Week 9 - Broncos @ Lions -- Their Last 5 Meetings

by John Bena on Oct 31, 2007 7:31 AM MDT

Date: Sunday, November 4, 2007

Time: 11:00 p.m. MST

Teams: Denver Broncos (3-4) at Detroit Lions (5-2)

Location: Ford Field - Detroit, MI

at DENVER 20, DETROIT 16 (Sept. 28, 2003) -- Denver's victory against the Lions marks its first 4-0 start since its Super Bowl championship season in 1998... A 43-yard touchdown catch by Lions WR Scott Anderson early in the fourth quarter trimmed Denver's lead to 17-16, but K Jason Elam's 41-yard field goal with three minutes to play extended the Broncos' lead and proved to be the final score of the game... Denver WR Ashley Lelie posts a game-high 76 receiving yards on four catches, including a 29-yard score... Broncos TE Shannon Sharpe notches seven receptions for 74 yards with a touchdown, moving into 10th in NFL history in career receptions... QB Jake Plummer throws for 277 yards and registers a 116.9 passer rating while the Broncos hold Detroit to 141 net passing yards.

DENVER 17, at DETROIT 7 (Dec. 25, 1999) --
Playing on Christmas Day, the Broncos open up a 17-0 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard touchdown grab by TE Dwayne Carswell before Detroit scores its only points on a 13-yard touchdown catch by WR Herman Moore with less than two minutes to play... Broncos RB Olandis Gary posts 185 rushing yards on 29 carries, including a 45-yard touchdown, to become the third rookie in club history to reach 1,000 rushing yards in a season...Denver holds Detroit to a 2.7-yard rushing average and allows 32 yards on the ground... The Broncos register five sacks of Detroit QB Charlie Batch and post a 36:41-minute time of possession.

at DETROIT 40, DENVER 27 (Nov. 22, 1990) --
On Thanksgiving Day, RB Barry Sanders runs for 147 yards to lead Detroit to a victory... Detroit scores 21 first quarter points and takes a 27-17 lead into halftime... The Lions put the game out of reach with two fourth quarter field goals to end the game's scoring and hand Denver its fifth consecutive loss... Broncos QB John Elway completes 24-of-36 passes for 243 yards while RB Mel Bratton posts two rushing scores... Denver CB Wymon Henderson scores on a 49-yard interception return.

at DENVER 34, DETROIT 0 (Nov. 1, 1987) --
The Broncos limit Detroit to 191 yards of total offense, including 63 on the ground, in their shutout victory... Denver scores on its first three possessions to take a 17-0 first-quarter lead... Denver QB John Elway accounts for three touchdowns (2 runs, 1 pass) and throws for 246 yards... The Broncos double the Lions' first down total (28 to 14)... Broncos K Rich Karlis connects on field goals of 28 and 29 yards while Denver S Dennis Smith posts one interception.

DENVER 28, at DETROIT 7 (Oct. 7, 1984)
The Broncos set a single-game team record for takeaways (10 / 7 INTs, 3 FUM) since the 1970 merger in their win at Detroit... The Broncos' +7 turnover ratio also is the club's second highest in a game since 1970... Denver's defense accounts for two touchdowns with DE Rulon Jones' 5-yard fumble return for a score and LB Ken Woodward's 27-yard interception return for a score... The Broncos finish the game with six sacks and hold the Lions to zero yards on returns... Broncos WR Steve Watson posts a game-high seven catches for 111 yards while QB John Elway throws for 210 yards.

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Comments

I am ashamed to say this...

but I am worried that Detroit might beat us this week. How humiliating would a loss to Detroit be? I would expect a tough game if it were Thanksgiving Day, but we don't even have that to blame on...it sucks to be mediocre. The future is bright though!

by Tim Lynch on Oct 31, 2007 10:11 AM MDT reply actions

Don't feel too bad.

Detroit is actually a good team this year and surprising a lot of folks. We are surprising people too, but for all of the wrong reasons. lol.

A loss to DET would make me feel bad becaue I love my team and had higher hopes, but as good as DET has been this year I wouldn't feel humiliated.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Oct 31, 2007 10:40 AM MDT up reply actions

It just the thought of losing to a team

that has epitamized the auroa of a horribly run organization for my entire life(b. 1978). Without Barry Sanders, they would not have one more than 8 games ever.

So yes, a loss this week would still be humiliating since it would put us at 3-5, while the Lions would move to 6-2. Has hell frozen over this year or what?!? Wait no, the Patriots and Colts are still the cream of the crop.

by Tim Lynch on Oct 31, 2007 4:21 PM MDT up reply actions

Is this a misprint?

"""Last meeting
In 2003, the Broncos defeated the Lions 20-16. Denver QB Jake Plummer threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns and added 40 rushing yards in the win.

Streaks
The Lions have won two of the last three meetings but the Broncos lead the overall series, 6-3.
"""

According to this article from NFL.com the Lions have won two of the last three meetings. Yet the only loss I remember is that one on Thanksgiving Day. Am I wrong? Is Guru wrong? Or is NFL.com spinning some more East Coast bias our way? ;)

by Tim Lynch on Oct 31, 2007 4:28 PM MDT reply actions