

3rd and Goal from inside the 1. 

Pass over the top for Sutton, but the other Sutton was there to bat that ball away. 

2nd and Goal from the 9. 

Sutton on the underneath route and Wilson hit him with a short pass that he took 12 yards for a first down. 

1st and Goal from the DEN 9. 

Pass over the middle for Jeudy and he makes the catch at the marker and takes it up field for a gain of 19 yards. 

1st and 10 from the DET 21. 

Williams up the middle and he is stopped for no gain which will bring up 3rd and long. Could be 4 down territory. 

3rd and 10 from the DET 40. 

Wilson goeing deep down the middle for Krull who was open but Melifonwu came screaming in to break that pass up. 

2nd and 10 from the DET 40. 

DET brought the blitz and Wilson did just enough to absorb it and dump it off to Trautman with a short lob pass that he takes 14 yards for the catch and run. 

1st and 10 from the DET 40. 

Wilson with the QB sneak and he moves the chains with a gain of 1. 

1st and 10 from the DEN 36. 

McLaughlin takes the handoff to the left side where he is chopped down a yard short of the marker. 

3rd and 1 from the DEN 35. 

DEN start the drive from the 25 and Wilson finds Sutton in the flat. He gets 7 yards down the left sideline on first down. 

2nd and 3 from the DEN 33. 

LaPorta has two today, and Goff has four TDs with almost a half hour still to go in the game. 

Goff goes to the air looking for St. Brown but that pass was way too high as the coverage was good. 

3rd and Goal from the 3. 

Gibbs gets the handoff but he is stopped up the middle after a gain of one. 

2nd and Goal from the 3. 

Gibbs with a fantastic run that started in the middle and he cut it to the sideline where he put a couple moves the defenders and gets down inside the 5 for a 34 yard carry. 

1st and Goal from the 4. 

Gibbs gets the handoff to the right side on third and ten and he speeds to the edge and up the sideline for a gain of 11 yards!

1st and 10 from the DEN 38. 

Gibbs gets the handoff out of the shotgun and he is stopped after a short gain of one. 

3rd and 9 from the DEN 49. 

Goff's pass to the left side for Williams falls short of the WR. 

2nd and 10 from the DET 49. 

DET start the drive from he 25 and Goff finds St. Brown on the deep in route for a 26 yard catch and run. 

1st and 10 from the DET 49. 

The Broncos had just 75 yards in the first half, but took that opening drive of the second half 75 yards and Humphrey secures the catch in the corner of the endzone to put Denver on the board. 

Wilson lobs it up to Humphrey on the left side and he leaps up and makes the catch for the TD, but the play is going to be review to make sure he kept possession as he was taken to ground. 

Wilson looking for Johnson in the corner of the endzone but the ball came in late which allowed the defender to push him out of bounds. 

3rd and Goal from the 3. 

Perine up the middle on first down and he picks up 3 yards up the middle.  

2nd and Goal from the 3. 

Short pass on the flat route to Humphrey and he picks up 5 yards and a first down. 

1st and Goal from the DET 6. 

Play action from Wilson and he goes for Trautman in the corner of the endzone but that pass was too far out in front of the TE. 

3rd and 4 from the DET 11. 

Williams drags the pile for a 6 yard gain on first down. 

2nd and 4 from the DET 11. 

Pass over the middle for Sutton and he takes it to the sideline for a gain of 14 and a first down. 

1st and 10 from the DET 17. 

Perine gets the handoff up the middle and he is wrapped up after a short gain of 2. 

2nd and 8 from the DET 31. 

Wilson going deep for Mims down the middle of the field, and a flag flies for pass interference on Anzalone which will give DEN a first down in DET territory. 

1st and 10 from the DET 33. 

Screen pass set up for Williams but he is dropped for a loss of five by Paschal. 

3rd and 12 from the DEN 23. 

Williams gets the handoff up the middle and he picks up 3 yards on the first down carry up the middle. 

2nd and 7 from the DEN 28. 

WE ARE BACK IN PLAY FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION FROM DETROIT!!!

DEN get the ball to start the half, needing a score to start the third quarter. 

Goff went to old faithful for the final TD of the first half, as St. Brown caught it over the middle and flipped into the endzone for 6 right before the halftime break. 

The Lions have 279 yards of offense to Denver's 75. Goff is 19/26 for 215 yards and three TDs while Montgomery and Gibbs had a combined 71 yards on the ground. 

Wilson is 4/10 for 69 yards but has been sacked twice and pressured countless other times. 

Goff hit his rookie tight end for the first TD, and went to his rookie RB for the second TD. Jahmyr Gibbs gets over the goal line for his first ever receiving TD to double the Lions lead. 

As soon as DET started getting LaPorta involved they started moving the ball a little easier. LaPorta made three catches on the scoring drive, and finished it off with this 19 yard catch and run for six. 

Neither team started this game particularly well, but the Lions came up with the one big play of the first quarter. Look at the big man Buggs scoop the fumble and take it 33 yards into DEN territory. 

WE ARE HEADING TO HALFTIME FROM DETROIT!!!

The Lions are up 21-0 after a dominant performance on both side of the ball. 

Goff looking for St. Brown inside the 5, but that pass falls short and incomplete. 

3rd and 7 from the 15. 

Goff rolls left, and finds St Brown who was tripped up in the open field for a short gain of 3. 

2nd and 7 from the DEN 15. Timeout DET with 28 seconds left. 

Montgomery with another first down this time after finding a hold on the left side and bursting for and 11 yard chunk. 

1st and 10 from the DEN 18. 

Montgomery moves the chains with a 4 yard run up the middle. 

1st and 10 from the DEN 29. 

Montgomery up the middle and he is swallowed up after a short gain of one and that will bring us to the Two Minute Warning. 

3rd and 1 from the DEN 33 after the break. 

Montgomery with a run to the right side on first down and he picks up 8 yards. 

2nd and 2 from the DEN 34. 

Goff over the middle for St. Brown and he picks up 29 yards on the catch and run off the slant pattern. 

1st and 10 from the DEN 42. 

Pressure came up the middle and Goff had to throw it off the back foot, causing that pass to come in short for Reynolds. 

2nd and 10 form the DET 29. 

Pass over the middle for St. Brown and he gets the first down with a 9 yard catch. 

1st and 10 from the DET 29. 

Lions brought a safety blitz that got to Wilson who had to run out of the pocket and his pass on the move was incomplete. 

4th and 10 from the DEN 31 and the Broncos will punt with 4:21 to go. 

Wilson finds Williams out of the backfield but he tripped on the left side and was touched down for a loss of two. 

3rd and 10 from the DEN 31. 

Handoff to Williams up the middle on first down but he was taken down after a gain of two. 

2nd and 8 from the DEN 33. 

WIlson tries the QB sneak again, and this time leaps over the line for a the first down. 

1st and 10 from the DEN 31. 

Wilson tries the QB sneak, but he is stopped short of the marker and the Broncos have a decision to make on 4th and inches. 

McLaughlin gets the handoff to the left side and had a hole, but it closed quick and is stopped for a short gain of 1. 

3rd and 1 from the DEN 30. 

DEN take over from the 21 and Wilson hits McLaughlin out of the backfield for a gain of 8 yards on the right side. 

2nd and 2 from the DEN 29. 

Goff is on fire out of the gate. He's got two TD passes already, this one to Gibbs out of the backfield. 

Slant pattern over the middle for St. Brown and that's batted away by lock in the endzone. 

2nd and Goal from the DEN 9. 

Jameson with the catch on the left sideline, and he makes a move on the defender, tip toes down the sideline and picks up the first down!

1st and Goal from the DEN 9. 

Screen play set up but Jones sniffed it out and dropped Montgomery for a loss of six yards. 

2nd and 16 from the DEN 26. 

Gibss on the left side and he hit the hold hard for a big gain of 20 yards and a first down!

1st and 10 from the 20. 

DEt start the drive from their 39 and Goff goes over the top for Reynolds who went and chased that pass for a gain of 20 down the right sideline. 

1st and 10 from the DEN 41. 

The Lions bring the pressure and get to Wilson again, this time dropping his for a loss of 9 yards!

4th and 22 from the DEN 13 and the Broncos will punt. 

Williams to the right side but he was dropped for a loss of three yards. 

3rd and 13 from the DEN 22. 

DEN take over from the 25 and Wilson dropped back on first down but he was crushed as he let the ball go and that gets batted down at the line of scrimmage. 

2nd and 10 from the DET 25. 

LaPorta had three catches on that drive, his last one on this 19 yard rumble into the end zone. 

Goff with a pass to the right side for Reynolds and he makes the catch for 21 yards. 

1st and 10 from the DEN 19. 

Goff waited until the last second to release that one to LaPorta on the stop route for 7 yards and a first down. 

1st and 10 form the DET 40. 

Pass over the middle for Peoples-Jones on a short gain of 4. 

3rd and 6 from the DET 48. 

Montgomery up the middle on the first play of the second quarter, but he is stopped for no gain. 

2nd and 10 from the DET 48. 

Just one play of note for either side in the first quarter. Buggs came up with the recovery and a 33 yard return but DET couldn't do anything with it and it's 0-0 after 15. 

Play action from Goff and he first a strike for LaPorta who gets 17 yards up the middle on his first catch of the night. 

1st and 10 from the DET 49 and that will take us to the end of the first quarter. 

Run to the left side from Montgomery again and he picks up 5 yards. 

1st and 10 from the DET 31. 

DET get the ball back from the 20 and Montgomery gets 6 yards on the first down run to the left side. 

2nd and 4 fro the DET 26. 

Wilson found Trautman over the middle right at the marker, but that ball was jarred out of his hands after a big hit by Branch. 

4th and 4 from the DEN 44. 

Williams is stopped at the line of scrimmage on the left side. 

3rd and 4 from the DEN 44. 

Perine to the left side on the carry and he gets 6 yards on first down. 

2nd and 4 from the DEN 44. 

A false start backs the Broncos up on third down, and Wilson extends the play by running to the right side and found Sutton the sideline for a gain of 23!

1st and 10 from the DEN 40. 

Willams gets the handoff again and he picks up 4 yards up the middle. 

3rd and 4 from the DEN 22. 

DEN get the ball back from their 16 and Williams picks up two yards up the middle on the first down run. 

2nd and 8 from the DEN 18. 

Goff going deep again, this time for Williams, but that pass was over thrown by a yard or two. 

4th and 10 from the DEN 49. 

Pass to Gibbs out of the backfield but he is pushed out of bounds after losing a yard. 

3rd and 10 from the DEN 49. 

Gibbs with the handoff up the middle and he gets a yard. 

2nd and 9 from the DEN 48. 

Comeback route  from Raymond and he picks up 12 yards on the left side for another first down 

1st and 10 from the DEN 49. 

Goff drops back and fires one over the middle for Williams over the middle and that is good for a gain of 12 yards and a first down. 

1st and 10 from the DET 39. 

Handoff back to Gibbs on the right side and he picks up 10 yards and a first down, but a holding call will scratch that run and back the Lions up. 

2nd and 12 from the 25. 

DET take over from the 27 and Gibbs takes it up the middle for a gain of 8 yards. 

2nd and 2 from the DET 35. 

Wilson rushed out of the pocket and he tried to find Jeudy with the throw on the run but that pass fell incomplete. 

4th and 9 from the DEN 21. 

Wilson was looking deep down the right side for Mims but his hand was hit on the release and it was almost picked by the safety. 

3rd and 9 from the DEN 21. 

DEN get the ball back at the 20 after the punt and Williams gets the carry up the middle but he is wrapped up after a short gain of 1. 

2nd and 9 from the DEN 21. 

Goff drops back but the Broncos bring the pressure and Jones drops him for a seven yard sack. 

4th and 12 and that pushes the Lions out of FG range. 

Montgomery up the middle and he pushes the pile for a gain of 4 yards. 

3rd and 5 from the DEN 31. 

Goff finds Williams out of the backfield and he picks up a yard. 

2nd and 9 from the DEN 36. 

FUMBLE!!!

Wilson on the play action fake, and he had Melifonwu right in his face. He strip sacks him and Buggs recovers it and takes it 33 yards to the DEN 37. 

1st and 10 Lions!

Wilson looking for McLaughlin on the WR screen but that ball was popped out of his hands by Dorsey. 

2nd and 10 from the DET 20. 

End around from left to right from Mims and he takes it 11 yards for a first down. 

1st and 10 from the DET 20. 

DEN start their drive from the 29 and Wilson finds Jeudy in stride on the slant that he takes 40 yards on the catch and run. 

1st and 10 from the DET 31. 

Goff looking to the right side for Montgomery but that pass was too far in front of the RB and the Lions will punt. 

4th and 6 from the 50. 

Pass ot of the backfield for Montgomery and he picks up 4 yards on the left side. 

3rd and 6 from the 50. 

Goff going deep to the left side for Williams but that pass was batted down by Simmons. 

2nd and 10 from the DET 46. 

Out route from St. Brown and he makes the catch on the sideline, breaks a tackle and takes it for 21 yards on the catch and run. 

1st and 10 from the DET 46. 

Goff had plenty of time, and rolled to the right side but nothing opened up and he throws it out of bounds. 

2nd and 10 from the 25. 

WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM DETRIOT!!!1

Huge one with plenty of playoff implications starts right now. DET will get the ball to start the game and begin their first drive from the 25. 

Turnover machines

The Broncos might struggle with the run, but they more than make up for it with their ability to turn teams over. They are the number one team in the NFL when it comes to forcing turnovers. They have forced 13 fumbles and 11 interceptions which is almost one fumble and one pick a game. Tonight they could be the difference maker against a team that has turned the ball over 20 times, and 

Ground game gains

The Lions have a backfield duo nicknamed Rhythm and Bruise with their duo of David Montgomery and Jamhir Gibbs. Both could end the year with 1,000 yards each with the rookie coming into tonight at 692 yards and six TDs, and the former Bear has 770 yards and 10 TDs after 13 games. They will be going up against a Denver defense that struggles against the run. They allow a league worst 144 yards a game to opposing running backs, so expect Detroit to want to ground and pound tonight in Ford Field. 

NFL Standings

Taking a look at the standings coming into this Saturday in Week 15, we see the Denver Broncos at 7-6, sitting a game behind the sliding Chiefs who are at 8-5. The Lions are leading their division at 9-4 holding on to a couple game cushion over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North. Detriot play the Vikings two times before the regular season comes to an end, which could determine who wins that division, but it’s hard to imagine the Lions fighting for a Wild Card spot after a 9-2 start to the season. The Broncos come into tonight in a cluster of teams that came into the week at 7-6. They were on the outside of the playoff picture looking in but there will be a lot of shifting in the Wild Card race over the next four weeks. 

The comeback tour continues

It’s been a bit of a comeback season for Russell Wilson who came to Denver last year and had the worst season of his long career. He was ripped by the fans, by the media and eventually his head coach was fired which made room for Sean Payton to take command on the Broncos sidelines. He looks like his old self in Payton’s offense, throwing for 2,609 yards and 23 TDs with just 8 INTs in the first 13 games of the year. Wilson returns to primetime where we are used to seeing him shine, let’s see if he can do so tonight in Detroit. 

Lions go as Goff goes

Jared Goff does not like going up against the Bears defense. In the Lions two games against Chicago he has thrown five of his interceptions on the year. Against the rest of the NFL’s defenses he has been pretty locked in, going for 3,449 yards and 21 TDs but tonight he will face a Denver defense that are takeaway specialists. When Goff looks locked in, the Lions seem to fire on all cylinders, but when he’s off, the Lions struggle. How will he perform tonight in front of a fan base that is getting a little nervous after this late season skid

Lions last game

The Lions got manhandled by Justin Fields and the Bears in Chicago last week. They would take the lead in the second quarter after giving up the first 10 points of the game in the opening 15 minutes. They went into the second half with a 13-10 but were shut out by the Chicago defense who forced three three and outs, and a fumble in the third quarter, and then held the Lions to two turnover on downs and an interception to close the game out. Goff was outshined by Fields who had 223 yards and a TD in the air and 58 yards and another TD on the ground. 

Broncos last game

The Broncos bounced back from their streak snapping loss to the Texans with a convincing win over the Chargers last week in LA. Denver has used a patented formula of minimal offense with their dominant defense leading them into the final quarter and letting Russell Wilson lead them on a late game winning drive. Last week the Broncos jumped out to an early lead and cruised to victory over a Chargers team that lost Justin Herbert in the first half. Wilson threw form 224 yards and two TDs in the win that keeps Denver level with the rest of the pack looking to get the final Wild Card spots. 

We are live from Mo Town 

Hello everyone and welcome to Ford Field where the Lions are trying to snap out of a late season skid. They have lost two of their last three games after starting the season looking like one of the best teams in the league. They still lead their division, and will try to keep that cushion tonight against the Denver Broncos who went from looking like one of the worst looking teams to the hottest teams in the league having won six of their last seven. It’s going to be a good one from Detroit, so sit back, relax and enjoy the show. 

Broncos vs. Lions 

Two teams with their sights set on the playoffs take the field for a late night Saturday showdown from Ford Field. The Detroits Lions are looking to bounce back after a disappointing showing last week against a surging Denver Broncos team that have overcome a slow start to the season. AS English will be with you all night providing live stats, scores, highlights and analysis of tonight’s game from the Motor City.