The Lions will play in front of a national television audience for the fifth time this season when they face the Denver Broncos on Saturday night. Detroit is 3-1 in such games thus far, having lost to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving. The Broncos and Lions have been trending in opposite directions heading into this Week 15 matchup at Ford Field on Saturday. After opening the 2023 season 1-5, the Sean Payton-led Broncos have won six of their past seven games, including a dominating 24-7 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Furthermore, since allowing a near-NFL record 70 points to the Miami Dolphins in Week 3, Payton’s defense has only allowed more than 30 points once in a single game (31 points to the New York Jets in Week 5). Furthermore, as part of their unexpected defensive turnaround, Denver has allowed only 18.7 points per game since Week 4. During the same time period, the Broncos have excelled in forcing turnovers. They’ve caused a total of 23 takeaways since Week 4. And, so far this season, they’ve caused 24 such errors from their opponents, which ranks first in the league.
Meanwhile, Detroit has struggled to generate turnovers for the majority of the season, particularly after their Week 9 bye. Dan Campbell’s club has only had four turnovers since Week 10. Furthermore, the Lions have only forced 14 turnovers this season, ranking eighth in the NFL. Gardner-Johnson Responds to Cam Newton: ‘Stop Coming for My QB’ The Lions have similarly failed to protect Jared Goff over the last four weeks (a span of games in which Detroit has gone 2-2). In fact, Detroit’s offensive line has allowed 10 sacks since the team’s season opener against the Chicago Bears in Week 11.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72936179/1831440366.0.jpg?resize=640%2C426&ssl=1)
Lions center Frank Ragnow, who sat out the team’s Week 14 loss to the Bears, recognizes that he and his offensive linemen peers must improve their play as the season winds down.
“We know, as a group, we take a lot of pride in ourselves,” Ragnow said to reporters on Wednesday. “We recognize that this team evolves as we go. So, if things aren’t going well, it’s probably not going to be a good day, and we take great delight in that. And we’re well aware that we need to right the ship.” On the other side of the line, the Lions have had their fair share of difficulties getting after the quarterback. Detroit has only 28 sacks this season, averaging 2.2 per game, ranking in the lowest half of the league. Aidan Hutchinson (6.5 sacks) and Alim McNeill (five sacks), who is now on injured reserve, also contributed.
Hutchinson and company will now face Broncos veteran quarterback Russell Wilson, who is having a career revival in his second season in Denver. Following a career-low 60.5 percent completion rate and 16 touchdowns in 2022, the nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback has completed 67.2 percent of his throws and thrown for 23 touchdowns in 13 games in 2023. Wilson, who is now 35 years old, still has the ability to get out of the pocket and make a play with his legs.
Wilson has been given more opportunities to run in his second season with the Broncos, thanks to Payton’s leadership. He’s carried 69 times for 315 yards and two touchdowns this season, as well as 31 first downs. Aaron Glenn, the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, realizes that the Super Bowl-winning quarterback, now in his 12th NFL season, can still make a play with his legs. “I think he’s playing confident,” Glenn said of Wilson on Wednesday. “I think what the coaching staff has done with him is build a system that he’s comfortable in while still allowing him to use his legs and throw the deep ball, which he’s always been really, really good at.” So that’s something we have.
Even though the Lions are playing at home, the Broncos, with Wilson at quarterback and a much improved defense, will be a difficult opponent. At this point, I’ll give Detroit a 60 percent chance to go back on track and win in Week 15.
