GAME RECAP:  Indianapolis Colts 35 Detroit Lions 33

SCOREBOARD	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	FINAL
COLTS	7	7	7	14	35
LIONS	10	13	7	3	33

SCORING SUMMARY:

First Quarter  DET - Jason Hanson makes a 48 yard kick @ 8:49. Drive: 7 plays, 29 yards in 3:45.  IND - Donnie Avery catches a 17 yard pass from Andrew Luck (Adam Vinatieri kick is good) @ 6:29. Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards in 2:20.  DET - Brandon Pettigrew catches a 16 yard pass from Matthew Stafford (Jason Hanson kick is good) @ 1:48. Drive: 8 plays, 87 yards in 4:41. Second Quarter  DET - Mikel Leshoure runs for 6 yards (Jason Hanson kick is good) @ 11:27. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards in 3:50.  IND - Coby Fleener catches a 26 yard pass from Andrew Luck (Adam Vinatieri kick is good) @ 9:47. Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards in 1:40.  DET - Jason Hanson makes a 33 yard kick @ 7:17. Drive: 4 plays, 5 yards in 0:59.  DET - Jason Hanson makes a 52 yard kick @ 3:46. Drive: 7 plays, 31 yards in 2:29. Third Quarter  IND - Vick Ballard runs for 11 yards (Adam Vinatieri kick is good) @ 12:05. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards in 2:55.  DET - Calvin Johnson catches a 46 yard pass from Matthew Stafford (Jason Hanson kick is good) @ 0:02. Drive: 6 plays, 58 yards in 3:54. Fourth Quarter  DET - Jason Hanson makes a 31 yard kick @ 8:41. Drive: 5 plays, 57 yards in 2:09.  IND - Von Brazill catches a 42 yard pass from Andrew Luck (Adam Vinatieri kick is good) @ 2:39. Drive: 8 plays, 85 yards in 1:23.  IND - Donnie Avery catches a 14 yard pass from Andrew Luck (Adam Vinatieri kick is good) @ 0:00. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards in 1:07.

NFL.com Game Links:    Game Center    Game Info    Drive Chart    Highlights

DETROIT LIONS GAME BALLS:

Calvin Johnson	Joique Bell	Don Carey
career high 13 catches good for 171 yards and a score in pursuit of GOAT	Just 7 carries but one big 67-yard gaingives him 81 yards on the day	Team high 7 tackles (3 solo, 4 assist) and two interceptions of Luck

TEAM STATISTICS	COLTS	LIONS
1st Downs	23	21
Rushing	7	5
Passing	13	15
Penalty	3	1
3rd-Down Conversions	4-15	6-17
4th-Down Conversions	2-2	0-0
Punts-Average	8-50.0	7-42.6
Return Yards	7	162
Punts-Returns	2-6	4-39
Kickoffs-Returns	0-0	2-43
Int.-Returns	1-1	3-80
Penalties-Yards	4-36	8-61
Fumbles-Lost	1-0	1-0
Time Of Pos.	22:22	37:38
">Total Net Yards	459	451
Total Plays	74	75
Average Gain	6.2	6.0
Net Yards Rushing	87	138
Rushes	18	29
Avg. Per Rush	4.8	4.8
Net Yards Passing	372	313
Comp.-Att.	24-54	27-46
Yards Per Pass	6.6	6.8
Sacked-Yards Lost	2-19	0-0
Had Intercepted	3	1
Touchdowns	5	3
Rushing	1	1
Passing	4	2
Other	0	0
Extra Points	5-5	3-3
Kicking	5-5	3-3
Field Goals	0-0	4-4
Red Zone Efficiency	3-3-100%	2-4-50%
Goal To Go Efficiency	0-0-0%	1-1-100%
Safeties	0	0

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATS:

Passing

Rushing

GAME SUMMARY:

The Lions would lose on the last play of the game as Andrew Luck would connect with Donnie Avery from 14 yards out with Detroit falling 35-33 suffering their fourth straight loss. The magical playoff push by the Colts lies in stark contrast to the season that wasn't for Detroit. The rookie sensation quarterback's fourth touchdown pass of the game would give the surprising Colts their eight win of the season, double that of the 4-8 Lions. Detroit would now have to win its final four games to finish the season at .500, something that doesn't seem likely for a team that keeps finding ways to lose. Calvin Johnson continued his torrent play with a career high 13 catches totaling 171 yards and a score. Johnson is in line to threaten Jerry Rice's single season receiving yardage record. He didn't get much help with rookie Ryan Broyles going down early with a knee injury and Titus Young in the dog house..

The Lions would get the ball first and promptly punt a few plays later. The Colts would gain just one yard on their first drive. The offenses would then decide to show up. Detroit would on the board first thanks to a Jason Hanson field goal. Indianapolis would grab a 7-3 lead after an 80-yard drive would end with a Andrew Luck touchdown pass. Brandon Pettigrew would put the Lions up front at the end of the quarter with a 17-yard touchdown grab. Mikel Leshoure would add to the Lions lead early in the second quarter with a six-yard touchdown run to cap off a 75-yard drive after going 87-yards the previous drive. Andrew Luck's second touchdown pass of the half would cut the lead but two more field goals by veteran kicker Jason Hanson would extend the lead to 23-14 at halftime.

The Colts would open the second half with the ball and score a touchdown on an 80-yard drive. The teams would each then trade a pair of possessions. The Lions would reclaim their halftime advantage when Calvin Johnson would catch a 46-yard Stafford bomb and roll into the endzone. A Jason Hanson field goal early in the fourth quarter would give the Lions a comfortable advantage. For a little while at least. Andrew Luck would throw a 42-yard touchdown with just over four minutes remaining to make things interesting. He would get one more chance with 1:07 left on the clock with the bal sitting on the Colts 25. A 26-yard strike to Reggie Wayne would spark the comeback attempt. With 18 seconds left the Colts were sitting just 14 yards away from victory. After three straight short incompletions the stage was set. Three seconds, one play. Only one thing separates a 8-4 team from a 4-8 team with one play left and that is exactly what Andrew Luck and Colts did. Score. 35-33, Colts win.

The two teams combined for over 900 yards, each just eclipsing the 450-yard mark. Most of the statistics were fairly even although Detroit held a 37:38 to a 22:22 advantage on the clock. The Lions were only 4-15 on third down attempts although did convert both of their fourth down attempts.

How much heartache can one team endure? Stay tuned.

PHOTO OF THE GAME:

Megatron on a career reception day.

NEXT GAME:

The Detroit Lions travel to Green Bay to face the Packers next Sunday, December 9 at 8:20 PM.

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Written by: Paul Donaghy, Senior Writer