Lions at Broncos
Denver Broncos 31, Detroit Lions 28 · Takeover Madden 27
Final Score
Lions 28 3 TD · 0 FG · 4 XP
Broncos 31 3 TD · 1 FG · 4 XPBo Nix 232 yds passingRJ Harvey 74 yds rushingTroy Franklin 83 yds receivingDominique Hampton 2 tkl defenseTotal yards 182 · 360Passing yards 116 · 232Rushing yards 66 · 128Completions 9/19 · 13/21Yards per carry 5.5 · 8.5Recap
Franchise Hub Beat · 13d ago
In a thrilling opener to the 2027 season, the Denver Broncos narrowly defeated the Detroit Lions, clinching a 31-28 victory. Both teams were eager to start the year on the right foot, but it was the Broncos who ultimately held off a late surge from Detroit to secure the win.
Bo Nix was the star of the show for Denver, throwing for 232 yards and two touchdowns, showcasing his ability to lead the offense effectively. RJ Harvey added a solid rushing performance with 74 yards on the ground, while Troy Franklin emerged as a key target with 83 receiving yards, helping to keep the chains moving when it mattered most.
Defensively, the Broncos capitalized on their opportunities, with Tevin Mallard leading the charge with three total tackles. The game’s turning point came late in the fourth quarter when Denver's defense stiffened, allowing just enough time for the offense to run down the clock and secure the victory. Meanwhile, Dominique Hampton's interception for Detroit showcased their defensive prowess, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Broncos' late-game execution.
Box Score
| Player | C/A | PCT | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | ||||||
| Joe MiltonQB | 9/19 | 47% | 116 | 1 | 2 | 44.9 |
| Broncos | ||||||
| Bo NixQB | 13/21 | 62% | 232 | 2 | 2 | 91.8 |
| Player | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | |||||||
| Jahmyr GibbsHB | 12 | 66 | 5.5 | 10 | 2 | 16 | 0 |
| Broncos | |||||||
| RJ HarveyHB | 11 | 74 | 6.7 | 24 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
| Bo NixQB | 3 | 46 | 15.3 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 0 |
| Troy FranklinWR | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Evan EngramTE | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | |||||||
| Sam LaPortaTE | 4 | 59 | 14.8 | 47 | 0 | 39 | 0 |
| Jahmyr GibbsHB | 3 | 29 | 9.7 | 34 | 1 | 25 | 0 |
| Amon-Ra St. BrownWR | 1 | 19 | 19.0 | 9 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Trey BensonHB | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Broncos | |||||||
| Troy FranklinWR | 2 | 83 | 41.5 | 4 | 1 | 60 | 0 |
| Courtland SuttonWR | 2 | 73 | 36.5 | 27 | 1 | 74 | 0 |
| Adam TrautmanTE | 1 | 34 | 34.0 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
| Jaylen WaddleWR | 2 | 18 | 9.0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| RJ HarveyHB | 3 | 13 | 4.3 | 23 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Evan EngramTE | 3 | 11 | 3.7 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Player | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | |||||
| Dominique HamptonMIKE | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian BranchSS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Bray HubbardSS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack CampbellMIKE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Keith Abney IICB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kerby JosephFS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zah FrazierCB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Christian IzienSS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| D.J. ReedCB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broncos | |||||
| Talanoa HufangaSS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Amari BurneyMIKE | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Tevin MallardCB | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon JonesFS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Patrick Surtain IICB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ivan Pace JrMIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zach AllenDT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Isaiah Pola-MaoSS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jahdae BarronCB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Sai'vion JonesDT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nik BonittoREDG | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Player | FG | XP | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | |||
| Daniel CarlsonK | 0/0 | 3 | 0 |
| Jack FoxP | 0/0 | 1 | 0 |
| Broncos | |||
| Jeremy CrawshawP | 0/0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wil LutzK | 1/1 | 4 | 34 |