Lions at Broncos first quarter recap

The Denver Broncos donned their color rush uniforms for this game as they take on the Detroit Lions in Week 16. They would win the coin toss and defer to the second half to give the Lions the ball to start the game.

The Lions opened up their drive with a 12 yard gain from their tight end, but they found themselves in a third and four on the next set of downs that they converted with a quick pass over the middle to Logan Thomas for a first down.

David Blough was sacked on the next play by Malik Reed to set the Lions back on their side of the midfield. An outside run gained that yardage back and then some to setup a third and eight for the Lions. Kenny Galloday broke open deep with Trey Marshall in coverage for a 31-yard gain down to the Broncos 11-yard line.

Two plays later, the Lions were again faced with a third down. On third and six from the Broncos seven yard line, Blough faced immense pressure by Von Miller and was forced to throw it away to bring out the field goal unit.

On the Broncos first drive, Drew Lock had Courtland Sutton open but he held the ball too long and the throw carried Sutton out of bounds on first down. A short gain by Phillip Lindsay set up a third and long for Denver.

Lock looked deep on a wheel route to Devontae Booker. Booker would drop the perfectly placed ball to force a three and out.

Denver’s defense had enough of Blough having time to throw and exploded through the line for a sack on the Lions’ next series for a nine yard loss. A quick pass outside netted just two yards to bring up a third and 17 for the Lions. Blough would have time, but kept it short outside for a negligible gain to bring out the punting unit.

On the Broncos second series, they opened things up on the ground with Lindsay for a gain of a yard. Lock, throwing off his back foot, hit DaeSean Hamilton in stride for a 20 yard gain to get the Broncos moving on that drive.

Garett Bolles would set the Broncos back with a very ugly hold on a play where he was beaten badly on, so Lock had to get those yards back with a quick pass outside to Noah Fant for ten yards on first and 20. Then Elijah Wilkinson would return the favor with his own holding penalty to make it second and 20.

A short pass to Royce Freeman would make it third and 13. Not quite as bad as it could have been, but the Broncos have had to gain a lot of yards to make it third and 13 there. Lock, from the shotgun, rolled outside and tried to run it for the first down. He would gain 10 yards, but it would be short and Colby Wadman would come back out for another punt.

The Lions would take over after that and would get a first down before the end of the first quarter.