Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) hits Indianapolis Colts safety Julian Blackmon (32) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. ) apart. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions spent three months scoring at a historic rate.
Now that the weather outside has changed, they’re winning at old-fashioned football, too.
Jahmil Gibbs rushed for two scores, David Montgomery added a third TD run, and Detroit’s increasingly stingy defense kept the Indianapolis Colts from the end zone Sunday, holding the Lions 24-6. He led them to nine consecutive wins.
“This is 10 quarters of not allowing a touchdown, whatever, and the last three games of the second half not allowing a touchdown.” Coach Dan Campbell said: “We always talk about that: limiting the points, playing a physical style, stopping the run. We were able to do that.”
They’ve been doing it all season with their best record in decades, and they’ve been even more effective lately, and it’s showing.
The Lions improved to 10-1 for the first time since 1934, their first season in the Motor City. They hold the league’s longest active winning streak, going 6-0 on the road this season.
The Lions have scored dozens of points all season, but Campbell’s preference for physical football means they can win with a combination of ball-control offense and rising defense, which is what led them to this win. led to.
Gibbs gained 90 yards on 21 carries and Goff was 26-of-36 for 269 yards and no touchdowns. And for the third consecutive week, all against AFC South opponents, the Lions were shut out in the second half.
“If we can win on the road, we’re usually a pretty good team.” Campbell said. “And we can win on the road.”
The Colts (5-7) have lost their second straight home game and fourth loss in their last five games.
Anthony Richardson had another eventful game, going 11-of-28 for 172 yards and rushing 10 times for 61 yards. However, Indy’s inability to finish the drive with a touchdown once again hurt the team.
This flaw was evident from the beginning when, on the first series of the game, Richardson brought the Colts inside the Lions’ 5-yard line and settled for a short field goal when he was unable to drive the ball home.
“We have to take advantage of the opportunity.” Colts coach Shane Steichen said. “In this league, inches and yards matter, and we have to take advantage of those opportunities. We had some issues in the red zone, so we have to watch the tape and clean up.”
Detroit made Indy pay for its offensive mistakes.
On the Lions’ second series, Gibbs’ 1-yard TD run made it 7-3 early in the second quarter, and after Indy made a short field goal, Montgomery spun across the goal line for a 6-yard TD and a 14-yard run. Ta. -6 leads.
Detroit’s defense made sure that was all the scoring power it needed.
“Those players, we’ve been together for a long time and they know exactly what we want.” Campbell said. “We have an identity about ourselves. We know the important factors involved in winning, and they take that seriously.”
Gibbs’ 5-yard TD run late in the third quarter gave Detroit a 21-6 lead, and a 56-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter sealed the game. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught six passes for 62 yards in Detroit, and Michael Pittman Jr. caught six passes for 62 yards in Indy despite leaving the field in the first half with a shoulder injury. He caught it for 96 yards.
milestone
Gibbs’ first score extended Detroit’s league record to 25 consecutive TD runs, including playoffs. He also becomes the third Lions player to reach 1,000 scrimmage yards and 10 TDs in each of his first two professional seasons in Detroit, joining Billy Sims and Barry Sanders. Gibbs and Montgomery have each scored at least one TD in the same game nine times.
injury
Lions: Things went from bad to worse during a chaotic third quarter. Receiver/punt returner Kalife Raymond (foot), left tackle Taylor Decker (right foot), and Montgomery (shoulder) all left the game one after another. Raymond and Montgomery never returned. Decker did.
CB Carlton Davis II left the game early in the fourth inning with what appeared to be a knee injury.
