Detroit Lions 'highly aware' of Denver Broncos' ability to create turnovers
The Denver Broncos are one of the hottest teams in the NFL with six wins in their past seven games and it's easy to understand why - turnovers.
The Broncos have been on a takeaway tear since late October, forcing 18 turnovers (11 fumbles, seven interceptions) in their past seven games.
They're plus-11 in the turnover department in that span, have lost the only game they've had a negative turnover differential in the past two months and are a game out of first place in the AFC West after a 1-5 start.
"We know this team is feast or famine," Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said Wednesday. "When they get the takeaways, they capitalize on it, they’re winning ballgames because of it. And so we’re highly aware of it."
The Lions have struggled in the turnover department in recent weeks, losing 10 turnovers while going 2-2 in their past four games.
Some of those mistakes have been costly, like the fumbled quarterback-center exchange between Jared Goff and Graham Glasgow last week that set up the Chicago Bears' game-clinching touchdown. Others not so much; Goff threw two picks on fourth-and-long heaves last week.
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But Goff could easily have four more turnovers in the past four games and the Lions aren't getting their hands on enough balls defensively.
"We’ve got to do a better job protecting the ball this week than we have the last four games," Johnson said. "They aren’t just good in their takeaways, I think the other thing that stands out to me the last eight weeks, they’re the No. 1 third-down defense in the NFL, so they’re doing a great job stopping offenses when they get them in into that situation and so we’ve got to be on point here on third down this week."
Johnson said the Lions have put another renewed emphasis on ball security coming off last week's three-turnover day against the Bears. On Wednesday, they opened individual drills by running skill players through fumble drills with a gauntlet of coaches trying to knock the ball away.
"In traffic they really emphasize with their guys to punch at the football, strip it out," Johnson said. "I think it was the first play of the game at Buffalo, first play of the game, the running back’s running along the sideline and sure enough, it just - boom, they’re going for it and they recover the ball quickly. So, you can tell that they’re harping on it.
"(Broncos defensive coordinator) Vance (Joseph) does a heck of a job with those guys. They’re playing very hard, they’re rallying to the ball, there’s traffic around the ball, there’s population, and so, we have to counter that by not only protecting the football in traffic but having our own population come to the party as well.”
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Injury update
Lions center Frank Ragnow took part in his first practice Wednesday since injuring his knee in the Lions' Week 13 win over the New Orleans Saints. Ragnow was listed as a limited participant on the Lions' estimated practice report Tuesday.
Left tackle Taylor Decker also returned as a limited participant Wednesday after he was listed as a non-participant on Tuesday's estimated report.
Barring any setbacks, the Lions are on track to have their top offensive line for just the fifth game this year.
Briefly
Seven Lions rank among the top 10 players at their position in the latest fan voting for the Pro Bowl announced Wednesday: Ragnow (sixth among centers), Sam LaPorta (fourth/tight ends) Amon-Ra St. Brown (fifth/receiver), Penei Sewell (fifth/offensive tackle); Aidan Hutchinson (eighth/defensive end), Jared Goff (ninth/quarterback) and Jake McQuaide (10th/long snapper). ... The Tennessee Titans signed defensive tackle Quinton Bohanna off the Lions practice squad. Bohanna started three games at nose tackle and was out of practice squad elevations. The Lions would have had to promote Bohanna to the 53-man to use him in a game again this season.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Denver Broncos on a takeaway tear leading into Detroit Lions matchup
