Lions vs. Broncos score, takeaways: Jared Goff dices up Denver's defense as Detroit cruises to blowout win

Everything came up Lions in Saturday night's affair

The Broncos were shaping up to be the perfect Saturday night spoilers in Detroit, entering their Week 15 matchup with the Lions having won six of their last seven, and up against a quarterback in Jared Goff who'd recently struggled to control the ball. Instead, Motor City had a whole lot to celebrate, with Goff picking apart the Broncos' resurgent defense in a 42-17 rout.

Goff had three touchdown passes by halftime, feeding Amon-Ra St. Brown over the middle and rookie tight end Sam LaPorta in the red zone. And Aaron Glenn's defense played a huge helping hand, stifling Denver's run game from start to finish, while adding an early takeaway against Russell Wilson. The big win boosted Detroit to 10-4 on the season, keeping Dan Campbell's squad in the conversation for the NFC's No. 1 seed, while dropping the Broncos to 7-7 in an increasingly crowded AFC wild-card race.

Here are some instant takeaways from Saturday's showdown:

Why the Lions won

Good Jared Goff was back in full force. Well-protected, the QB looked totally comfortable delivering quick-strike darts to St. Brown, LaPorta and perimeter outlets Jameson Williams and Josh Reynolds, taking everything Denver gave him (which was a lot). And all of their offensive speed was apparent, with St. Brown virtually untouchable in open space and Jahmyr Gibbs averaging more than eight yards per carry deep into the contest. Aaron Glenn's defense was equally impressive, nearly logging double-digit hits on Russell Wilson and tightening up in the most important situations, including third downs and a second-half red-zone trip by Denver.

Why the Broncos lost

Their defense, which had turned a corner in recent weeks, looked at least two steps too slow even as Goff was content to chip away where permitted. Perhaps they were always just too dependent on takeaways. But Sean Payton's offense didn't do much to make it a shootout, either. Wilson's early fumble proved costly, but Denver's total lack of ground support was even worse, as Javonte Williams barely found any room to move. Even when things started clicking late, miscommunication marred their scoring efforts, with Payton ripping into Wilson following a failed fourth-and-goal try in which the Broncos were inexplicably also flagged for offensive offsides.

Turning point

It honestly might've come on the Broncos' fourth drive of the night. Down 7-0 after surrendering an eight-play, 80-yard TD drive, Denver had a chance to respond -- and redeem itself from its own early fumble -- but instead, on third-and-9 from their own 22, absorbed a sack that forced a three-and-out punt. Detroit got the ball back at its own 39 and had little trouble pushing the ball deep into Denver territory, where it went up 14-0 and never looked back.

Play of the game

Amon-Ra St. Brown was the star of the first half with his over-the-middle speed, but Jahmyr Gibbs wowed with his own athleticism in the second half, helping Detroit to ice the game with shifty moves like this:

What's next

The Lions (10-4) will hit the road for a Christmas Eve matchup with the rival Vikings (7-7), who fell to the Bengals in overtime earlier Saturday. The Broncos (7-7) will return home to host the Patriots (3-10), who are up against the Chiefs on Sunday.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 11:15 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Down 42-17, the Broncos replace Russell Wilson with backup QB Jarrett Stidham.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 11:15 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

With five TDs tonight, Jared Goff now ranks second in the NFL in TD passes (26) on the year, behind only Cowboys MVP candidate Dak Prescott (28). He passed Josh Allen, Brock Purdy and Tua Tagovailoa with his performance against the Broncos.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 11:13 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Make that five TD passes from Jared Goff, three of which have gone to the stud rookie Sam LaPorta!

[Dec 16, 2023 at 11:02 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Russell Wilson gets the Broncos back on the board with a QB sneak, but it'll prove too little, too late:

[Dec 16, 2023 at 11:01 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Detroit domination (or Denver dissolution):

[Dec 16, 2023 at 10:44 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

And this is basically a wrap for the Broncos tonight, as Jahmyr Gibbs scampers in for his second TD of Week 15:

[Dec 16, 2023 at 10:31 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

This is where the Broncos were flagged for offsides on fourth-and-goal:

[Dec 16, 2023 at 10:30 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Lions playing off coverage and let the Broncos drive all the way down to the red zone. Aaron Glenn's defense then tightens up, forcing a fourth-and-goal attempt from Denver, and all hell breaks loose for Sean Payton's squad. The Broncos appear to convert, running up the gut on a fullback carry, but OG Quinn Meinerz is curiously flagged for offensive offsides, with officials ruling that his helmet was past the ball at the line of scrimmage. Denver then elects to take the field goal, and Payton rips into Russell Wilson on the sidelines.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 10:13 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Wow. Lions waste no time responding to Denver's first score of the night, as Jared Goff just dices up the secondary once again. No one can cover Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Goff finishes the quick drive with a bullet to none other than Sam LaPorta. It's 28-7!

[Dec 16, 2023 at 10:06 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Here's Russell Wilson's TD pass to Lil'Jordan Humphrey, which makes it a two-score game:

[Dec 16, 2023 at 10:05 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Officials rule to uphold the TD by Lil'Jordan Humphrey. A nice break for the Broncos, who pull within two scores. The ball clearly moved a bit when it contacted the ground, but it's unclear whether he actually lost possession of the ball in the process. So it's 21-7.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 10:02 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Broncos get their biggest play of the night on a pass interference call; Alex Anzalone gets flagged trying to cover Marvin Mims deep and Denver gains 44 yards. Then Russell Wilson finally hits Courtland Sutton to move to move the chains in Lions territory and seals the deal with a perfect lofted TD pass to Lil'Jordan Humphrey. Nice work from Humphrey tracking the ball at its highest point in tight coverage. The score is under review, however, since the ball appeared to shift while hitting the ground.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 9:40 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

The Broncos went just 1 of 6 on third downs in the first half, averaging a mere 3.1 yards per play. Russell Wilson's early fumble hurt, but the run game has been absolutely nonexistent, too. WR Marvin Mims currently leads the club on the ground with a single carry for 11 yards. Javonte Williams has managed just six yards on six carries. Nothing doing for Sean Payton's squad.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 9:39 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Jared Goff certainly drew his fair share of criticism in the lead-up to Saturday's game thanks to his recent turnover spree. But boy has he responded. After two quarters: 19 of 26 (73%) for 215 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT, 135.9 rating in a 21-0 lead. The resurgent Broncos defense has been nowhere to be found. And all of a sudden it feels like the Lions are back in business.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 9:37 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Wow! The Lions can do no wrong on their home turf tonight! Jared Goff lasers one over the middle to a wide-open Amon-Ra St. Brown, and the wideout does the rest, racing across -- and up and over -- the goal line to make this a 21-0 ballgame.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 9:34 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Amon-Ra St. Brown's speed puts the Lions back into Denver territory with a chance to go up three scores before halftime:

[Dec 16, 2023 at 9:22 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Key injury alert: Broncos RT Mike McGlinchey is exiting the lineup to receive sideline attention from trainers.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 9:14 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Jared Goff to Jahymr Gibbs for the score to put the Lions up two TDs:

[Dec 16, 2023 at 9:14 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Yucky drive from the Broncos, who surrender another killer sack to go three-and-out, and the Lions take advantage. Jared Goff hits Josh Reynolds and Jameson Williams for big gains -- he's now 14 of 15 on the night, back in precision-passing form -- and then Jahmyr Gibbs seals the deal to put Motor City up 14-0. Super important for the Lions to go up early, too, considering their ability to control the ball and clock. We might need another Clutch Russ performance from the Broncos for them to make this a game.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 9:03 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

The Lions strike first, as it's Jared Goff to -- who else? -- Sam LaPorta, the star rookie tight end. That's seven TDs for the first-year pass catcher, who easily slipped by Josey Jewell along the sidelines to make it 7-0 Detroit:

[Dec 16, 2023 at 8:33 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Huge play from Broncos DL Dre'Mont Jones to rob the Lions of any points on their drive immediately following the Russell Wilson fumble. Gets the sack of Jared Goff on third-and-9 to force a three-and-out. That Denver "D" is still working.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 8:31 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Three plays after Russell Wilson's opening-play strike, the QB loses the ball on a sack, and Detroit scoops it up for momentum:

[Dec 16, 2023 at 8:31 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Big start for the Broncos, as Russell Wilson hits Jerry Jeudy for a major gain:

[Dec 16, 2023 at 7:51 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

The Ravens will have eyes on tonight's game, which can help them clinch a postseason berth:

[Dec 16, 2023 at 7:21 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

• Broncos inactives: QB Ben DiNucci, S JL Skinner, LB Nik Bonitto, TE Nate Adkins, LB Ben Niemann, C Alex Forsyth, DE Elijah Garcia
• Lions inactives: CB Steven Gilmore, WR Antoine Green, LB Charles Harris, CB Chase Lucas, LB Trevor Nowaske, LB Julian Okwara, K Riley Patterson

[Dec 16, 2023 at 7:10 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Michael Badgley is officially the kicker for the Lions tonight, with Riley Patterson inactive. It's unclear what the future holds for the latter, but obviously if Badgley is solid in key spots, he'll have a chance to stick. He can be promoted on a single-game basis three different times while on the practice squad.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 6:31 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Active-roster elevations for the Broncos: TE Lucas Krull and DT Tyler Lancaster. The former provides some depth with Greg Dulcich sidelined due to a foot injury. Adam Trautman and Chris Manhertz lead Denver's TE depth chart.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 5:51 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

A kicker change is underway for the Lions, at least for the moment. Detroit elevated Michael Badgley, who spent 2018-2020 as the Chargers' placekicker, from the practice squad. He's set to fill in for Riley Patterson, who's missed multiple extra points in recent weeks. Pass rusher Bruce Irvin has also been called up from the scout team for added defensive reinforcements against Denver.