COLTS INSIDER 2020 CNHI SPORTS INDIANA WEEK 8 THIS WEEK STATISTICS THROUGH 6 GAMES PASSING ATT COM PCT YDS TD INT Rivers 198 138 69.7 1,598 7 6 TEAM 202 140 69.3 1,615 7 6 Indianapolis Colts OPP. 194 120 61.9 1,281 7 10 at Detroit Lions RUSHING Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS) NO. YDS AVG LONG TD Taylor 89.367 4.1 21 3 Wilkins 29 94 3.2 22 0 Hines 26 81 3.1 12 1 TEAM 164 588 3.6 22 5 SCHEDULE OPP. 151 530 3.5 28 4 RECEIVING NO. YDS AVG LONG TD Sept. 13 Hilton 20 242 12.1 28 0 Jaguars 27, Colts 20 Pascal 16 198 12.4 36 2 Alie-Cox 11 194 17.6 45 2 Johnson 9 188 20.9 55 0 Sept. 20 Taylor 16 162 10.1 35 0 Colts 28, Vikings 11 TEAM 140 1,615 11.5 55 7 OPP. 120 1,198 10.0 67 7 INTERCEPTIONS Sept. 27 NO. YDS AVG LONG TD Colts 36, Jets 7 Carrie 2 47 23.5 47 1 Rhodes 2 44 22.0 44 1 Blackmon 2 19 9.5 15 0 Oct. 4 Willis 1 43 43.0 43 0 Colts 19, Bears 11 TEAM 10 187 18.7 47 2 OPP. 6 89 14.8 47 1 Oct. 11 SACKS Houston...... 3.5 Browns 32, Colts 23 Buckner ...... 2.5 Autry ...... 2 Oct. 18 TEAM ...... 13 OPP...... 6 Colts 31, Bengals 27 Zach Bolinger | Associated Press TACKLES SOLO ASST COMB Nov. 1 at Lions Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner runs onto the fi eld before a game against the Walker 32 7 39 1 p.m., CBS Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 18 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Okereke 25 8 33 Willis 23 7 30 Buckner 17 11 28 Nov. 8 vs. Ravens TEAM 262 93 355 1 p.m., CBS OPP. 262 83 345 PUNT RETURNS RET FC YDS AVG TD Nov. 12 at Titans Hines 12 4 118 9.8 0 8:20 p.m., FOX ‘Something to prove’ TEAM 13 5 130 10.0 0 OPP. 6 4 35 5.8 0 Nov. 22 vs. Packers SCORING RUSH REC RET TD FG XP PTS 1 p.m., Fox Rising DT Buckner, Colts prepare for tough stretch with showdown at Detroit Blankenship 0 0 0 0 16 15 63 Taylor 3 0 0 3 0 0 18 Nov. 28 vs. Titans GEORGE BREMER changer when he traded the 13th He’s completing 62.3% of his passes Burton 1 1 0 2 0 0 12 CNHI SPORTS INDIANA Hines 1 1 0 2 0 0 12 1 p.m., CBS overall pick to San Francisco in — his lowest rate since 2014 — and TEAM 5 7 3 15 16 15 157 March and welcomed the new three- his 263.3 passing yards per game are OPP. 4 7 1 12 10 9 115 Dec. 6 at Texans INDIANAPOLIS — The play is technique with a four-year, $84 his second-lowest average since 2010. 1 p.m., CBS nearly six weeks old, but it’s still gen- million contract. That’s reflected in the Lions erating buzz. Buckner has delivered. He’s tied for entering the week with the league’s Dec. 13 at Raiders Minnesota Vikings guard Dru the team lead with four tackles for 20th-ranked passing game and the WHO’S HOT 4:05 p.m., CBS Samia was making his first career loss, second with 2.5 sacks and first 23rd-ranked total offense. start at Lucas Oil Stadium, and with 13 quarterback hits But Stafford is coming off a big Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle He has 28 tackles — a borderline game in a come-from-behind victory Dec. 20 vs. Texans DeForest Buckner gave him a rude absurd total for an interior defensive against the Atlanta Falcons (25-of-36 TBD, TBD welcome — tossing the 6-foot-5, lineman that speaks to his agility and for 340 yards and one touchdown), 308-pounder aside with one arm en motor — including 17 solo stops. And and Detroit is looking for its first Dec. 27 at Steelers route to a hit on quarterback Kirk he’s responsible for one of the team’s three-game winning streak under 1 p.m., CBS Cousins. two safeties. head coach Matt Patricia. Linebacker Darius Leonard said The Colts (4-2) hope that impact Indianapolis’ defense has struggled Jan. 3 vs. Jaguars days later the play was a hit in the continues Sunday when they visit the in the first half in each of its past two 1 p.m., CBS defensive film room and offered one Detroit Lions (3-3) in the first game games, but the Colts still rank second of the best quotes of the season. back from the bye week. in yards surrendered and fourth in “He killed a guy like he didn’t even Lions quarterback Matthew Staf- points allowed. have a family in the stands,” Leonard ford is arguably the best passer the “No guy on this defense is wor- STANDINGS said. team has faced to this point in the ried about stats and rankings,” Marcus Johnson, wide receiver AFC South Fellow defensive tackle Sheldon season, and he should provide a cornerback Kenny Moore II said. The veteran receiver is W L T PCT. Day — who played alongside Buck- strong warm up act as Indianapolis “That’s a pretty good outlook, com- developing into a consistent Tennessee 5 1 0 .833 ner for three seasons with the San enters the teeth of its schedule. ing out of each game ranked as one deep threat. He’s averaging Francisco 49ers prior to reuniting Following this week, the Colts will of the best, but that’s not our main 20.9 yards per reception Indianapolis 4 2 0 .667 with him in Indianapolis this spring host the Baltimore Ravens before focus. We just want to be the best and has eight catches for Houston 1 6 0 .143 — was less colorful but just as effusive travelling to face the Tennessee we can be each play, each down, 161 yards over the past two Jacksonville 1 6 0 .143 in his praise this week. Titans on a Thursday night. They’ll each series.” weeks. Comparing the player he’s seen return home Nov. 22 against the Buckner was imported to help through six games with the Colts to Green Bay Packers and finish the make sure that happens, and the the one he played with in the Bay month by hosting the Titans in a defense needs him at his best for the WHO’S NOT BIG NUMBER Area, Day noted a sharper focus. rematch just 17 days after their first coming gauntlet. “I think he’s more determined and meeting. Day — an Indianapolis native and more, I guess, on key with things,” All three of those teams are early two-time captain at Notre Dame — Day said. “Just for example, the move season Super Bowl contenders, and doesn’t see that as a problem. that he hit against the Vikings guard, Indianapolis’ ability to handle that He sees Buckner as a man on a I’ve never seen that before. I see him stretch will go a long way toward pro- mission who could take the entire 22:39:39 trying to really assert his dominance jecting its own playoff chances. defense along for the ride with him. Time remaining when the to show why he’s one of the best But the Colts can’t risk looking past “I think he just feels like he has Colts scored the first of d-tackles in the game. Detroit. something to prove,” Day said. “I feel two touchdowns late in the “So I would say he’s at a different The 32-year-old Stafford — like a lot of people don’t respect him fourth quarter to stun the clip, and I’m excited to see when he selected with the No. 1 overall pick in as much as he needs to be. He’s one Lions 35-33 during their most hits his stride and how we’re coming 2009 — remains dangerous if given of the most dominant d-tackles in T.Y. Hilton, wide receiver recent visit to Detroit in 2012. back off a bye week, how he continues time in the pocket. But the Lions have the game, and he’s sometimes forgot Andrew Luck threw a 42-yard to grow.” allowed him to be sacked 14 times about. … So I know that he’s trying Through six games, Hilton touchdown pass to LaVon Indianapolis general manager through the first six games, and it to really fortify his name in the top is averaging just 12.1 yards Brazill for the first touchdown Chris Ballard expected a game appears to be taking a toll. d-tackles in the league.” per reception — the second- and tossed a 14-yard strike lowest total of his career to Donnie Avery for the win as — and has yet to score a time expired. touchdown. He had just one INSIDE THE GAME WITH CNHI SPORTS: Colts writer George Bremer joins CNHI Sports writers catch for 11 yards against from across the country for a new sports show available on our website at heraldbulletin.com. Cincinnati.

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