Denver (3‐0) at Detroit Lions (0‐3) Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015 • 8:30 p.m. EDT • Ford Field FINAL SCORE: BRONCOS 24, LIONS 12
BRONCOS IMPROVE TO 3‐0 IN WIN OVER LIONS
The Denver Broncos (3‐0) defeated the Detroit Lions (0‐3) to win their first three games of the season for the 13th time in team hhistory and first time since 2013. Head Coach Gary Kubiak joins Red Miller (1977) and Josh McDaniels (2009) as the only head coaches in Broncos history to win their first three games with the franchise.
BEST STARTS IN BRONCOS HISTORY Year Started Year Started 1970 3‐0 2002 3‐0 1977 3‐0 2003 4‐0 1986 6‐0 2008 3‐0 1989 3‐0 2009 6‐0 1996 3‐0 2013 6‐0 1997 6‐0 2015 3‐0 1998 13‐0
THOMAS RECORDS 42nd CAREER RECEIVING SCORE
Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas hauled in a 45‐yard touchdown catch with 0:05 remaining in the second quarter to give Denver a 14‐6 halftime lead. The play marked Thomas’ 42nd career touchdown receeption to pass TE Riley Odoms into sixth place on the Broncos’ all‐time receiving touchdown list. Thomas finished the game with a team‐high nine receptions for 92 yards (10.2 avg.) with one touchdown.
MOST RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS, BRONCOS HISTORY Player No. 1. Rod Smith 68 2. Shannon Sharpe 55 3. Ed McCaffrey 46 4. Haven Moses 44 Lionel Taylor 44 6. Demaryius Thomas 42
MANNING COMES UP BIG AGAINST LIONS
Broncos QB Peyton Manning extended his NFL record with his 92nd career 300‐yard passing game (101, including postseason) by completing 31‐of‐42 passes (73.8%) for 324 yards with two touchdowns and one interception (101.7 rtg) against the Lions. Manning’s 45‐yard scoring strike to WR Demaryius Thomas with 0:03 left in the first half was his 50th career touchdown of 45 yards or longer, tying him with QB Y.A. Tittle for the fifth most all‐time.
MOST PASSING TOUCHDOWNS OF 45 YARDS OR LONGER, NFL HISTORY Player No. 1. John Hadl 56 2. Johnny Unitas 56 3. Jim Hart 52 4. Fran Tarkenton 51 5. Peyton Manning 50 Y.A. Tittle 50
WARD A FORCE IN THE BACKFIELD
Broncos S T.J. Ward recorded a tackle for a loss on the game’s first play from scrimmage to represent his 16th tackle for a loss since his first Pro Bowl season in 2013—the most in the NFL by a defensive back during that span.
MOST TACKLES FOR A LOSS BY A DEFENSIVE BACK, NFL, 2013‐PRES. Player Sacks Stuffs Total 1. T.J. Ward, Cle./Den. 3.5 12.5 16.0 2. T.J. McDonald, Stl. 3.0 10.0 13.0 3. James Ihedigbo, Bal./Det. 2.0 10.5 12.5 4. Malcolm Jenkins, N.O./Phi. 2.5 8.5 11.0 5. Troy Polamalu, Pit. 2 8.5 10.5
MISCELLANEOUS GAME NOTES
* ‐ Denver’s game captains were WR Demaryius Thomas (offense), OLB Von Miller (defense) and ILB Todd Davis (special teams). * ‐ CB Bradley Roby’s interception in the first quarter marks the second consecutive game Denver’s 2014 first‐round draft selection has recorded a takeaway (game‐winning FR TD at K.C., 9/17). * ‐ Broncos WR Bennie Fowler, a Detroit native, recorded his first four career receptions for 50 yards (12.5 avg.). * ‐ Broncos CB Aqib Talib blocked Detroit’s extra‐point attempt with 1:03 remaining in the second quarter to represent Denver’s first blocked PAT since Nov. 22, 2009 (DT Marcus Thomas, at S.D.) and the third blocked PAT in the NFL this season.