Lions at Broncos second quarter recap

The Detroit Lions had the ball to start the second quarter and had a second and one at their own 42-yard line, but the Denver Broncos defense stuffed them second down and then flushed David Blough out covering all options to end the drive.

Elijah Wilkinson would ensure the Broncos started out in the negative with his second offensive holding call of the game. That would kill any chances the Broncos had to converting and would end with another three and out.

Colby Wadman outkicked the coverage with the Jamal Agnew returning it 64-yards for a touchdown to put the Lions up 10-0 in the first half.

A defensive holding penalty had many Broncos fans worried at first, but the penalty added to a 5-yard run by Phillip Lindsay gave the Broncos their first first down in a while. Wilkinson would go down on the play and he would be replaced by Jake Rodgers at right tackle.

Lindsay would get a three yard gain on first down, then would burst through the middle of the line for a 14-yard gain across midfield. On play action, Drew Lock went deep to Courtland Sutton where the ball was broken up by Darius Slay in the end zone.

Lock would fire a laser over the middle to DaeSean Hamilton for 14 yards and a first down to move Denver into field goal range. Lock went back to the Sutton well who had Slay in coverage and Sutton would beat him that time down to the 20 yard line for a 15 yard gain.

After a short three yard gain by Royce Freeman, Lock hit Tim Patrick for another short gain. A hands to the face penalty gave the Broncos a first down at the Lions 12-yard line. Lock would roll out and find Patrick open down to the one yard line for a first and goal opportunity.

Royce Freeman would power his way into the end zone on the next play to cut the Lions lead to 10-7 midway through the second quarter.

The Broncos defense kept the pressure on the Lions offense on the next series and quickly put them in a third and nine situation. David Blough attempted a pass outside, but Isaac Yiadmon was there to break the pass up to force a three and out.

Drew Lock converted a first down to Jeff Heuerman on second down, but he was popped. The Lions defender was called for an unnecessary roughness call to give the Broncos an even big chunk of yards out near midfield.

Back-to-back runs set Denver up with a third and three with three minutes remaining in the first half. DaeSean Hamilton continued to shred the Lions secondary with a key third down conversion on the next play.

Phillip Lindsay began heating up at the two minute warning as he dodged and weaved his way for a 12 yard gain down to the 20 yard line. He had 9 carries for 45 yards up to that point in the game.

After a short run by Lindsay and a shovel pass to Andrew Beck for no gain set up a third and 6 with 33 seconds left in the half.

Drew Lock, from the shotgun, was hammered as he threw and the ball sailed out of bounds to bring the field goal unit out where Brandon McManus would tie things up late in the first half. Dre’Mont Jones would end the half with another sack for the Broncos defense.