Detroit Lions (10-4) – Denver Broncos (7-7): 42-17
They took a while to get going, but the Lions are back on track. After a first quarter without points on both sides, Sam Laporta unlocked the scoreboard at the start of the second. From there, Detroit's offense unfolded. On the ground with Jahmyr Gibbs, in the air under the leadership of Jared Goff. After losing nine balls in four games, the Lions quarterback was clean.
Overwhelmed in defense, blocked on the ground in attack, the Broncos could not keep up.
Lions five out of five
It took them three punts to get in the game. Then the Lions rolled out. Three touchdowns before halftime. Two later. That's five in a row. Five offensives of more than 60 yards, each time in less than four minutes and ten minutes. LaPorta first, on reception followed by a run breaking a few tackles. Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, then Laporta and Gibbs again. Jared Goff's weapons are untenable, the quarterback is precise, everything is fine.
Denver can't say the same. The Broncos' ground game is completely off (3.0 yards/carry). Russell Wilson is under pressure on more than half of his pass attempts. Facing him, Ifeatu Melifonwu is everywhere, with 2 sacks, a forced fumble at the start of the match and two passes defended.
Fatal departure for the Broncos?
The fumble caused by Melifonwu was on the very first possession of the game. Denver was on the opposing 20 yards. There were points to be taken. Instead, the Broncos ended up not scoring at all in the first half. They trailed 21-0 at the break. We had to wait for Wilson to find Lil' Jordan Humphrey on the first drive of the third quarter to break the deadlock (21-7). But it's too late. The image of the match will perhaps even remain that of Sean Payton shouting at Russell Wilson at the edge of the field.
The Lions are launched. A field goal and a touchdown from Wilson on the ground can't change much anymore.
This defeat appears to keep Denver away from an improbable division title. We will have to fight for one of the last places in the playoffs. It's quite the opposite for the Lions, who are more than ever at the top of the AFC North, and especially on the verge of the final stages. A Seahawks loss to Philadelphia on Monday night will send Detroit into the playoffs.
