What are the Colts talking about ahead of Sunday's matchup in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium against the Lions? Let's find out:

1. "They are challenging," Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said of facing Detroit's No. 1 scoring offense (33.6 ppg) this week. "They've scored 50 twice. Scored over 40 points two or three times. They can get on a roll and score a lot of points, so it's very challenging that way."

Bradley said that challenge is magnified for his group because of how effective and efficient Detroit is both running and throwing the football. There's not one area defenses can focus on stopping. Bradley said Detroit's offensive line is among the greatest he's ever seen and that's where it starts.

"If they don't score every series, they are upset," Bradley said of the Lions. "Very explosive that way and it's a great challenge for us."

2. Colts second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson is coming off arguably his best performance of his career in a win over the Jets last week in his first start back from being benched. He completed 20-of-30 passes for 272 yards with a touchdown, no interceptions and a 106.5 rating. He also rushed for two touchdowns.

Colts veteran wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. said the big thing now is Richardson taking that kind of performance into the following week and stacking good weeks together.

"I think he is off to a great start with what he did (Sunday)," Pittman said. "It has to start somewhere. He's off to a good start his first week back. I think he put a lot of work in, and I think it showed. I know he's motivated to do everything he can do to put himself in that same position (this week)."

3. Colts head coach Shane Steichen said Sunday's game against the Jets was the most confidence he's seen in Richardson, especially the way he delivered the football to his skill guys from the pocket.

"Builds confidence in him and builds confidence in our whole football team moving forward," he said.

4. Pittman and Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown were college teammates at USC. Pittman said he expects some trash talking back and forth between the two but then thought better of it.

"I just know him. Maybe I won't say anything to him because when he gets going, if you get him mad, that's when he pulls off his full powers. Maybe I'll just wait until after the game," he said with a laugh.

5. Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said his offense is still hunting for more efficiency running the football. The Colts rank 16th in rushing (118.5). They beat the Jets last week but had just 91 rushing yards on 35 rushes (2.6 avg.). He said more consistency and production from the run game will lead to more efficiency overall on offense and more explosiveness. It's a point of emphasis for Indy's offense this week.

6. Bradley compared Detroit's offense to the Kansas City offenses from a few years ago when they had Tyreek Hill and could generate big plays at will, but he said there is one big difference.

"Detroit's run game is the real deal," Bradley said. "They've got two backs that I think are running at an extremely high level. Some say they're the two best backs in the league and they have them both on the same team.

"When you have the challenge of they are a really good run team and then you have the play action max off of it where they can get the big plays off of it. I think that's what makes them so challenging. They are very complete that way."

7. Cooter on Lions safety Kerby Joseph: "He finds the ball and the ball finds him. He's got an incredible nose for it. They do a really good job within their coverages to get guys in position to make plays and they are pretty aggressive with it. They'll take some chances when they can see them. Joseph has done a really nice job.

"He really understands passing concepts from what I can see. He's somebody we have to know where he's at on the field at all times. He's a difference maker for that defense and they are playing really good defensive football overall."