Lions flattened by Colts, home-field struggles continue
The Detroit Lions continued their inept play on their own home field
In their previous two outings, the Detroit Lions proved they could beat struggling opposing squads. Mustering any sort of resistance against winning teams and competing on their home turf remain maddening struggles.
Quarterback Philip Rivers threw for three touchdowns and the Indianapolis Colts’ top-ranked defense forced the Lions into several crushing mistakes in a 41 -21 victory at Ford Field on Sunday. The Lions were held to just 29 rushing yards, their lowest total since Week 11 of 2016.
The Lions lost their seventh straight game at home, and have not won in Detroit since Week 8 of 2019 against the New York Giants.
Receiver Marvin Jones scored a 25-yard touchdown reception on the Lions’ second possession to give Detroit a 7-0 lead. The Lions are the only team in the NFL to score first in each of their games this season.
Detroit forced punts on each of the Colts’ first three possessions, but tailback Nyheim Hines took a screen pass from Rivers 22 yards to tie the score at seven early in the second quarter.
A sack forced the Colts out of field goal range on their next series, but an unsportsmanlike penalty by Lions defensive tackle Danny Shelton gave Indianapolis a new set of downs. They capitalized, as tight end Jack Doyle found the end zone three plays later to give the Colts a 14-7 lead.
But they weren’t done there, as another long Hines score helped put the Colts up 20-7 at halftime. The Lions totaled just 80 yards of offense in the first half.
The Lions put together an eight-play scoring drive to open the second half, capped by a 9-yard catch-and-run touchdown by tailback Kerryon Johnson to pull within six points.
But a touchdown by Colts running back Jordan Wilkins and a pick-six of Lions starter Matthew Stafford by cornerback Kenny Moore in the span of 15 seconds in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach.
Stafford finished 24 of 42 for 336 yards, three scores, and an interception. He was sacked five times. Receiver Kenny Golladay left with a hip injury and did not return for the Lions. He was held without a reception for the first time in his career.
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The Detroit Lions travel to face the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium next Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1:00 p.m. EDT.