DENVER — On an emotionally charged day, full of memories and grief in equal parts in the wake of Demaryius Thomas’ death on Thursday, the Denver Broncos put an exclamation point on a 38-10 win over the Detroit Lions with a final 14-play touchdown drive that went …
The Broncos paid tribute to Thomas, who was found dead Thursday at his home in Roswell, Georgia, in almost every way they could Sunday as his No.
Thomas, who would have turned 34 on Christmas, had officially announced his retirement from the NFL in June.
After a moment of silence in the stadium as well as a video tribute played on all of the screens just before kickoff, the Broncos lined up for the game’s first play from scrimmage with 10 players in the formation.
88, were assessed a delay of game penalty that the Lions quickly declined.
I talked to Dan Campbell and he agreed not to accept the penalty, a classy move on his part …
That total includes running backs coach Curtis Modkins, who recruited Thomas to Georgia Tech and was with the Broncos in 2018, Thomas’ last season with the team.
In the Broncos’ record-setting season in 2013 — Peyton Manning set NFL records for passing yards as the Broncos scored a league-record 606 points that year — Thomas finished with a career-best 14 touchdowns.
“Even though everyone in the stadium wanted to get a win for DT, they just don’t happen,” Simmons said.