Broncos vs. Lions Open Thread/Live Blog | Week 16

Log in and join the in-game discussion as we live-blog DETvsDEN. Can Drew Lock bounce back from the Arrowhead loss?

Resilence is an important attribute for an NFL quarterback, both in the micro and macro sense. If a QB throws an interception in the first quarter, he can't allow it to torpedo his performance for the balance of the game. 

In the macro sense, we've yet to see how Drew Lock responds to a loss. The Denver Broncos were trounced at Arrowhead last week in a bitterly cold and wet snow game. 

The most important aspect of the Broncos' Week 16 home tilt vs. the Detroit Lions is seeing whether Lock can bounce back from the bitter disappointment in Kansas City where he threw an interception but had no touchdowns to offset it. 

These final two games for the Broncos are all about evaluation. It's an across-the-roster endeavor but the focus is, of course, on Lock. In the NFL, everything depends on the QB and the Broncos' future hinges completely on Lock. 

The Broncos want to glean as much intelligence on the young QB as possible heading into a crucial offseason in which the front office will have some big decisions to make (Joe Flacco, Ron Leary, free agents) but will be armed with $70 million in cap space and as many as 12 draft picks. 

As for today, join us as we live-blog and discuss DETvsDEN here in our weekly Open Thread. Dive into the conversation — it's easy — by simply going to the top of the site and in the bottom righthand corner of the Mile High Huddle logo, click the follow button.

You can log in with Facebook or Google and either way, it's free. From there, sound off in the comment section and share your reactions and observations with our staff, subscribers and fellow members of the MHH community as we react to the game in real-time. 

What to Watch For

• TE Noah Fant needs one touchdown to tie Tony Schefler (2006) for the most receiving touchdowns by a rookie tight end in Broncos history and 83 receiving yards to pass Ricky Natiel into fifth place on the team's all-time receiving yardage list for a rookie pass catcher. 

• CB Chris Harris, Jr. needs one interception to join Mike Harden as the only Broncos with multiple interceptions in eight consecutive seasons.

• LB Von Miller needs one sack to pass Elvis Dumervil into sole possession of 26th place on the NFL's all-time sack list and needs 1.5 sacks to pass Trace Armstrong into sole possession of 25th place on the NFL's all-time sack list.

• S Justin Simmons needs one interception to tie Steve Atwater (12) for the third-most interceptions among Broncos safeties through their first four professional seasons, needs two interceptions to tie Charlie Greer (13) for the second-most interceptions among Broncos safeties through their first four professional seasons, and needs three passes defensed to match Bradley Roby (17 in 2017) and Chris Harris Jr. (17 in 2014) for the most pass breakups for a Bronco in a single season this decade. 

 • K Brandon McManus needs two field goals to pass Rich Karlis (137) for fourth all-time in team history and seven total points to reach 100 for the third time in his career and first since 2016. 

Inactives

Analysis: It's unfortunate to see DeMarcus Walker unable to go for the third-straight week. He started off this season strong but faded into the oblivion of healthy-scratch status and when the Broncos finally turned to him in need down the stretch, he can't get healthy. The Broncos' starting right guard and tackle are both out, so look for Detroit to try and attack off that side of the line. 

Analysis: No Rick Wagner on the O-line means Von Miller could feast. A'Shawn Robinson being out bodes well for Phillip Lindsay's prospects of inching closer to an unprecedented second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season to open his career as a college free agent. 

First Quarter

Broncos win toss. Defer. 

13:20: On 3rd-&-4, David Blough hits Logan Thomas for a nine-yard gain, moving the chains. 

11:27: 3rd-&-8: Blough hits Kenny Golladay for a 32-yard gain. 

9:11: 3rd-&-6from the 7-yard line, Blough pressured by Miller, throws it away. Incomplete. 

9:03: Matt Prater hits the 26-yard field goal, punctuating Detroit's 11-play, 68-yard opening drive. 

Lions 3, Broncos 0

8:12: 3rd-&-7, Lock throws a perfect pass to Devontae Booker on a wheel route out of the backfield and the running back drops it. Incomplete. Broncos go three-and-out. Punt. 

7:55: Blough sacked by Jeremiah Attaochu and Dre'Mont Jones on first down. Nine-yard loss. 

6:42: 3rd-&-18, Blough completes to Thomas, tackled short of the sticks. Punt. 

4:38: On first down, Garett Bolles flagged for holding. 

3:38: On second down, after first down was replayed, Elijah Wilkinson penalized for holding. 

2:31: 3rd-&-13, Lock drops back, pulls the ball in and scrambles short of the sticks. Broncos cross midfield but punt.

1:17: On second down, Mike Purcell flagged for defensive holding. Broncos now have been flagged thrice in the first quarter for 25 yards. 

Second Quarter

13:48: On 3rd-&-1, Blough throws incomplete. Punt.

13:32: Wilkinson flagged for holding again after Lock completes to DaeSean Hamilton for nine yards. 

11:49: 3rd-&-16, Broncos give up on moving the sticks, throw a tight end screen to Noah Fant that is blown up for little gain. 

11:10: Colby Wadman punts and Jamal Agnew returns it 64 yards to the house. Lions go up by two scores. 

Lions 10, Broncos 0

10:52: Lindsay pushed out of bounds after 6-yard gain. Wilkinson shaken up on the play. Jake Rodgers in at right tackle.

6:08: Following a 10-yard Lock-to-Tim Patrick connection, Royce Freeman pounds through the rock for a Broncos touchdown. Nice drive. Broncos went 75 yards on nine plays. 

Lions 10, Broncos 7

3:45: 3rd-&-2, Lock finds Hamilton for the fourth time on the day to move the chains yet again. 

:33: 3rd-&-6, Lock is hit as he throws. Incomplete. 

:29: McManus is good from 34 yards out. Drive goes 57 yards on 11 plays. 

Broncos 10, Lions 10

:16: Dre'Mont Jones sacks Blough. 

End of quarter

Third Quarter

Diontae Spencer returns opening kickoff 47 yards. 

12:42: On 3rd-&-1, Andrew Beck moves the sticks with the fullback dive. 

10:33: 3rd-&-Goal from the 8-yard line, Lock's pass to Sutton is broken up. 

10:27: McManus is good from 26 yards. Broncos take the lead after going 45 yards on 11 plays. 

Broncos 13, Lions 10

3:56: On 3rd-&-Goal from the 3-yard line, Blough throws the screen to Golladay, who extends and breaks the plane. Touchdown culminates an 11-play, 75-yard drive. Lions re-take the lead. 

Lions 17, Broncos 13

3:06: Lock targets Sutton. Incomplete. Darius Slay penalized for pass interference. 13-yard penalty. 

1:47: 3rd-&-6, Lock hits Hamilton for 5-yard gain. Short of the sticks. 

1:01: 4th-&-1, the handoff goes to Beck who option-tosses it to Lindsay for a 6-yard gain. Another fourth-down conversion for Broncos. 

:17: Lock hits Sutton for 13-yard gain to end the third quarter. 

Fourth Quarter

14:08: On the read-option, Lock hits Hamilton for the shuffle-pass touchdown. The first of the season for Hamilton. Broncos re-take lead on 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. 

Broncos 20, Lions 17

11:15: 3rd-&-9, Blough goes deep to Golladay but it's dropped. Chris Harris, Jr. in coverage. 

9:25: Lock hits Patrick for 5-yard gain to move the chains on 3rd-&-3.

6:47: Lindsay breaks two tackles on the way to a 27-yard touchdown. Lindsay's elusiveness and speed on full display. Caps a seven-play, 61-yard drive. 

Broncos 27, Lions 17

6:00: Blough sacked by Dre'Mont Jones, who now has 2.5 sacks on the day. Great performance by the rookie.

1:55: 4th-&-10, Blough throws incomplete. Turnover on downs. Lock will kneel it out. 

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