Denver 24, Detroit 12: Stafford’s woes return; Lions 0-3

0
1159

Jim Caldwell was supposed to fix Matthew Stafford’s turnover problems, but after one season together, they’re back.

Stafford threw two interceptions and lost a fumble Sunday and Darius Slay got beat for two big passes as the Denver Broncos beat the Detroit Lions in a defensive battle at Ford Field, 24-12.

The Lions are 0-3 for the first time since 2010, and in danger of having their season slip away before Columbus Day.

They play the defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks next Monday night in Seattle, then return home on a short week to face the hottest team in the conference, the undefeated Arizona Cardinals.

Since 1990, just three teams have made the playoffs after starting 0-3 and none have gone on to reach the Super Bowl.

Stafford had his second two-interception game of the season Sunday and has thrown five picks this year after tossing 12 all of last fall.

Two of his turnovers Sunday set up fourth-quarter Broncos scoring drives as Denver reeled off 10 points in the final 7:50 to improve to 3-0.

Stafford lost a fumble with just over 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter after Shaquil Barrett hit his right arm on a blitz. Stafford’s arm appeared to be moving forward on the play. Officials never acknowledged a review, though turnover plays are automatically looked at by the booth.

The Broncos, leading 14-12 at the time of the turnover, extended their lead to five points on a 48-yard field goal by Brandon McManus five plays after the fumble.

McManus originally missed a 53-yard field goal, but the Lions were called for illegal formation for lining up seven players on one side of center to give the Broncos a re-kick.

The Lions drove into Broncos territory on their next possession, but David Bruton made a one-handed interception on a third-and-12 pass intended for Calvin Johnson.

Emmanuel Sanders beat Darius Slay deep for a 34-yard pass two plays later, and Peyton Manning capped the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Owen Daniels on third-and-6.

Slay, who boasted this week that he hoped to intercept a Manning pass and then ask the Broncos quarterback for his autograph, also gave up a long touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas at the end of the first half.

Thomas ran past Slay on fourth-and-1 when the Lions cornerback was playing for an underneath route. Thomas outjumped Slay for the underthrown pass and cruised into the end zone to give Denver a 14-6 halftime lead.

The Lions, who had an extra point blocked on their only first-half touchdown, forced a fumble on Denver’s opening possession of the second half and scored four plays.

Ameer Abdullah beat linebacker Brandon Marshall on an option route out of the backfield for the touchdown, but Joique Bell was stopped on the two-point conversion run leaving the Lions trailing, 14-12.

Stafford finished 31 of 45 passing for 282 yards and took four sacks from Denver’s NFL-best defense.

Calvin Johnson had eight catches for 77 yards for the Lions, who played their third straight game without linebacker DeAndre Levy and lost defensive end Ziggy Ansah to a groin injury.

Manning was 31 of 42 passing for 324 yards for the Broncos.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

This Post Has Been Viewed 24 Times

Gone And Vent

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.