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(Getty)
Final Score
Detroit Lions: 7-14-7-11 — 39
Indianapolis Colts: 0-10-8-17 — 35
Full Box Score
Detroit’s field goal with four seconds remaining clinched a season-opening victory over the Colts.
Andrew Luck made his return after missing nine games last season due to injury. Luck suffered a lacerated kidney and a partially torn abdominal muscle in a 27-24 loss to the Denver Broncos on Nov. 8.
Luck finished 31-of-47 for 385 yards, four touchdown passes and no interceptions.
Lions quarterback Matt Stafford was impressive as well. He led the Lions on six scoring drives and finished 31-of-39 passing for 332 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Ameer Abdullah led Detroit in rushing with 12 carries for 63 yards.
Detroit showed variety in their offense as Dwayne Washington, Eric Ebron, Abdullah and Theo Riddick totaled five touchdowns. It marked the first time the Lions have had three running backs score a touchdown in the same game since 2005.
Here’s how the game unfolded:
Lions’ Theo Riddick Rushed for a 21-Yard Touchdown
Detroit running back Theo Riddick scored on a 21-yard running play, to give the Lions an early 7-0 lead. Stafford hit multiple receivers on his opening drive. It marked the longest run of Riddick’s career.
Dwayne Washington Scored on a 1-Yard Run
On his second career carry, Washington scored his first touchdown on a 1-yard run capping a 15-play, 82-yard, 7-minute.
Adam Vinatieri Made a 50-Yard Field Goal
Lions defensive end Kerry Hyder disrupted the Colts offense again. He registered his second sack to end the drive. Adam Vinatieri drilled a 50-yard field goal to put the Colts on the board. The score was 14-3 with 4:50 remaining in the second quarter.
Matthew Stafford Found Eric Ebron for a 6-Yard Touchdown
Eric Ebron caught Stafford’s first touchdown pass of the day. Detroit went 75 yards in 8 plays in 3:13 to take a 21-3 lead.
Andrew Luck Found Donte Moncrief for a 2-Yard Touchdown
Andrew Luck connected with Donte Moncrief in the back of the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown. Also during the drive, Luck found T.Y. Hilton for a first down that caused some controversy. Hilton caught the pass, but then rolled over and dropped it. The play was reviewed and stood as a catch.
The Colts enter halftime with new life. The Lions had 250 yards of total offense in the first half.
Andrew Luck Threw a 19-Yard TD Strike to Dwayne Allen
After holding the Lions to a 3-and-out, the Colts drove 85 yards on 9 plays to score. Luck found Allen in the back of the end zone for a beautiful 19-yard touchdown. Luck and Allen connected again for the two-point conversion to cut Detroit’s lead to 21-18.
Allen has made four catches for 53 yards.
Matthew Stafford Threw an 11-Yard TD to Ameer Abdullah
Stafford led a 7 play, 71-yard drive to increase Detroit’s lead to 28-18 with 2:20 left in the third quarter.
Ameer Abdullah made an 11-yard TD catch to put him over the 100 total-yard mark for the day with 60 rushing and 43 receiving.
The Lions have had three running backs score a touchdown today: Abdullah, Riddick & Washington. While Stafford has completed 14 of 20 passes for 163 yards, and one touchdown.
Adam Vinatieri Made a 40-Yard Field Goal
Adam Vinatieri made a 40-yarder to cut the Lions lead to 28-21 early in the fourth quarter. It marked Vinatieri’s 600th career field goal attempt as he becomes only the fifth player in NFL history to reach that milestone.
Andrew Luck & Jack Doyle Connected for a 16-Yard Touchdown
Luck drove down the field for a 9 play, 94-yard drive capped by a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jack Doyle. The game was tied 28-28 with 8:19 left in the fourth quarter.
Theo Riddick Scored on a 13-Yard TD Reception
Detroit answered the Colts touchdown with one of their own to bring the score to 34-28. Stafford found Riddick for a 13-yard touchdown reception as the Lions took back the lead with 4:04 left in the fourth quarter.
Luck Found Jack Doyle for a TD
The Colts drove 75-yards on 8 plays to score on a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jack Doyle, which gave the Colts a 35-34 lead.
Matt Prater Made a 43-Yard Field Goal
Lions went 50 yards in five plays in :33. Prater knocked through the go-ahead field goal with four seconds to play.
The Lions added a safety to solidify the win, 39-35. Detroit’s win marked the third straight season-opening loss for the Colts.
Game Preview
The Colts finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs just one year after reaching the AFC Championship.
Luck has a talented offense to support him including wide receivers T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief and Phillip Dorsett, However, the Colts are faced with another set of injury problems including cornerback Vontae Davis who is out with an ankle injury.
“Our No. 1 corner, Vontae (Davis) is out,” Pagano said, according to ESPN. “And Pat (Robinson) is our No. 2 (cornerback) and he’s been out. Jalil (Brown) has been out. You can go on down the line, especially with Tevin (Mitchel) out. And with the chance to evaluate him, he tweaks his hamstring again (against Cincinnati in the final preseason game). Mitchel was placed on reserve/injured in the roster reduction to 53.
“We’ve had some line issues,” Pagano added. “There’s nothing that we can do about it. We have to get healthy, and healthy in a hurry.”
The Lions missed the playoffs last season with a 7-9 campaign. In the offseason, star wide receiver Calvin Johnson unexpectedly retired. Wide receiver Golden Tate is expected to fill that void. The addition of Marvin Jones and Anquan Boldin will give Matthew Stafford more options in the passing game.
Kick-off is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET. Check back for live updates throughout the game.
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