Another Detroit Lions game packed with injuries leaves a pit in your stomach
INDIANAPOLIS — On the surface, it felt so routine, so ordinary.
Once again, the Detroit Lions fell behind early — actually for the fifth time on the road this season — and then rolled to a dominating 24-6 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
Once again, Lions fans took over a stadium on the road, making Lucas Oil Stadium feel like Ford Field — as the Lions won their ninth game in a row, their best streak since opening 1934 (their first season in Detroit) 10-0.
And once again, the Lions defense was simply extraordinary — they’ve now gone 11 quarters without giving up a touchdown.
But this wasn’t routine.
The score looked like another easy blowout.
But it wasn’t.
And just under the surface, there were so many injuries that it would be understandable if a Lions fan just wanted this game to end.
Kalif Raymond was injured on a punt, cornerback Carlton Davis III had to limp off after what appeared to be a non-contact knee injury and running back David Montgomery was also injured and went to the locker room (though he later returned to the sideline.
Ugh.
Just make this game end.
Creativity and surprise
A word here about the game itself.
This was a win built on creativity and surprise in the play-calling.
Third-and-8 from the Indy 31?
That screams pass, right?
And that’s clearly what Indianapolis was expecting, because the Colts linebackers bailed, just like the Lions expected. Instead, the Lions ran up the gut, and Jahmyr Gibbs picked up 17. Four plays later, Gibbs scored on a pretty play — Jameson Williams ran in motion to the right and Gibbs ran to the left, completely untouched.
Touchdown.
Start the celebration.
All because they ran on third-and-long.
Then, it happened again.
Late in the second quarter, the Lions had third-and-6 on the 19.
You pass, right?
Not these Lions.
They gave the ball to Montgomery, who had a nice hole — give the line credit for the opening.
But after the initial burst, it was all about effort and strength and guts, as Montgomery ripped off 13 yards, dragging three Colts on his back.
First down.
Two plays later, Montgomery scored, and the Lions had a 14-6 lead.
Because of the creativity and surprise.
Meanwhile, the Colts kept hurting themselves.
If it wasn’t an Anthony Richardson bad throw (and there were a bunch), it was a dropped touchdown pass or bringing back a huge play because of a penalty.
In some ways, the juxtaposition of the two teams showed how clean the Lions were playing.
Some things do feel the same
There was one thing that did feel familiar.
The way Lions fans took over this stadium. It might have been half Lions fans.
When the Lions ran out, the crowd — in Indy — erupted in joy.
“Let’s go, Lions!” they chanted.
During the coin flip, the crowd was overwhelming: “Ja-red Goff! Ja-red Goff!”
But there were some kinda crazy moments.
Like the time Za’Darius Smith was waving for the Lions crowd to get louder before a big play.
In Indianapolis.
That, folks, is simply not normal.
No matter how many times you see it.
And it was not normal when Jake Bates kicked a 56-yard field goal — iving the Lions a 24-6 lead in the fourth quarter — and the crowd erupted in cheers.
Again, in Indianapolis.
Weird.
In the end, it was a game the Lions won.
But all the injuries – to vital players – left a strange feeling.
This wasn’t a win that left you feeling elation.
It left nothing but a pit in your stomach after all the injuries.
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff. To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel.
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff. To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel.