Lions tame Colts, 24-6, win 9th straight game behind solid run game

INDIANAPOLIS — Entering a Thanksgiving Day divisional clash, the Detroit Lions have done a lot of feasting.

That continued in Indianapolis on Sunday, as Detroit entertained a heavy contingent of Lions fans at Lucas Oil Stadium and slowly but surely gobbled up the Indianapolis Colts, 24-6, to improve to 10-1 — the Lions' best start since 1934 — ahead of the annual Turkey Day festivities back at Ford Field.

The Lions took advantage of the Colts' self-inflicted wounds all game long and put their foot on the gas in the second half, scoring 17 unanswered points to run away with the victory. Detroit has not allowed a touchdown since the second quarter of their Week 10 win against Houston, making it a full 10 quarters Sunday without allowing the opposition in the end zone.

Though the two teams were near even in almost every major statistic at halftime, the Colts' penalties and dropped passes were the difference between a tie game and a 14-6 Lions lead. Ultimately, the Colts (5-7) had four plays of 19 yards or more negated by penalties (and 10 penalties total), including a 20-yard completion to Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. that was erased by a holding flag.

The game was not without its consequences for Detroit, which lost running back David Montgomery (shoulder) and wide receiver Kalif Raymond (foot) for the game before later seeing starting cornerback Carlton Davis exit due to a left knee injury. Offensive tackle Taylor Decker briefly left the contest after getting rolled up on during a strip-sack but finished the game after being examined in the medical tent.

The Lions' offense didn't have its best day but quarterback Jared Goff was good enough for Detroit in a 26-for-36 passing performance that featured 269 yards. Jahmyr Gibbs scored twice but was unusually inefficient outside of the red zone, taking 21 carries for 90 yards (4.3 average). Montgomery had a touchdown and 37 rushing yards on eight carries, plus 36 receiving yards on three catches.

Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, coming off the best game of his young career, was rendered ineffective for most of the afternoon. He finished 11-for-28 passing for 172 yards passing and no touchdowns.

Richardson and the Colts offense were humming on the opening series, picking up three first downs behind 35 yards rushing and 20 passing from Richardson. The drive stalled on third-and-2 at the 4-yard line because of a penalty for an ineligible man downfield, and the Lions were able to force a 27-yard field goal from Matt Gay, resulting in a 3-0 Colts lead at 8:53 in the first.

After a third-down sack of Goff ended the Lions' opening drive without any points — Jack Fox's first punt since the third quarter of Detroit's Week 10 win over the Houston Texans — Detroit got things moving on its second drive with a 27-yard throw to Tim Patrick to end the first quarter.

Gibbs ran for 17 yards on third-and-8, moving the Lions into the red zone for the first time, before the second-year running back eventually popped in a 1-yard touchdown, his 10th touchdown of the season.

With Lions rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold missing the game because of a groin injury, the Colts found a good deal of success going right at replacement starter Kindle Vildor. Alec Pierce caught a 40-yard pass over Vildor in the second quarter, but a backbreaking drop in the end zone by Colts tight end Alec Ogletree forced Indianapolis to settle for another field goal. Matt Gay's 29-yard kick made it a 7-6 Lions lead with 8:16 left in the second quarter.

On the ensuing Detroit possession, Detroit again got an explosive run on third-and-medium to get in the end zone. Montgomery ran it 13 yards to the Indianapolis 6 on third-and-6 to set up his own 6-yard touchdown (11th of the season) to put Detroit up, 14-6, with 3:34 remaining in the first half.

But Indianapolis got a huge break out of the half, stopping Detroit on fourth-and-1 at the 16-yard line of the Colts. But again, another penalty put Indianapolis behind the eight-ball. A hands-to-the-face penalty started the drive at first-and-18, and even after the Colts overcame it, they had a 30-yard completion to Josh Downs wiped off the board because of offensive pass interference on Pierce.

The Lions lost punt returner and receiver Kalif Raymond for the game due to a foot injury when he took a shot from Tyler Goodson on a punt return in the third quarter. A few plays later, Lions tackle Taylor Decker got rolled up on by Goff during a strip-sack (recovered by the Lions) but returned to the game.

Detroit extended its lead at 2:19 in the third quarter with a 10-yard touchdown drive that culminated with Gibbs' second touchdown of the game, this one from 5 yards out, to make it 21-6, Lions. Gibbs bounced his run outside and beat everyone to the pylon, garnering an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for looking at a defender while semi-spiking the football.

Lions kicker Jake Bates helped ice the game with a 56-yard field goal at 6:21 in the fourth quarter, putting Detroit up three scores, 24-6) and increasing his perfect start on field goals to 16 for 16.

Lions safety Brian Branch drew another personal-foul penalty at 5:59 of the fourth quarter when officials deemed he made helmet-to-helmet contact on Pittman during a hit inbounds near the sideline.

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