Lions vs.Colts preview: Game # 8 ( 2020 )

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PFT’s NFL Week 8 2020 picks


Colts (-3) at Lions

MDS’s take: The Lions have won two in a row, but they haven’t played a defense as good as the Colts. Indianapolis will win a low-scoring game.

MDS’s pick: Colts 17, Lions 13.

Florio’s take: The Colts had two weeks to get ready for a Lions team that lucked its way into a game it shouldn’t have won. If Indy doesn’t win this one, Indy isn’t a real contender.

Florio’s pick: Colts 24, Lions 17.

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The Colts Defense has played well overall this season. However, this is a unit I think the Lions Offense can get the best of. A close game decided late is the most likely outcome. That's how the last two Lions games against the Colts went. Those 2 games weren't decided until no time remained on the clock. The Colts came back to beat the Lions in Detroit in 2012. The Lions beat the Colts on a last second FG in the 2016 season opener at Indianapolis.

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Detroit News predictions: Lions vs. Colts

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The Taylor Decker and Ryan Kelly health situations uncertainties makes this game that much more difficult to gauge.

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Detroit News scouting report: Colts at Lions

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DeForest Buckner is a differential all around interior Defensive Lineman. There's no question on this end that he's the Colts best player. Buckner was a difference maker for the 49ers in their win over the Lions in Game # 2 in 2018. Buckner's presence and play often helps other defenders make plays, even if he doesn't appear on the stat sheet for the play, beyond the snap stat.

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Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts: Dave Birkett's scouting report, prediction.

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Quenton Nelson is the Colts best player on Offensive.

WR Marcus Johnson, who wasn't mentioned in the preview article, is coming off a 5 catch, 108 yard receiving game against the Bengals. Johnson was released by the Colts in early September and was on the Colts Practice Squad until 15 days ago. He's someone the Lions need to pay close attention to.

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Colts' Jonathan Taylor gaining ground in trial-by-fire rookie season

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Jonathan Taylor is having the type of rushing season in which he doesn't have any breakaway long runs. His longest rush is 21 yards. Yet, Taylor has a 4.1 rushing yard avg. This suggests that his median run is better than the median run of most NFL RBs. He is going to provide the Lions a substantial challenge in short yardage type of situations.

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Lions have a tall order facing Colts' 'super strong defense'

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Justin Houston is in his 2nd season with the Colts. His 22 sack season with the Chiefs ( 2014 ) is something he never came close to again. However, he's coming off an 11 sack season and clearly has been a major contributor to their 4-2 start to the season.

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Five things to watch: Lions vs. Colts

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Marvin Jones is much more effective against zone coverage at this stage of his NFL playing career than against man to man coverage. Because the Colts are primarily a zone coverage team, this is a game in which Jones has a good chance of being productive. So much depends on the effectiveness of the Lions running game.

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Lions vs. Colts: Matchups to watch, key questions heading into Week 8 game

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Frank Ragnow vs. DeForest Buckner is indeed a matchup of two great players. It remains to be seen how often they will be matched up in one on one situations in this game?

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Good news regarding the Lions Injury situation.

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Good news for the Colts regarding their injury situation.

My prediction for this game is Lions 23, Colts 20. Another toss up game. The Lions confidence from last week's last second comeback win in Atlanta carries over to today's game.