The Lions soar to victory over the Broncos and move to 10-4

Photo of Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown jumping over Broncos defenders for a touchdown courtesy Detroit Lions
Photo courtesy Detroit Lions

Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown jumping over Broncos defenders for a touchdown.

The Lions manhandled The Denver Broncos 42-17 this past Saturday on their journey to locking a playoff spot and the first division win since 1993.

Goff matched a career high with five touchdowns.

The veteran quarterback threw one touchdown to rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs, three to rookie tight end Sam Laporta, and one to receiver Amon Ra St. Brown.

Despite throwing four interceptions in two of the Lions last three games, Goff took care of the ball with zero turnovers.

“Were that same team from week one; we just kept that same intensity,” Goff said.

If Philadelphia beats the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night, the Lions (10-4) could clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2016.

If Detroit were to win the division for the first time since 1993, Ford Field would host a playoff game. The Lions only have one playoff victory since the franchise won the NFL title in 1957.

“It would be fun, but we've got work to do,” Goff said.

Prior to this loss, the Denver Broncos (7-7) had won six of its previous seven games to pull within a game of AFC west division leader, Kansas City.

“We’ve got to keep believing,” quarterback Russell Wilson said. “We’ve done it before.”

Goff and the Lions had lost two of the last three, but with this win, they stay on top of the NFC North division.

“We’ve been through a lot of adversity as a group and a three-game lull isn't the worst thing we’ve had to go through,” Goff said.

“It was the ultimate team win. the defense started it out for us,” coach Dan Campbell said.

The Lions held the Broncos defense to 287 total yards. Almost 100 yards less than they have allowed teams to move the ball on them in previous weeks, with the Saints and Packers moving the ball on the Lions defense for a combined 739 yards.

The Broncos had a touchdown in the red zone negated late in the third when offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz was flagged for being offsides.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton proceeded to scream at Wilson on the sideline as Denver’s special team unit walked onto the field to cut the deficit to 28-10.

“I was upset about the call,” Payton said. “That’s all. Simple. That's it.” So why did he yell at Russell Wilson?

“Listen, what I talk to Russell about is none of your business,” Payton said to a reporter.

Wilson, who lost a fumble on his first possession of the game, finished 18 of 32 for 223 yards with a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown. He was later relieved of his duties by backup quarterback Jarret Stidham late in the 4th quarter.

Goff finished 24 of 34 for 278 yards, throwing five touchdowns for the first time since 2018 when he played for the L.A. Rams. He joined Houston's C.J. Stroud as the only quarterback to throw five touchdowns in a single game this season.

The Broncos defense considered one of the best in the league had given up just four touchdown passes over the previous six games.

LaPorta, the second-round pick from Iowa, became the first rookie tight end to record 70 receptions for 700 yards and 9 touchdowns.

The Lions leaned on a strong running game with the two headed monster of running backs Gibbs and Montgomery. The two combined for 185 yards and 27 carries. Gibbs 12-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter put the lions ahead 35-10.

The lions look to finish off the division, as they prepare to face the Vikings in Minnesota on Christmas Eve.