Tale of the tape

Week 13: Indianapolis Colts At Detroit Lions

Colts

Lions

Andrew Luck is a gunslinger in his first year as an NFL quarterback. While he was well-known for his physical tools coming into the season – arm strength, quick release, intelligence and athleticism – he plays the game like a 10-year veteran. He refuses to take safe throws. He looks for the window and throws the ball downfield.	Quarterback	Matthew Stafford has no trouble accumulating passing yards. However, he does have a problem stringing wins together. The Lions believe that when Stafford has time to survey the field, he will deliver an accurate pass to his receivers. However, he has nearly as many interceptions (10) as touchdowns (12) and he is surrounded by inconsistent players and coaches.
The Colts get just enough from their running game to take some much needed pressure off of Luck. Vick Ballard and Donald Brown are not a stellar 1-2 punch, but they can grind out key first downs when the Colts need them. Reggie Wayne is having a renaissance year and could be an All-Pro by the end of the season. T.Y. Hilton has the speed to become a gamebreaker.	Offense	The Lions want to beat you with big plays. If they are forced to drive the field with eight or more plays, they are going to have a difficult time avoiding mistakes. Calvin Johnson once again has big numbers in terms of receptions and yardage (73 for 1,257), but he only has four touchdowns. Brandon Pettigrew can get open and make solid plays from the tight end position.
The Colts are not an elite defense by any stretch, but they hit hard and maintain their aggressiveness for 60 minutes. Part of that comes from the relentless attitude that cancer-battling coach Chuck Pagano brought with him from Baltimore. Inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman is not a star but he leads the Colts with 101 tackles. Speedy defensive end Robert Mathis (7.0 sacks) is a pass rushing force.	Defense	The Lions will punish opponents and have been solid statistically, but a lack of discipline often causes problems. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is one of the most feared interior linemen in the league and he is also one of the dirtiest. The Lions hit hard, but they miss a lot of tackles and fail to come up with big stops when they need them.
Adam Vinatieri may not be automatic kicker he was earlier in his career, but he is still very productive when the game is on the line. He made both of his field goal attempts in the Week 12 win over the Bills. Hilton had a 75-yard punt return for a score against Buffalo that set the tone for the Colts.	Special Teams	The Lions have struggled with their coverage teams all year. They could have a very difficult time containing the explosive Hilton. Placekicker Jason Hanson has made 21-of-24 FG attempts this season and Nick Harris excels at killing the ball inside the 10.

The winner is

Colts

4 out of 4

On paper, there is little comparison between these two teams. The Lions have significantly more physical talent. However, the confidence and the direction surrounding the Colts is quite positive, while the Lions always wonder what will go wrong next. Detroit has made mistakes throughout the year and it likely continues here.

More Tales of the tape

NCAA Championship Game: #1 Louisville Vs. #4 Michigan
Rick Pitino has been here before, after making his 7th Final Four appearance, he’s now in his third go-round in the title game. He’s got plenty of experience on the big stage and he has the Cardinals playing high level basketball at the right time.
Super Bowl Halftime Show Vs. Neil Diamond: Who Takes The Trophy For Better Entertainment?
For years, both Neil Diamond and the Super Bowl Halftime show have been giving us, let’s say, mild overproduction (read: glitzy, flashy, and potentially unnecessary). So who’s got the edge between these two cheesy industry mainstays?
Harbaughs Vs. Baldwins: Which Pair Of Siblings Stand Out?
Harbaughs vs. Baldwins? Wow. What a battle! Let’s dig deep to see which pair of brothers has the upper hand.

See all Tales of the Tape

Listen Live!

TV Schedule

	Full Program Grid
7:00 PM	CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley
7:30 PM	omg! Insider
8:00 PM	The American Baking Competition
9:00 PM	Criminal Minds
10:00 PM	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
11:00 PM	KDKA-TV News at 11
11:35 PM	Late Show with David Letterman