Red-zone defense: Detroit entered the game No. 3 in the NFL in red-zone defense, allowing a touchdown just 42.9 percent of the time this season. They improved that number by holding the Colts to 0-2 Sunday in a 24-6 win. The Lions do a great job shutting down the run in the red zone and that's where everything starts for them. Lions head coach Dan Campbell said defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn puts a lot of detail into red zone situations during the week. It's certainly showing.
New era: Sunday's win marked the 22nd for the Lions over the last two seasons, the most wins in any two-season span in franchise history, and they still have six games remaining in the regular season. It's the first time the Lions have won 10 games in back-to-back seasons in franchise history.
Picking up the slack: Detroit played their first game without linebacker Alex Anzalone in Indy, and they knew going in they'd need fellow linebackers Jack Campbell and Malcolm Rodriguez to help fill the void. Campbell finished with eight tackles and two passes defended. It's his eighth straight game with seven or more tackles this season. Rodriguez also notched eight tackles as the Lions shut an opponent out of the end zone for the second straight contest.
No fly zone: Detroit has not allowed multiple touchdown passes in any game this season, which is a pretty wild statistic when you think about today's NFL. Give GM Brad Holmes a ton of credit for adding key players to this secondary and for Campbell and his staff for developing them into a cohesive unit.
Limited sleep: Thanksgiving in Detroit means it's a short week and a quick turnaround with the Bears coming to town Thursday. Lions quarterback Jared Goff said he'll start watching tape Sunday night on the Bears and the coaches will already have a game plan Monday morning when the players arrive at the Meijer Performance Center. Be a little extra nice to a Lions coach if you see them over the next couple days. They are running on little sleep.
Perfect start: Kicker Jake Bates has now made each of the first 16 field goal attempts of his career, which ties for the fifth- ongest streak to begin a career in NFL history. He has now made two field goals of 56-or-more yards, which is already tied with Jason Hanson for the second most in Lions history.
Running identity: Detroit rushed for 137 yards and three touchdowns against the Colts, marking the 11th time this season they've rushed for at least 100 yards and a touchdown. Detroit's rushed for a touchdown in 22 straight games dating back to last season, the third longest streak in NFL history.
NFC North: Minnesota survived Chicago in overtime and the Packers beat an undermanned 49ers squad in Green Bay. That keeps things pretty tight atop the NFC North with Detroit (10-1), Minnesota (9-2) and Green Bay (8-3) all within striking distance for the division title. It should be a great six-game finish over the next month and a half.
