Check out Demaryius Thomas' stunning touchdown catch, captured frame-by-frame by photographer Steve Woltmann.
Our photographers were able to capture a burst of images during three key moments against the Lions. Each was on offense, and two showed the moments when wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders outplayed cornerback Darius Slay.
The first is Demaryius Thomas' grab on a fourth-and-1 play late in the second quarter. Manning and Thomas identified the cornerback's coverage and took a risk. It paid off as Thomas out-leapt Slay and made the 45-yard touchdown.
Lions cornerback Darius Slay thought he had an interception, but Emmanuel Sanders ripped it from his hands. (All photos by Eric Lars Bakke)
The second is Emmanuel Sanders' catch on Slay. With 3:31 left in the game and just a five-point lead, the Broncos had a chance to shut the door on the Lions' hopes. Manning looked right for another big play and saw Sanders in single coverage down the sideline. Slay and Sanders, with barely any separation, jumped for the ball. Both had their hands on the ball initially but Sanders pulled it out of Slay's grasp as he fell to the ground for the 34-yard reception.
The final play was the touchdown that put the nail in the coffin against Detroit. Tight end Owen Daniels was matched up against 5-foot-9 cornerback Quandre Diggs, and Daniels pulled in Manning's lofted pass with a leaping grab to put the Broncos up 12 points.
See just how athletic Owen Daniel's twisting, leaping touchdown catch was through the lens of photographer Eric Lars Bakke's camera.
