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

    Vaseline Posted on

    Indianapolis – Entering a divisional game on Thanksgiving Day, the Detroit Lions did a lot of celebrating.

    That continued Sunday in Indianapolis, as Detroit entertained a large contingent of Lions fans at Lucas Oil Stadium and slowly but surely swallowed the Indianapolis Colts, 24-6, to improve to 10-1 – the Lions’ best start since 1934 – ahead of the annual Turkey Day festivities at Ford Field.

    The Lions took advantage of the Colts’ self-inflicted wounds throughout the game and put their foot on the gas in the second half, scoring 17 unanswered points to run away with the win. Detroit hasn’t 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 into the end zone.

    Although the two teams were nearly tied in almost every key statistic at halftime, the Colts’ penalties and drop passes were the difference between a tie and a 14-6 Lions lead. Ultimately, the Colts (5-7) had four plays of 19 yards or more negated by penalties (and 10 total penalties), including a 20-yard completion to Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. which was cleared by a holding flag.

    ▶ Box score: Lions 24, Foals 6

    The game was not without 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 leave due to a left knee injury. Offensive tackle Taylor Decker briefly left the game after being rolled up during a strip sack, but ended 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 with 269 yards. Jahmyr Gibbs scored twice but was uncharacteristically inefficient outside 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 ineffective most of the afternoon. He finished 11-of-28 passing, passing for 172 yards 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 due to an ineligible man on the field penalty, and the Lions were able to force a 27-yard field goal by Matt Gay, resulting in a 3- 0 Colts lead. at 8:53 in the first.

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

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

    With Lions rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold missing the game due to a groin injury, the Colts found great success with replacement starter Kindle Vildor. Alec Pierce caught a 40-yard pass over Vildor in the second quarter, but a backbreaking fall in the end zone by Colts tight end Alec Ogletree forced Indianapolis to settle for another field goal. Matt Gay’s 29-yard kick gave the Lions a 7-6 lead with 8:16 left in the second quarter.

    On the ensuing Detroit possession, Detroit got another explosive run on third and center to get into the end zone. Montgomery ran 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 ahead 14-6 with 3:34 left in the first half.

    But Indianapolis got a huge break in the half, stopping Detroit on fourth-and-1 at the Colts’ 16-yard line. But once again, another penalty put Indianapolis behind the eight ball. A hands-to-the-face penalty started the drive on first-and-18, and even after the Colts overcame it, they had a 30-yard completion before Josh Downs was wiped off the board for 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 Taylor Decker was rolled up by Goff on a strip sack (recovered by the Lions), but returned to the game.

    Detroit extended its lead 2:19 into 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 out with his run and beat everyone to the pylon, earning an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for looking at a defender while half-peaking the football.

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

    Lions safety Brian Branch was assessed another personal foul penalty at 5:59 of the fourth quarter, when officials thought he made helmet-to-helmet contact with Pittman on a hit that went in down the sideline.

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