2020 Season Preview: Week 8 Lions vs. Colts
The halfway point of the 2020 NFL season will set the stage for a Week 8 clash between the Colts and Lions at Ford Field.
The 2019 campaign was a tale of two seasons for both Detroit and Indianapolis.
Both teams were thrown off course early on by quarterback injuries, and they each never truly found their way back on track.
The NFL spotlight shined brightly on the Colts after star quarterback Andrew Luck’s surprising retirement announcement that came just a few weeks before he turned 30.
Luck’s backup and his replacement for the majority of 2019 was Jacoby Brissett.
The 27-year-old QB got off to an impressive 5-2 start before suffering a sprained MCL in Week 9.
After Week 7, Colts head coach Frank Reich watched his team evaporate offensively and finish with a 2-7 record over its final nine games.
Detroit’s story wasn’t written very differently from Indy’s -- a 3-4-1 mark behind a record-setting start from franchise passer Matthew Stafford before he went down at the halfway point with a back ailment.
Anntaninna Biondo, Detroit Free Press
Detroit finished 0-8 behind reserve quarterbacks Jeff Driskel and David Blough and a defense that allowed 400.4 yards per game (31st in the NFL).
Colts (2019: 7-9; third in AFC South)
Key Additions
QB Philip Rivers (via free agency)
CB Xavier Rhodes (via free agency)
DT DeForest Buckner (via free agency)
DT Shelton Day (via free agency)
RB Jonathan Taylor (via 2020 draft)
WR Michael Pittman (via 2020 draft)
Key Losses
TE Eric Ebron
WR Devin Funchess
QB Brian Hoyer
OT Joe Haeg
The most notable acquisition on the list of key additions is 38-year-old veteran QB Philip Rivers, who opted to move on from the Chargers this offseason.
Brissett struggled upon returning in the second half of 2019, completing just 56.4 percent of his passes.
Reinhold Matay, USA TODAY Sports
In comes Rivers, whose longevity is something to be admired. But, he isn’t done just yet.
His 17th season will be his first in a uniform other than a Chargers one.
He’ll have a top target in T.Y. Hilton and a balanced ground game behind him.
The addition of DeForest Buckner is one that shouldn’t go without mentioning.
He’ll add to a Colts defensive line that racked up 41 sacks a season ago, but also fill an area of need on the interior.
Three-time Pro Bowler Xavier Rhodes is also an ideal piece for a secondary that struggled to avoid giving up the big play during the Colts' late-season slide in 2019.
Lions (2019: 3-12-1; last in NFC North)
Key Additions
CB Jeff Okudah (2020 first-round pick)
RB D'Andre Swift (2020 second-round pick)
LB Jamie Collins (via free agency)
S Duron Harmon (via trade)
NT Danny Shelton (via free agency)
CB Desmond Trufant (via free agency)
Key Losses
NT Damon "Snacks" Harrison
RT Rick Wagner
LB Devon Kennard
RG Graham Glasgow
CB Darius Slay
Admirably, the Lions' offseason included GM Bob Quinn attempting to fill areas of need based on the team's performance in 2019.
The organization promptly made the move to draft Jeff Okudah at No. 3 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The selection coincided with the hiring of new defensive coordinator Cory Undlin, who is a former defensive backs coach.
He wasn’t drafted traded for or signed, but simply getting a healthy Stafford back in the fold should help the offense immensely.
There’s an ample amount of excitement around the offense -- and rightfully so. But, a defense that allowed a little over 400 yards per game last season is still in question heading into 2020.
What Happened Last Season
The Lions and Colts haven’t collided with one another since 2016, when Detroit defeated Indy in a high-scoring 39-35 affair.
As we mentioned, both teams had similar stories to tell in how they started and ended last season.
Both will hope that injuries don’t hinder the quarterback spot again this upcoming season.
And by Week 8, we should have an idea of where both stand in their respective conferences.
The Colts finished two games below .500 in 2019, and the Lions finished nine games below.
But, both sides appear to be destined for improvement in 2020.
Related
Detroit Lions 2020 Training Camp Primer
4 Signs of Progress Needed from the Lions in 2020
SI Lions Roundtable: Excitement Level for Detroit Lions' Training Camp
Detroit Lions Rated 30th in "Madden 21"
