Lions-Colts Burning Questions: What made the difference, and what it showed for the Detroit Lions with big breakdowns and big penalties in a resounding 41-21 loss to the Indianapolis Colts at Ford Field.
Question: What was the difference in a game between two teams that seemed to be fairly evenly matched based on their recent results?
Answer: Results and comparing statistics didn't matter. They meant nothing. The better team won this game. The 21-point margin proved it. So did the eye test. It didn't take a scoreboard to see which was the better team.
While the Lions were wrecking their chances with big misplays and bad penalties, the Colts were winning the battles at every level – from the trenches to the end zones – and taking advantage of the Lions' mistakes to dominate the game.
View photos from Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts Week 8 game at Ford Field on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit
Detroit Lions cornerback Justin Coleman (27) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay (19) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah (30) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions running back Adrian Peterson (28) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater (5) Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand (93) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand (93) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions running back Adrian Peterson (28) Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions running back Kerryon Johnson (33) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions defensive back Tracy Walker (21) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions defensive end Romeo Okwara (95) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions safety Duron Harmon (26) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions cornerback Justin Coleman (27) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions safety Jayron Kearse (42) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Hall (17) during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Question: How much did the turnovers and penalties hurt the Lions?
Answer: The Lions certainly helped them, but the Colts did enough on their own to win.
One penalty -- among many -- that hurt the Lions was on a third-down sack by defensive tackle Danny Shelton in the first half that would have forced the Colts to punt. But Shelton was flagged for a personal foul on the play. The 15-yard penalty gave the Colts a first down. Three plays later they had a touchdown and a 14-7 lead.
There was more to come.
Late in the third quarter, quarterback Matthew Stafford fumbled on a sack. The Colts recovered and converted it into a touchdown early in the fourth quarter that increased their lead to 28-14.
Eight seconds later, the situation went from bad to out of control. On the first play after the ensuing kickoff, Stafford's pass was intercepted by Kenny Moore and returned for a TD and an insurmountable 35-14 lead.
Question: What does it mean that for the third straight season the Lions were beaten and failed to get to .500 after getting their record to 3-3?
Answer: Stafford put it best in his postgame interview.
"You've got to prove yourself every week," he said. "Each week it's a prove yourself week."
Question: What did the Lions prove Sunday?
Answer: They proved – again -- that they can't beat good teams on a consistent basis. And they don't have an advantage playing at home. That was their seventh straight loss at Ford Field.
