The Colts’ drive showed promise early on but quickly faltered as DJ Reader and the Lions’ defense applied relentless pressure. Anthony Richardson attempted two passes under duress but couldn’t connect, forcing Indianapolis to punt.

With just under two minutes left in the first half, Detroit, armed with all three timeouts, began  a drive from their own 10-yard line. However, instead of aggressively pushing for more points, the Lions focused on running down the clock. A third-and-6 attempt to Kalif Raymond fell short, as Jared Goff’s pass was off-target and nearly intercepted. Detroit opted to punt, bringing the first half to a close.

Third Quarter

The Lions looked poised to extend their lead coming out of halftime. A third-and-7 conversion via a swing pass to Jahmyr Gibbs kept the chains moving, followed by a checkdown to David Montgomery that added 16 yards. Goff then connected with Tim Patrick for a 14-yard gain on third-and-4, placing Detroit just outside the red zone.

Detroit decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 deep in Colts territory, but the Indianapolis defense stood strong, denying them a first down.

On the ensuing drive, the Colts targeted Kindle Vildor in coverage. Richardson found Michael Pittman Jr. for a 26-yard gain, escaping a first-and-18 predicament. However, a costly offensive pass interference call and heavy pressure from Alim McNeill pushed Indy back to third-and-20. A draw play failed to gain enough ground, leading to a punt.

On the return, Kalif Raymond suffered a foot injury and had to be carted off. Initially listed as questionable, he was later ruled out for the game.

Detroit’s offense quickly moved into Colts territory with back-to-back completions to Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown for 15 and 12 yards, respectively. Disaster nearly struck when Goff was sacked and fumbled, but Montgomery recovered the ball. During the same play, left tackle Taylor Decker sustained a leg injury and had to leave the field, though he eventually returned. Montgomery wasn’t as fortunate, suffering a shoulder injury that sent him to the locker room for further evaluation.

Despite these setbacks, the Lions found their rhythm again. St. Brown converted a crucial third-and-9, and Gibbs capped off the drive with a five-yard touchdown run—his second of the game—extending the lead to 21-6.

Fourth Quarter

The Colts managed to advance to midfield, thanks in part to Richardson’s legs. However, a holding penalty negated a fourth-down conversion, forcing another punt.

Detroit’s offense stalled on their next possession, unable to capitalize, as a poorly placed pass from Goff on third-and-9 led to yet another punt. The Colts responded with a quick three-and-out, narrowly avoiding a safety after interior pressure nearly brought Richardson down in the end zone.

The Lions and Colts then traded three-and-outs during a stretch that saw Detroit cornerback Carlton Davis leave the game with a leg injury.

Detroit finally broke the offensive lull with a methodical seven-play drive that ended in a 56-yard field goal by Jake Bates, pushing the lead to 24-6 with just over six minutes remaining.

Desperation set in for the Colts as they scrambled to make something happen. A 22-yard completion to Pittman, aided by a personal foul on Detroit’s Brian Branch, moved them into Lions territory. But on fourth down, Amik Robertson delivered a game-sealing stop.

The Lions ran out the clock on their final possession, securing a commanding three-score victory and improving their season outlook.

Detroit’s dominance on both sides of the ball, paired with critical defensive stops, paved the way for their comfortable win. Final score: Lions 24, Colts 6.