Photo: Junfu Han ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
DETROIT, Dec. 18, 2023 ~ The Detroit Lions dominated the Denver Broncos 42-17 on the first Saturday Night Football game of the NFL season at Ford Field.
Both teams came out flat with not a single point scored in the first quarter. The Lions would eventually drive 80 yards down the field, setting Detroit up in scoring-position around the beginning of the second quarter. Sam LaPorta would find the endzone with a 19-yard pass from Jared Goff – the first of three touchdowns for LaPorta and the first of five passing touchdowns for Jared Goff.
The Broncos failed to respond immediately. Detroit retained possession, proceeding to score a touchdown from Goff’s nine-yard pass to Jahmyr Gibbs. Denver would again be forced to punt. The Lions would find the endzone for the third time with 15-yard touchdown pass from Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown, capping off an 81-yard drive. St. Brown had 112 receiving yards for Detroit.
By the end of the first half, the Lions led 21-0.
PODCAST:
Dec. 18, 2023 ~ The Detroit Lions dominated the Denver Broncos 42-17 on Saturday night at Ford Field. Guy Gordon and Jamie Edmonds talk with Lomas Brown, “SportsWrap” host and Detroit Lions Radio Network analyst, about Detroit inching closer to a playoff berth. Photo: Junfu Han ~ USA Today Network
PHOTOS:
Dec. 16, 2023 ~ Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta takes the field for the game against the Denver Broncos at Ford Field. Photo: Junfu Han ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
(CONTINUED) In the second half, the Broncos received the ball first, finally finding the endzone. Lil’ Jordan Humphery would score for Denver off a three-yard pass from Russell Wilson.
The Lions responded immediately. LaPorta would get his second touchdown of the night off a three-yard pass from Goff. On the following drive, the Broncos made it to Detroit’s one-yard line. However, the Lions goal line front would be enough to hold Denver to a three-point field goal. At the end of the third quarter, the Lions would lead 28-10.
The Lions offense continued their domination in the fourth quarter with a 12-yard rushing touchdown from Gibbs, giving Detroit a 25-point cushion. Gibbs finished the game with 100 rushing yards, his second time getting into triple digits. Denver’s following drive would return them to the one-yard line, this time getting into the endzone with a quarterback keeper from Wilson.
On the Lions’ final possession, LaPorta would find the endzone for this third touchdown off a ten-yard pass from Goff. Goff complimented his five passing touchdowns with 278 passing yards.
There would not be enough time for the Broncos to mount a comeback, leaving Detroit with a well-deserved 42-17 win.
The Lions are now 10-4, sitting comfortably at the top of the NFC North after the Minnesota Vikings loss. Next week, Detroit travels to U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Christmas Eve as they have a heated divisional matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
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