The Detroit Lions are coming in off a loss to the Chicago Bears in which they couldn’t get anything going and dropped the game 28-13. The Broncos are coming in off a win over the Los Angeles Chargers 24-7 and have won six of their last seven games.
Detroit Lions 9-4 (1st Place in NFC North) vs. Denver Broncos 7-6 (2nd Place in AFC West)
Date: Saturday, December 16
Time: 8:15 p.m. EST
TV Channel: NFL Network
Location: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Line: Lions -4.0 / O/U: 46.5
2023 Season Stats
Detroit:
2023 Offense P/G (League Rank) —
Total Yards: 390.3 (3)
Passing Yards: 252.8 (7)
Rushing Yards: 137.5 (5)
2023 Defense (League Rank) —
Total Yards Allowed: 323.5 (15)
Passing Yards Allowed: 226.6 (19)
Rushing Yards Allowed: 96.8 (9)
2023 Cumulative Points Scored: 26.2 (7)
2023 Cumulative Points Allowed: 24.2 (25)
Denver:
2023 Offense (per game averages) —
Total Yards: 300.8 (24)
Passing Yards: 185.8 (27)
Rushing Yards: 115.0 (13)
2023 Defense (per game averages) —
Total Yards Allowed: 377.4 (30)
Passing Yards Allowed: 233.4 (24)
Rushing Yards Allowed: 144.0 (32)
2023 Cumulative Points Scored: 22.1 (12)
2023 Cumulative Points Allowed: 23.8 (24)
Series History/All-Time Records
All-time head-to-head record: Denver Leads 9-5-0
Current streak: Denver has won three straight
Last Detroit win: 10/30/2011 (45-10)
Last Denver win: 12/12/2021 (38-10)
2023 Top Players
Detroit Lions
Passing: Jared Goff – 311-465, 3449 yards, 21-10 (TD-INT)
Rushing: David Montgomery – 161 ATT, 770 YDS, 10 TD
Receiving: Amon-Ra St. Brown – 87 REC, 1063 YDS, 6 TD
Tackles: Alex Anzalone – 96 (63-33)
Sacks: Aidan Hutchinson – 6.5
Interceptions: Jerry Jacobs – 3
Denver
Passing: Russell Wilson – 254-378, 2609 YDS, 23-8 (TD-INT)
Rushing: Javonte Williams – 170 ATT, 650 YDS, 1 TD
Receiving: Courtland Sutton – 53 REC, 699 YDS, 10 TD
Tackles: Alex Singleton – 136 (81-55)
Sacks: Nik Bonitto – 7
Interceptions: Justin Simmons – 3
Lions Players To Watch:
Offense: Quarterback – Jared Goff
Goff has struggled in recent weeks, and this week, he is going up against a defense that, in their last seven games, has allowed an average of 207.2 passing yards per game, and that’s with matchups against Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen in there. Goff will have his hands full with this Broncos defense that has stepped up in recent weeks, while for the Lions, Goff has struggled.
Defense: Linebacker – Alex Anzalone
Anzalone will be relied on heavily in this one to keep the Broncos run game that has averaged 122.7 yards a game over their last seven. Anzalone must also look to contain Russell Wilson, who is always a threat to make plays with his legs.
Bottom Line: Detroit Lions need a get-right game
The Lions have struggled in recent weeks, going 3-2 since the bye, having scored 28 points on average through those five games and allowing 29.8 on average in those games. The schedule doesn’t get easier either, starting with this Broncos team that is on a good stretch and fighting for a playoff spot. Then the Lions hit the road for Minnesota as they take on the Vikings, who are currently two games behind them in the division. Then they head to Dallas to take on the NFC East-leading Cowboys before wrapping up the season at home against Minnesota again, which could be for the division. The Lions need to find a way to come out on top in this one before they head to Minnesota.
