Melvin Gordon rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns to lead the host Denver Broncos to a 38-10 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Javonte Williams rushed for 73 yards and a score and also had a touchdown reception, while Teddy Bridgewater passed for 179 yards and two touchdowns for the Broncos (7-6). Noah Fant caught four passes for 51 yards as the Broncos were 5-for-5 in the red zone.
The Broncos’ defense held Detroit scoreless in the second half and limited the Lions to 316 total yards.
Jared Goff threw for 215 yards and a touchdown, while Craig Reynolds had 83 rushing yards for Detroit (1-11-1). Amon-Ra St. Brown caught eight passes for 73 yards.
The Lions didn’t have their two top running backs, D’Andre Swift (shoulder) and Jamaal Williams (COVID-19 protocols), and leading receiver T.J. Hockenson (hand).
Denver got off to a quick start but the Lions rallied to cut the Broncos’ lead to 17-10 by halftime.
Gordon rushed for 42 yards on Denver’s first possession but Williams scored the touchdown on a 5-yard run. After the Lions failed to pick up a first down, the Broncos drove 74 yards for another touchdown. Gordon picked up the last yard on a 3rd-and-goal.
Detroit scored early in the second quarter on a 75-yard drive, completed by Goff’s 7-yard pass to Kalif Raymond.
Riley Patterson’s 36-yard field goal pulled Detroit within four points.
Denver’s Brandon McManus kicked a 52-yard field goal on the last play of the half.
Following a Lions turnover, the Broncos extended their lead to 24-10 four minutes into the second half. Williams scored on a 10-yard pass from Bridgewater.
The Lions then gambled on fourth down in their own territory and Goff’s pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage. The Broncos cashed in on Gordon’s 14-yard blast up the middle.
Denver scored again with less than two minutes remaining on a 4-yard hookup from Bridgewater to Albert Okwuegbunam.
–Field Level Media