RECAP: Lions at Broncos

Dec 22, 2019 at 07:10 PM

Tim Twentyman

Senior Writer

DENVER – The road hasn't been kind to the Detroit Lions this season, and that continued Sunday in their regular-season road finale in Denver.

Detroit jumped out to a 10-0 lead, but as we've seen all too often this season, the Lions couldn't hold the advantage, and ultimately fell to the Broncos, 27-17, at Empower Field at Mile High.

The Lions end the road portion of their schedule 1-6-1 for the year, with their only win in Philadelphia Week 3 and then a tie against the Cardinals in the regular season opener in Arizona.

Detroit falls to 3-11-1 on the year with their eight consecutive defeat.

The Lions jumped out to a double-digit lead thanks to an 11-play, 68-yard opening drive capped off by a 26-yard Matt Prater field goal, and then a 64-yard Jamal Agnew punt-return touchdown early in the second quarter.

The Broncos responded with 10 points to end the half, and took their first lead, 13-10, with a field goal early in the third period.

Detroit retook the lead on a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback David Blough to wide receiver Kenny Golladay with less than four minutes remaining in the third quarter. It was Golladay's league-leading 11th touchdown reception of the season.

That lead was short lived, however, as the Broncos went 75 yards on 11 plays on their next possession and took the lead for good on a 3-yard touchdown pass of their own from quarterback Drew Lock to wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton. Denver would add another late touchdown on running back Phillip Lindsay's 27-yard run midway through the fourth quarter to put the game away.

QB comparison: It was the battle of rookie quarterbacks in this one.

Lock, a second-round pick by Denver, completed 25 of his 33 pass attempts for 192 yards with a touchdown, no interceptions and a passer rating of 99.6.

Blough, an undrafted free agent out of Purdue, was 12-of-24 passing for 117 yards with a touchdown, no interceptions and a 78.0 passer rating.

Johnson return: Running back Kerryon Johnson rushed for 42 yards on 10 carries in his first game back since injuring his right knee Week 7 against Minnesota. He was Detroit's leading rusher in the contest.

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Detroit Lions fans before a NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 in Denver. (Detroit Lions via AP).

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Detroit Lions team huddle before a NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 in Denver. (Detroit Lions via AP).

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Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough (10) before a NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 in Denver. (Detroit Lions via AP).

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Matthew Stafford during the National Anthem before a NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 in Denver. (Detroit Lions via AP).

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Detroit Lions captains during a NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 in Denver. (Detroit Lions via AP).

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Detroit Lions fan before a NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 in Denver. (Detroit Lions via AP).

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Detroit Lions running back Ty Johnson (31) before a NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 in Denver. (Detroit Lions via AP).

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Detroit Lions punter Sam Martin (6) before a NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 in Denver. (Detroit Lions via AP).

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Detroit Lions offensive lineman Frank Ragnow (77) during a NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 in Denver. (Detroit Lions via AP).

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Detroit Lions offensive lineman Oday Aboushi (76) during a NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 in Denver. (Detroit Lions via AP).

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Detroit Lions defensive end Austin Bryant (94) during a NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 in Denver. (Detroit Lions via AP).

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Detroit Lions defensive back Tracy Walker (21) celebrates a stop during a NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 in Denver. (Detroit Lions via AP).