If there was a silver lining for the Detroit Lions in their 34-31 overtime loss to the Houston Texans on Thursday – and that’s difficult to consider the way coach Jim Schwartz blew the game – it had to be in the passing game.

The Lions have been seeking targets to step up opposite Calvin Johnson for several seasons. Ryan Broyles, the rookie second-round pick from Oklahoma, looks like he could be capable of filling the role. The Lions were criticized for drafting Broyles, who was coming off a torn ACL last year with the Sooners, so high. But he’s starting to make big plays.

Broyles made six receptions for 126 yards in the loss as he’s picked up where Nate Burleson, who is out for the year with a broken leg, and Titus Young left off. Young got a paid vacation for the week, sent home by the team.

“I would not say this was because Titus wasn't there," Broyles said, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News. "It's more that we got man coverage this game. That was unusual. We usually don't get that. It's something we've been asking for all year and we made the best of it — though not as much as we needed to.

"I left some plays out there. Just uncharacteristic; dropped balls, dropped a touchdown pass. The negative stuff sticks out to me right now. I have to clean that stuff up."

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune