Recap: Lions beat up by Broncos, 38-10

The Lions marched into Denver missing more than 20 regulars on their roster due to a flu outbreak, and looked the part in Sunday’s 38-10 loss to the Broncos.

The offense couldn’t get much going without T.J. Hockenson, Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift, the defense couldn’t stop Denver’s run game without leading tacklers Tracy Walker and Alex Anzalone, the latter of whom was lost in the first quarter with an ankle injury.

Lions’ last gasp ends in Broncos territory

The Lions take over at their own 25. They’ll try to make this score just a little closer before the game ends. Under two minutes remain in a 38-10 game.

Craig Reynolds hauls in a 14-yard reception to move the sticks. Kalif Raymond makes a nice catch, as does Shane Zylstra. The final attempt of the game is batted down.

FINAL: Broncos 38, Lions 10

The Broncos take over at their own 3, and they don’t get much. The Lions nearly come up with a safety on third down, but settle for a throwaway on third down.

The Lions take over at their own 49.

Broncos 31, Lions 10 (11:28 4th)

Josh Reynolds hauls in a 13-yard pass to start the drive. A 4-yard pass and 8-yard run moves the chains again.

But two plays later, Jared Goff is intercepted at the 12. Turnover.

Broncos 31, Lions 10 (8:59 4th)

The Broncos will begin trying to run out this clock with just under nine minutes to go in this game.

The Broncos move into Detroit territory at the 49 as the clock ticks under five minutes.

Melvin Gordon runs for 4, then a loss of 1, as the Lions use a timeout in between each play. The third-down is caught for 5, bringing up fourth-and-3. Jerry Jeudy hauls in a 21-yard pass to reach the Detroit 20, and the Lions use their final timeout with 3:51 to go.

Gordon rushes for 10 to reach 100 yards rushing on the day.

We’ll reach the two-minute warning as the Broncos prepare for third down. Albert Okwuegbunam scores on the next play to make it a four-score game.

Broncos 38, Lions 10 (1:51 4th)

The Lions take over at their own 25 after a pair of disastrous possessions to start the second half.

Brock Wright nearly makes it a third consecutive drive after appearing to fumble at the end of an 11-yard run to start the drive, but after video review, it’s ruled that Wright was down before the ball came out. It’s first-and-10 at the 36.

The Lions pick up a fourth-and-2 behind Godwin Igwebuike, and they’ll have it first-and-10 at their own 48.

A 9-yard pass and incompletion sets up third-and-1, where a 3-yard run by Craig Reynolds moves the chains. On the next set of downs, another third-and-1 pickup is erased by a holding penalty, and a false start makes it third-and-16. Goff’s pass is caught for 12 yards, and that’ll bring the third quarter to a close.

END 3RD: Broncos 31, Lions 10

The Lions go for it on fourth-and-4, get it with a 19-yard pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown, and then get an extra eight yards thanks to a late hit by the Broncos. It’s first-and-10 at the 7.

Igwebuike appears to have fumbled at the end of his next run, but it’s ruled that he stepped out of bounds before having the ball knocked loose. Goff is then stepped on after taking the second-down snap, and he falls down for a loss of 3. His third-down pass to Wright is incomplete.

And on fourth down, Goff’s pass is knocked away. Turnover on downs.

Broncos 31, Lions 10 (13:13 4th)

The Lions take over at their own 25, trailing 24-10 in the third quarter.

Jared Goff is sacked for a loss of 9 to open the drive by Dre’Mont Jones. Then Jones cracks Godwin Igwebuike for a loss of 3. Josh Reynolds makes the third-down catch, but he only gets to 20 of the 22 necessary yards to move the chains.

The Lions go for it on fourth down, as Jones uses his face mask to bat down Goff’s throw at the line. Turnover on downs.

Broncos 24, Lions 10 (8:47 3rd)

The Broncos take over at the 33.

A few plays later, Melvin Gordon scores on a 14-yard touchdown run.

Broncos 31, Lions 10 (6:34 3rd)

Detroit takes over at its own 25, trailing 17-10 to start the half.

Craig Reynolds gets 5 on the first play and Godwin Igwebuike fumbles on the second play. The Broncos recover at the Detroit 36.

Broncos 17, Lions 10 (14:11 3rd)

After two good runs by Melvin Gordon, the Broncos have it first-and-10 at the 14.

A holding penalty and 9-yard completion makes it second-and-11.

Javonte Williams scores on a 10-yard reception.

Broncos 24, Lions 10 (11:03 3rd)

The Broncos take over at their own 25, leading 14-10 in the second quarter.

Denver reaches the 36 in two plays, where it’ll have first-and-10.

Alim McNeil then comes up with his first-career sack, and Melvin Gordon is dropped for a loss to bring up third-and-16. The Broncos run a dump-off to end the drive.

Broncos 14, Lions 10 (3:03 2nd)

The Lions get it back at their own 20 with a chance to score before halftime.

After a quick completion, they end up third-and-1 as the two-minute warning hits.

Godwin Igwebuike moves the chains with a short run, but Jared Goff eventually overthrows his receiver on third down to force a punt.

Broncos 14, Lions 10 (1:05 2nd)

The Broncos take over at their own 11 with all three timeouts remaining.

A couple quick passes moves the ball for Denver, and the Broncos use a timeout before moving the ball to Denver’s 42 with consecutive 7-yard passes to Noah Fant.

The Lions come up with a stop that forces Denver to spike it at the 39 with no time left.

Detroit takes a pass interference penalty, though, and the Broncos will be able to attempt their field goal from the 34.

Brandon McManus puts home the 52-yard field goal as time expires.

END 2ND: Broncos 17, Lions 10

Denver takes over at its own 25, leading 14-7 in the second quarter.

After a 3-yard run by Javonte Williams, Teddy Bridgewater misses his next two passes and the Broncos will punt.

Broncos 14, Lions 7 (11:44 2nd)

The Lions will take over at their own 25. A 9-yard run by Craig Reynolds moves the chains early, but Godwin Igwebuike can’t move the chains on a third-and-5, as it’ll be fourth-and-1.

Jared Goff keeps the drive alive with a 9-yard pass in the flat to Kalif Raymond. Then Josh Reynolds hauls in a 19-yard gain to the 22 of Denver, and the Lions are cooking yet again.

After a second-down incompletion, though, Goff’s third-down pass is batted at the line.

Riley Patterson nails the 36-yard field goal.

Broncos 14, Lions 10 (6:34 2nd)

The Lions take over at their own 25 and are quickly forced into third-and-8 as the first quarter comes to a close.

END 1ST: Broncos 14, Lions 0 (14:29 2nd)

The Broncos are offsides on the next two plays, but it doesn’t matter much because Jared Goff runs for a 13-yard gain and Amon-Ra St. Brown hauls in a 13-yard reception on consecutive plays.

Then Craig Reynolds breaks off a 35-yard run that gives the Lions first-and-10 at the 12. The Lions have life!

Kalif Raymond scores on a 7-yard touchdown after a 4-yard run by Reynolds, and it’s a one-score game.

Broncos 14, Lions 7 (12:31 2nd)

Detroit takes over at the 25, trailing 7-0.

After a 5-yard run on second down, Goff is sacked for a loss of 8. The Lions will punt.

Broncos 7, Lions 0 (8:18 1st)

The Broncos take over at their own 26, and the Lions force a third-and-1 early.

Injury update: Lions CB Jerry Jacobs has been ruled OUT with a knee injury.

Javonte Williams picks up the first down with a 3-yard run, and now Alex Anzalone is hurt. When it rains, it pours.

Williams keeps running the ball and gets another first down at the Detroit 49, where Teddy Bridgewater finds Noah Fant for a 32-yard completion to the Detroit 16. Things might get ugly today, folks.

An 8-yard completion gets Denver to first-and-goal at the 5, and after two short runs, it’s third-and-goal at the 1. Gordon punches it in from a yard out.

Broncos 14, Lions 0 (0:53 1st)

The Broncos will start with the ball against Detroit.

In honor of late wide receiver and franchise legend Demaryius Thomas, who passed away this week, go with 10 men in the huddle and take a delay-of-game penalty to honor Thomas. The Lions decline the penalty, and we’ll have first-and-10 at the 25.

Melvin Gordon moves the chains with an 11-yard run, and on the next set of downs, Detroit gets it to third-and-2 before allowing a 13-yard reception by Tim Patrick to the Lions 43, where it’ll be first-and-10.

And to make matters worse for the Lions, cornerback Jerry Jacobs was hurt on the play.

Nickell Robey-Coleman commits a pass interference penalty on the next third-down situation, and Gordon gets the Broncos to Detroit’s 15 with a gain of 13 on the play after. It’s first-and-10.

Javonte Wililams punches it in after another 10-yard run by Gordon.

Broncos 7, Lions 0 (9:46 1st)

The Detroit Lions will try on Sunday to do something they haven’t done all season: Put together a winning streak.

Fresh off their first victory of the season, the Lions will try to make it two in a row when they take on the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Kickoff is at 4:05 p.m.

Though the Lions battled a flu outbreak this week that in part forced them to elevate seven players from the practice squad, it appears it won’t affect the status of those players for Sunday’s game. The Lions do have several players in COVID-19 protocol, and are dealing with a spate of injuries, including to tight end T.J. Hockenson (hand), top running back D’Andre Swift (shoulder), inside linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin and outside linebacker Julian Okwara.

The Broncos, meanwhile, are fighting for a playoff spot, one of three teams at 6-6 and a game behind the Chargers, Bengals and Bills, who currently would qualify for the postseason. The Steelers are 6-6-1.