The Detroit Lions (3-13, 11-6 ATS, 7-10 O/U) collide with the Indianapolis Colts (9-8, 10-7 ATS, 8-9 O/U) in a week two preseason battle on Saturday. The Lions went 0-3 in last year’s preseason and lost to the Falcons in their opener last week. The Colts recorded a 3-0 preseason mark in 2021 and fell to the Bills in this year’s opener. Indy posted a 27-17 win against Detroit in last season's preseason bout.
The Detroit Lions enter another rebuilding season. They have now lost four consecutive preseason games. They were 1.5-point favorites in a 27-23 home defeat to the Falcons last week. The Lions gave playing time to many key starters last week including #1 QB Jared Goff. The veteran QB collected 3245 passing yards with a 19:8 TD to INT ratio last year.
Detroit has poor options behind Goff. Tim Boyle and David Blough are battling for the backup spot. They each played last Thursday. Blough had the most action, recording 141 passing yards while Boyle amassed 111 yards with one TD and one pick.
Detroit has some depth at RB. D’Andre Swift is the #1 RB and likely won’t play at all in this one. The same applies to veteran Jamaal Williams. The Lions gave playing time to four different running backs last week including former Chargers back Justin Jackson. He averaged a stellar 5.4 yards per carry last year.
Let 'em know, Jamaal!
?? @NFLFilms | #HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/wwS01EsmOf
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 8, 2022
The Lions WR core is much better this year. Amon-Ra St. Brown was great late in the 2021 season and is considered their top WR for now. They drafted Jameson Willams in the first round out of Alabama however he is out with a knee injury. The Lions' defense was horrible last year and is a work in progress. They struggled against the run and pass. They used the second overall pick on the defensive end, Aidan Hutchinson.
Detroit scored an average of only 19.1 points last season, pegging them 25th. The defense conceded an average of 27.5 points, tabbing them 31st.