According to ESPN, the Indianapolis Colts are major underdogs against the Detroit Lions in Week 12. The Lions are currently 9-1 on the season and 5-0 on the road. Their lone loss came in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home in what many believe to be an anomaly. Now, on an eight-game winning streak, the Lions will look to continue to grab another one against a struggling Colts team looking for some stability and consistency.
The Colts came off an impressive come-from-behind victory against the New York Jets on the road last week. However, it was against the Jets, a team that has been struggling and has been the center of dysfunction. This Week 12 matchup will be key for the Colts as it will be one against a Super Bowl contender. Their playoff hopes certainly do not rest on this game, but how they perform could be a real indicator to see if they are for real this season or not. Getting a win this weekend would do wonders for the Colts’ morale and provide momentum moving forward. Here are three keys to a Colts shocker in Week 12.
Three Keys to a Colts Shocking Victory Against the Lions
Connecting with the Array of Talented Receivers
Josh Downs is quickly becoming the Colts’ most efficient receiver in 2024. In nine games, he has 567 yards on 50 receptions. He is tied for most touchdowns with four and leads the team in receptions. Throughout this season, Downs has been the absolute playmaker in the slot. The hope moving forward would be that teams take notice and in turn, free up opportunities down the field to Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce.
Alec Pierce is having a career start to this season and is already on his way to gaining a career best in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. For him, though, it has been the down-the-field connection with Anthony Richardson. Pierce’s longest reception of the season is 65 yards and he currently leads the league in yards per catch with 22.7.
Michael Pittman Jr. has had a slow start to his 2024 season. After signing a big contract extension, it is safe to say that Pittman is under-performing. With only 412 receiving yards, Pittman might have the lowest production numbers since his rookie season. In that year, he only had eight starts. Nonetheless, Pittman is still a reliable playmaker. However, the unfortunate thing is that teams are double-teaming him, and with the surge of Downs and Pierce, Pittman is just getting the short end of the stick. Pittman is due for a breakout game, and for the Colts to keep up with the high-powered Lions, they will need a big game from him.
Laiatu Latu Getting a Breakout Game
Typically, when the first defensive player taken in the draft is a pass rusher, it’s safe to say that player is elite. The Colts drafted Laiatu Latu, the first defensive player taken off the board. Although he is having a slow start to the season in terms of numbers, he has been a disruptor to opposing offensive lines.
Through 11 games, Latu has already accumulated 20 quarterback pressures, which ranks 12th in the league. He registered his third sack on Sunday but is looking for many more. While he might not win Defensive Rookie of the Year, his impact on defense has been felt. The Colts will need a strong game from him against the Lions.
Anthony Richardson Playing Turnover-Free
Entering his second year in the league, Anthony Richardson is on a mission to learn and grow as a quarterback. With that, though, there will be a lot of mistakes. Before getting benched in Week 9, Richardson was among the league leaders in turnovers and was worst in the league in completion percentage. Both of these issues were due to his decision-making and inaccuracy issues. Once the Colts gave Richardson back his starting job, fans saw a new quarterback in Week 12. He minimized the mistakes and completed over 60% of his passes. Primarily, though, he played near-perfect in the fourth quarter, when it mattered most.
The Colts will need a mistake-free game against the Lions. Detroit is third in the league in yards per game. They lead the league in total points and points per game with 33.6. The Colts will have their hands full this weekend, and to stay competitive, the offense must keep up and be mistake-free. For this to happen, Richardson must be smart with the football to give the Colts a chance.
Main Photo: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
