(Detroit) Jared Goff tied a career high with five touchdown passes in a game, including three to rookie Sam LaPorta, and the Detroit Lions topped the Denver Broncos 42-17 on Saturday night.
The Lions (10-4), leaders of the Northern section of the National Association, could qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2016, depending on the other results of the weekend. The easiest way would be a loss, or tie, for the Seattle Seahawks against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.
The Broncos (7-7) didn’t help their chances of making the playoffs for the first time since the 2015 season with the loss.
Goff threw touchdown passes to LaPorta, freshman running back Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown, putting the Lions up 21-0 at halftime.
In the first half, the Broncos only converted one of their six third downs, in addition to totaling only 75 yards.
Russell Wilson finished the game with 18 of 32 completions for 223 yards and a touchdown pass. He also had a touchdown on the ground. Jarrett Stidham replaced him late in the match.
Goff completed 24 of 34 passes for 278 yards. The quarterback threw five touchdown passes for the first time since 2018, when he was with the Los Angeles Rams.
CJ Stroud of the Houston Texans is the only other quarterback to throw five touchdown passes this season.
The Broncos had allowed just four touchdown passes in the previous six games.
LaPorta became the first freshman tight end with at least 70 receptions, 700 yards and nine touchdowns.