Colts fall to bulletproof Lions 24-6 as mistakes doom offense

Indianapolis (5-7) had 98 yards of offense negated due to costly penalties. There was a dropped pass at the goal line by backup tight end Drew Ogletree and a 40-plus-yard incompletion because backup receiver Ashton Dulin forgot to get both of his feet in bounds after making an improbable catch. 

The Indianapolis Colts never reached the end zone in Sunday’s 24-6 loss to the Detroit Lions, who extended their win streak to a league-high nine straight games.

Who expected to win this game? With three rookies starting on the offensive line, miscues were emanate and inevitable. Indianapolis (5-7) had 98 yards of offense negated due to costly penalties. There was a dropped pass at the goal line by backup tight end Drew Ogletree and a 40-plus-yard incompletion because backup receiver Ashton Dulin forgot to get both of his feet in bounds after making an improbable catch.

It took the Colts just three plays to enter Lions territory on the opening drive. Colts second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson showcased his bell cow skill set after taking a keeper up the middle to set up at midfield, then ran the same play five plays later for a 17-yard gain to breach the red zone. The offense got as close as the four-yard line before stalling out and setting up Matt Gay for a 27-yard field goal to give the Colts their only lead.

Detroit (10-1) retaliated on the final play of the opening frame as quarterback Jared Goff escaped the pocket and delivered a throw on the run to receiver Tim Patrick for 27 yards. Facing third-and-8, Goff went under center and fed running back Jahmyr Gibbs for a 17-yard run to reach the red zone. Following an awful unnecessary roughness penalty on cornerback Jaylon Jones, which gifted the Lions first-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Gibbs bounced left to score his tenth touchdown this season. The Lions extended their streak to 25 consecutive games with a rushing TD, including the playoffs, which is an NFL record.

Richardson completed three consecutive passes on the Colts third drive, connecting with receiver Alec Pierce up the sideline for an explosive 40-yard gain. The Colts stalled out once again inside the red zone as tight end Drew Ogletree dropped what should have been a sure touchdown at the goal line. Gay chipped in a 29-yard FG to cut the deficit to 7-6 midway through the second quarter. Richardson completed 11-of-28 passes for 172 passing yards and led the Colts with 61 rushing yards on 10 carries. Indianapolis failed to finish a single drive inside the blue turf, punted six times and went just 3-for-12 on third down.

Indianapolis’ defense played their tails off against Detroit’s juggernaut offense. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner bull-rushed past Lions guard Kevin Zeitler and sacked Goff to halt the Lions first possession. Linebacker Grant Stuard stuffed Montgomery on fourth down inside the red zone to terminate the Lions first drive of the second half. Rookie pass rusher Laiatu Latu strip-sacked Goff for his fourth career sack.

On Detroit’s third drive, head coach Dan Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson dialed up play action on three consecutive plays to march downfield. Goff hit receiver Jameson Williams over the middle for 21 yards to set up just outside the red zone. Facing third-and-6, running back David Montgomery broke three tackles and bullied his way for 13 yards to set up the offense with first-and-goal. Two plays later, Montgomery plowed through Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin and Jones before twisting his way into the end zone to extend the Lions lead to 14-6.

Detroit controlled the game clock and held possession for over 37 minutes as Goff continued to attack the Colts defense between the hash marks. Goff ignited the Lions fifth drive with a designed screen to Williams for 15 yards, followed by a completion to All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown on an out route near the sideline for 12 yards. Goff faked the hand-off and a reverse before throwing a check down to Montgomery. The Lions power tailback surged forward and bounced off defenders like a pinball for 15 yards before suffering a shoulder injury which ultimately took him out of the game. Facing third-and-goal, Gibbs bounced outside for his second rushing TD to seal the road win.

Indianapolis has lost four of its last five games, including consecutive defeats at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts enter must-win territory down the home stretch and visit the New England Patriots (3-9) next Sunday.