It’s up to Shane Steichen and his Indianapolis Colts staff this week to figure out ways to neutralize the steamrolling Detroit Lions.
The Lions head into Indiana on Sunday with an eight-game winning streak, their longest since their first season in Detroit in 1934. They carved up Jacksonville 52-6, while scoring touchdowns on their first seven possessions last week.
“They’re tough on all three phases, and it shows,” Steichen said. “It definitely shows. All those guys are flying around, making plays. They’re having fun doing it.”
Led by Jared Goff, Detroit (9-1) leads the NFL in points scored (33.6 per game) and point differential (plus-159) this season. Goff bounced back from a five-interception outing in Houston by throwing for 412 yards and four touchdowns against the hapless Jaguars.
Top target Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 11 passes for a season-high 161 yards and two touchdowns. St. Brown has a receiving touchdown in eight straight games.
And the running back duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs has combined to rush for almost 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns. The powerful Montgomery has found the end zone 10 times, including twice against Jacksonville.
“He’s a throwback. There are throwback principles about him, and I mean that with all due respect,” head coach Dan Campbell said. “His running style is — it’s rare. David is just different, and he’s downhill, doesn’t give up, first guy, he’s not going to let him tackle him, continues to churn his legs, and just violent, violent, never give up, never going down.”
The lightning-quick Gibbs is averaging 6.0 yards per carry and has eight rushing touchdowns. His one reception last week went for 54 yards.
“To me, they’re the perfect combination,” Campbell said.
Indianapolis is scoring just 21.5 points per game and has reached the 30-point mark only one time, in a 37-34 loss at Jacksonville. The Colts rallied to beat the New York Jets last week in the return of super-sized quarterback Anthony Richardson.
But Detroit isn’t just any opponent. The Lions established a new franchise record for points in a six-game stretch last week with 232.
“Their offense is super-powered, so we’re going to have to do our part, and we’re excited for it,” receiver Michael Pittman said.
The Colts (5-6) reinstated Richardson in the lineup and snapped a three-game losing streak. In the 28-27 victory, Richardson passed for one touchdown and ran for two more, including the go-ahead score with 46 seconds left.
“Very encouraged,” Steichen said of Richardson’s outing. “I think when you go through a three-game stretch like we had and you go on the road and get a win, and winning in the two-minute drive, you get some momentum — the confidence. Obviously, coming back at home, we’ve got to continue that momentum and carry that confidence into this week. We’re looking forward to it.”
Richardson wasn’t picked off in 30 attempts, though he fumbled twice and the Jets recovered one of them. He has fumbled eight times this season and lost three of them.
They’ll be facing a much tougher opponent this week, though one of the Lions’ top defenders, linebacker Alex Anzalone, sustained a broken forearm on Sunday and was placed on injured reserve.
“Just seeing the toughness from our team. We’re definitely trying to carry that over because we know we’re getting ready to play a physical team,” Richardson said. “So, they’re going to bring it to us. We got to bring it to them. But just trusting my guys each and every play, like I did in that fourth quarter, and just trust in my ability. I feel like I’m a decent football player, and I like to make plays out there.”
Detroit tight end Sam LaPorta missed Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury but could return this week. He was listed as a full participant in Wednesday’s walk-through.
The Colts listed only offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann (knee) as a non-participant in their walk-through on Wednesday.
