Russell Wilson walked into a trap he had no chance of avoiding.
On Denver’s first offensive drive in Saturday’s 42-17 loss to the Detroit Lions, the Broncos starting quarterback went to the right on a naked bootleg when safety Ifeatu Melifonwu flew in unblocked for the strip sack. Defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs recovered the ball and ran 33 yards into Broncos territory.
While the Lions didn’t take advantage of the turnover, Melifonwu’s sack established the ultra-aggressive approach the Detroit defense used throughout the game, as it recorded 22 pressures and two sacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
“(The Lions) did a great job with their sub pressures, meaning when we were in 11 personnel, (they got) us out of our run game and (brought) pressure from different spots,” tight end Adam Trautman said.
Detroit’s defense came into Saturday having allowed 28.3 points in their three previous games. But defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and company flipped the switch Saturday and had the Broncos’ pass protectors struggling to keep up. Denver managed just 75 yards in the first half, and didn’t get going until after the Lions established a 21-0 lead.
The Lions’ defensive backs played a big role in their pass rush success. Melifonwu, rookie defensive back Brian Branch and cornerback Kindle Vildor each had their moments where they brought the heat on Wilson on blitzes.
On first-and-10 with 12:31 to go in the second quarter, Vildor was lined up against rookie wideout Marvin Mims Jr. At the snap, he sped into the backfield and hit Wilson to force an incomplete pass.
Later in the second, Detroit had a two-deep safety look, with four defenders underneath. The Lions sent a five-man blitz, as Melifonwu shot through the gap to force Wilson to throw another incomplete pass on third down.
“It kind of surprised us a little bit because they haven’t done it (before),” Trautman said.
Second-year defensive end Aidan Hutchinson didn’t have a sack on Saturday, but he was surely disruptive off the edge, totaling a team-best five pressures and four hurries.
“They pressured a lot (on) second down, and it was effective at times,” head coach Sean Payton said. “We weren’t good enough. … I know (the Lions) have struggled in the last three or four weeks, but they did a good job tonight.”
Saturday will be remembered for the offsides call on Denver in the red zone, Payton yelling at Wilson on the sidelines and the head coach’s decision not to challenge McLaughlin’s reception or Javonte Williams’ rush attempt near the goal line. But even if one of those two plays resulted in a touchdown, the Broncos dug themselves in a hole too deep to come back from. And they have the Lions’ defense to thank for that.
Not only did Detroit excel in pressuring Wilson, the Lions did a good job of containing Denver’s run game — the identity of its offense. The Broncos were held to 83 yards on 28 carries and averaged just three yards per carry. Payton said earlier in the week that Detroit plays with a special kind of physicality that reflects its head coach Dan Campbell. Those traits were on display Saturday, as Williams was often greeted by multiple defenders when he touched the ball.
“(Glenn) called a heck of a game, we had a couple of wrinkles in that we felt like would be good for us and really, they were,” Campbell said.
Extra Points
• With 24 seconds left in the first half, Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had an easy path to the end zone. St. Brown had Ja’Quan McMillian on him in the slot when the Broncos cornerback dropped back, allowing him to cut across the middle, take advantage of the open space and score on a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jared Goff to take a 21-0 lead.
The play followed a familiar theme as Goff picked apart the Broncos defense in the middle of the field. According to Pro Football Focus, three of Goff’s five touchdowns passes came in that area.
“It goes back to fundamentals and keeping your eye on your guy,” Broncos inside linebacker Josey Jewell said. “They are a great team that gets your eyes on the wrong spot. (There) are things that we just need to understand (like) certain formations that we are going to get.”
• Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy delivered his best game of the season, catching three passes for 74 yards on seven targets. Even though Jeudy didn’t have a ton of receptions, his performance offers something to build on.
Jeudy got going in the first quarter. He was lined up next to wide receiver Courtland Sutton on the outside. Sutton broke off to the left, drawing the defender while Jeudy got open on a slant route before catching a pass from Wilson and running down the field for a 40-yard gain. Jeudy had 19- and 15-yard receptions later in the game. On both catches, he was posted in the slot and able to slip past defenders for wide open catches.
Payton noticed the Lions double-teaming Sutton quite a bit and he expects the New England Patriots’ defense to do the same on Sunday night. If that’s the case, things could open up for Jeudy.
• What did life look like without Nik Bonitto? With the Broncos second-year edge rusher sidelined with a knee injury, outside linebackers Jonathon Cooper and Baron Browning had to endure a heavy workload. Both players rarely left the field against the Lions, as Browning played 60 defensive snaps while Cooper was on the field for 56. Sanders, who appeared to be in line for more playing time on the edge, only played 11 defensive snaps. Even though the Broncos like Sanders’ potential, his playing time has proven he is still a work-in-progress.
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