Broncos Game Grades: PJ Locke and Ja’Quan McMillian take a step back in a 42-17 loss to the Lions

The Broncos had a rough weekend.

After winning six of their previous seven games, the Broncos fell 42-17 to the Detroit Lions on Saturday night. They now sit at 7-7 and probably need to win their final three games to earn a spot in the playoffs.

Here’s how the offense graded out…

Defensive Linemen

DJ Jones: A — Jones ended the Lions’ second drive with a sack that knocked them out of field goal range. He had a pair of tackles for loss.

Zach Allen: C+ — Allen got to the quarterback once for a hit, but that was his largest impact on the game on Saturday. He didn’t have another entry in the stat sheet.

Mike Purcell: B- — Not only did Purcell stuff three runs, the second-most on the team, but he also got into the backfield a couple of times on passing downs.

Outside Linebackers

Jonathon Cooper: B+ — Cooper beat Penei Sewell to the inside for a pressure that forced a fourth-quarter incompletion. Two plays later, he beat the Pro Bowler around the outside for a sack that forced a punt.

Baron Browning: B- — Browning didn’t get a sack, but he got into the backfield a handful of times. He gets bonus points for being one of two defensive starters (along with Zach Allen) who didn’t miss a tackle.

Drew Sanders: C- — Sanders is still raw, but he’s showing signs of growth. This week, one of those signs was when he lined up across from Devin Singletary in man coverage on 3rd & 6 and forced an incompletion on a double move. Sanders stumbled a little, but his length and athleticism made it a tough throw anyway.

Inside Linebackers

Alex Singleton: D+ — One week after his best game of the season, the missed tackle returned for Singleton. He tied for the team lead with three missed tackles while only making five. By Pro Football Focus’ count, Singleton leads the NFL in missed tackles. He’s 55th in missed tackles by Pro Football Reference’s count.

Josey Jewell: D+ — The Broncos’ leader in tackles with nine, Jewell will feel like he left a couple more on the table. He drew a tough assignment against Sam LaPorta, to whom he allowed a touchdown.

Cornerbacks

Pat Surtain II: C+ — Surtain gave up a rare touchdown on Saturday. Even more surprising, he gave it to a tight end on a goal-line slant.

Fabian Moreau: C — Moreau didn’t give up a touchdown, but he was picked on by the Lions. His low point came when he gave up a 16-yard pass interference.

Ja’Quan McMillian: C– — It’s tough to say for sure, but Amon-Ra St. Brown’s 16-yard touchdown before halftime looked like it was McMillian’s fault, and that play is why he gets low marks. McMillian was fine for most of the game, and got into the backfield a couple of times, but he didn’t provide the splash the Broncos have come to expect from him.

Safeties

Justin Simmons: A — Simmons played a pretty great game, especially considering the mistakes that were made around him. His big play was a pass breakup 30 or 35 yards downfield on the Lions first drive. He helped out with a run stuff too.

PJ Locke: D — Locke gave up a pair of touchdowns. The first was a to Jahmyr Gibbs out of the backfield. The second was a deep in route from Sam LaPorta from 10 yards out.

Locke broke up a pass in the end zone just before he gave up his first touchdown, but a couple of nice plays don’t counteract an otherwise tough night.

(Click here for the offensive grades.)