I value the matchups a player faces more than anybody, but last week owners were burned on starting either of the Ravens' running backs at the Colts and their "bad" run defense. I realize Baltimore was forced to throw because Peyton Manning came out throwing and helped build a big lead. Who's to say he won't do it again versus a banged-up Packers secondary? That would take the ball out of Ryan Grant's hands. Additionally, Grant had a 33-carry game last week and couldn't crack 100 yards. He'll have a good matchup this week, but I don't like his chances to take advantage of it. That's why I'd sit him. Jamey Eisenberg You've hated Grant all season, and for good reason. No touchdowns. No 100-yard games. Only two catches, and for minus-4 yards at that. But he's getting better, and this week he goes back to being a No. 1 Fantasy option. You can see it coming the past two weeks, with the Packers feeding him the ball. He had 18 carries for 83 yards against Atlanta and 33 carries for 90 yards against Seattle. It's only a matter of time before he breaks a big run, and the Colts run defense isn't going to stop him. Indianapolis is still without safety Bob Sanders (knee) and is allowing 161 rushing yards per game and five touchdowns. Look for Grant to get going this week and put him back in your lineup.
Start Marques Colston at Carolina?
Dave Richard Jamey Eisenberg
Dave Richard You can talk all the stats and history you want on Colston, but the fact remains that he is coming back from a significant thumb injury and hasn't played since Week 1. Maybe he's good for a couple of catches, but Colston needs to be given a week to shake off the rust. And the Saints can afford to do it as Lance Moore and Devery Henderson have stepped up in Colston's place. Finally, the Panthers' secondary is pretty good -- second in the NFL -- and the game is in Charlotte. Lots of reasons to sit Colston one more week. Jamey Eisenberg Colston is expected to return this week after being out since Week 1 with a thumb injury. That means activate him immediately. He plays with one of the best quarterbacks in Drew Brees and was a No. 1 Fantasy option before getting hurt. He also has a good matchup against the Panthers this week. In three meetings he has 16 catches for 256 yards and two touchdowns, and you can expect Brees to throw his way now that he's back.
Start Jason Campbell vs. Cleveland?
Dave Richard Jamey Eisenberg
Dave Richard Campbell has played poorly over his last two games, but he'll see a Browns secondary coming off an emotional Monday night win. That same secondary didn't play well all season until Week 6 when they came up with three interceptions. With Washington desperate to rebound following a stunning Week 6 loss to the Rams, expect Campbell to be on target, working to get on the same page with Santana Moss for the first time in three weeks. Jamey Eisenberg Dave pointed out this nifty stat to me: In 26 career starts, Campbell has three 250-plus yard games and eight games with two touchdowns. That means he doesn't post overwhelming stats, even when he has a good matchup like he did in Week 6 against St. Louis. The Browns pass defense has been exceptional this year with only 188 passing yards allowed per game, four touchdowns and nine interceptions. Cleveland just intercepted Eli Manning three times last week and should contain Campbell this week.
Start Warrick Dunn vs. Seattle?
Dave Richard Jamey Eisenberg
Dave Richard I have proof that last week's use of Earnest Graham as a fullback last week is an isolated incident: Graham's four-year, $11 million contract extension. Do fullbacks get paid that kind of money? No way. Dunn has definitely made strides to be a part of the Bucs' game plan, but he won't get anywhere close to the number of touches he had last week against the Seahawks in Week 7. Here's a prediction: The Bucs make it up to Graham this week and feed him the ball a ton, especially once they build a lead on the Seahawks. NFL Recap - Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts - Dec 14, 2008 - CBSSports.com Game Recap
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Detroit at Indianapolis

Colts aren't sharp but win 7th in row, push Lions to 0-14

CBSSports.com wire reports

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INDIANAPOLIS -- Apparently, winning is still too complex for the Detroit Lions.

Two turnovers, short fields and playing against a worn down, short-handed Colts defense wasn't the answer, either.

NFL Recap - Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts - Dec 14, 2008 - CBSSports.com Game Recap I value the matchups a player faces more than anybody, but last week owners were burned on starting either of the Ravens' running backs at the Colts and their "bad" run defense. I realize Baltimore was forced to throw because Peyton Manning came out throwing and helped build a big lead. Who's to say he won't do it again versus a banged-up Packers secondary? That would take the ball out of Ryan Grant's hands. Additionally, Grant had a 33-carry game last week and couldn't crack 100 yards. He'll have a good matchup this week, but I don't like his chances to take advantage of it. That's why I'd sit him.
Jamey Eisenberg You've hated Grant all season, and for good reason. No touchdowns. No 100-yard games. Only two catches, and for minus-4 yards at that. But he's getting better, and this week he goes back to being a No. 1 Fantasy option. You can see it coming the past two weeks, with the Packers feeding him the ball. He had 18 carries for 83 yards against Atlanta and 33 carries for 90 yards against Seattle. It's only a matter of time before he breaks a big run, and the Colts run defense isn't going to stop him. Indianapolis is still without safety Bob Sanders (knee) and is allowing 161 rushing yards per game and five touchdowns. Look for Grant to get going this week and put him back in your lineup.
Start Marques Colston at Carolina?
Dave Richard Jamey Eisenberg
Dave Richard You can talk all the stats and history you want on Colston, but the fact remains that he is coming back from a significant thumb injury and hasn't played since Week 1. Maybe he's good for a couple of catches, but Colston needs to be given a week to shake off the rust. And the Saints can afford to do it as Lance Moore and Devery Henderson have stepped up in Colston's place. Finally, the Panthers' secondary is pretty good -- second in the NFL -- and the game is in Charlotte. Lots of reasons to sit Colston one more week. Jamey Eisenberg Colston is expected to return this week after being out since Week 1 with a thumb injury. That means activate him immediately. He plays with one of the best quarterbacks in Drew Brees and was a No. 1 Fantasy option before getting hurt. He also has a good matchup against the Panthers this week. In three meetings he has 16 catches for 256 yards and two touchdowns, and you can expect Brees to throw his way now that he's back.
Start Jason Campbell vs. Cleveland?
Dave Richard Jamey Eisenberg
Dave Richard Campbell has played poorly over his last two games, but he'll see a Browns secondary coming off an emotional Monday night win. That same secondary didn't play well all season until Week 6 when they came up with three interceptions. With Washington desperate to rebound following a stunning Week 6 loss to the Rams, expect Campbell to be on target, working to get on the same page with Santana Moss for the first time in three weeks. Jamey Eisenberg Dave pointed out this nifty stat to me: In 26 career starts, Campbell has three 250-plus yard games and eight games with two touchdowns. That means he doesn't post overwhelming stats, even when he has a good matchup like he did in Week 6 against St. Louis. The Browns pass defense has been exceptional this year with only 188 passing yards allowed per game, four touchdowns and nine interceptions. Cleveland just intercepted Eli Manning three times last week and should contain Campbell this week.
Start Warrick Dunn vs. Seattle?
Dave Richard Jamey Eisenberg
Dave Richard I have proof that last week's use of Earnest Graham as a fullback last week is an isolated incident: Graham's four-year, $11 million contract extension. Do fullbacks get paid that kind of money? No way. Dunn has definitely made strides to be a part of the Bucs' game plan, but he won't get anywhere close to the number of touches he had last week against the Seahawks in Week 7. Here's a prediction: The Bucs make it up to Graham this week and feed him the ball a ton, especially once they build a lead on the Seahawks.

Peyton Manning led the Colts on two fourth-quarter scoring drives, delivering another blow to Detroit's psyche with a 31-21 victory Sunday and keeping the Lions on track for a winless season.

"No one wants to be part of that. No one wants to have their name involved with that," quarterback Dan Orlovsky said. "It's tough to swallow, everybody says we stink. We don't have much debate with that."

Indianapolis (10-4) might quibble with that now, but nobody can argue the dreadful numbers.

Detroit (0-14) has lost 15 straight and 21 of 22. The Lions are two defeats away becoming the first NFL team to finish 0-16.

The Lions have been close, losing five times by eight points or fewer. It would have been six if Adam Vinatieri hadn't made a last-minute field goal Sunday, but close isn't good enough.

Manning was 28-of-37 for 318 yards and one touchdown, and although the Lions did a respectable job defending receivers, they allowed tight end Dallas Clark to roam free.

Clark finished with 12 receptions, a single-game franchise record for tight ends, 142 yards and one acrobatic touchdown catch. He broke his single-season record for receptions by a tight end and set a career high with 684 yards.

"I don't think you can ever have the perfect game," Clark said. "That's what you love about this game, it keeps you driven."

The Colts fumbled four times, had a potential scoring drive derailed by a holding penalty and the defense struggled to get off the field in the second half.

Yet they clicked when it mattered most.

Indy (10-4) has won seven straight, earned double-digit victories for a seventh straight season, and can clinch a seventh straight playoff spot with a win Thursday at Jacksonville.

"We weren't as sharp as we'd like to be. We couldn't make the plays we needed to put the game away, but it's something we expected," coach Tony Dungy said. "You obviously can't mishandle two punts and give them short fields. Those are situations that usually get you beat."

Except against Detroit.

While the miscues made the game more competitive than expected, the Lions couldn't capitalize.

They settled for field goals after twice starting drives inside the Colts 40, and couldn't stop Manning.

Dominic Rhodes, who replaced Joseph Addai (shoulder) in the lineup, ran 20 times for 86 yards and two TDs including the winner with 8:39 left. Rookie Chad Simpson scored the first touchdown of his career, and Reggie Wayne caught seven passes for 104 yards.

And against a defense missing three starters -- safety Bob Sanders, middle linebacker Gary Brackett and defensive tackle Keyunta Dawson -- Orlovsky hooked up with Calvin Johnson nine times for 110 yards and one score. Orlovsky took over for Daunte Culpepper, who couldn't throw Sunday because of a right shoulder injury.

"We're getting better," coach Rod Marinelli said. "We've got to keep working hard, find a way to win. If I could do anything different to get a win, whether it's our first game or 50th game, I would do it."

After falling into a 21-10 halftime deficit, the Lions fought back.

Keiwan Ratliff fumbled a punt early in the third quarter, setting up Jason Hanson's 31-yard field goal. Kevin Smith followed that by looping around the left side for a 1-yard TD run with 12:52 left in the game. Orlovsky tied it at 21 with a 2-point conversion pass to Casey FitzSimmons.

It was all Manning after that.

He methodically marched the Colts 88 yards, finally giving to Rhodes for a 1-yard TD run and a 28-21 lead, and he closed it out by grinding out nearly all of the final 5 minutes before Vinatieri's 30-yard kick sealed it with 39 seconds left.

"I thought we played good enough to win," Lions cornerback Travis Fisher said. "I'm just trying to get a win. Who care's about being close? Who cares about any of the other things? The only pressure on us is we need to get a win, period."

Notes

  • Hanson's 51-yard field goal in the first quarter broke a tie with Morten Andersen for the most in league history. Hanson has made 41 field goals of 50 or more yards. He's also the first kicker in league history to be 8-of-8 on 50-yarders in a season.
  • In the second quarter, Manning passed Vinny Testaverde for sixth on the NFL's career completions list. Testaverde had 3,787, Manning has 3,803.
  • Detroit safety Dwight Smith fractured his ankle in the second quarter, and cornerback Keith Smith left with a groin injury.
  • Johnson's 10 TD receptions are the most by a Lions player since Herman Moore had 14 in 1995.
  • Wayne topped 1,000 yards for the fifth straight season.
  • Colts receiver Marvin Harrison had two receptions to move past Tim Brown for third on the NFL career list. Harrison has 1,095 catches and needs seven to pass Cris Carter.
Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
 
  
Dallas Clark sets an Indy tight end record with 12 catches, including this airborne touchdown.
 
Dallas Clark sets an Indy tight end record with 12 catches, including this airborne touchdown. (US Presswire)
 

 
Scoreboard
Detroit (0-14-0)373821
Indianapolis (10-4-0) «71401031
DET - Pass: D. Orlovsky (23-34, 233), Rec: C. Johnson (9-110)
IND - Pass: P. Manning (28-37, 318), Rec: D. Clark (12-142)
GameTracker
Scoring Summary
1ST QUARTER
TDDominic Rhodes, 1 Yd run (Adam Vinatieri kick is good), 7:38. Drive: 14 plays, 78 yards in 7:22.
FGJason Hanson 51 Yd, 4:45. Drive: 4 plays, 3 yards in 1:15.
2ND QUARTER
TDChad Simpson, 2 Yd run (Adam Vinatieri kick is good), 5:29. Drive: 9 plays, 56 yards in 3:13.
TDCalvin Johnson, 33 Yd pass from Dan Orlovsky (Jason Hanson kick is good), 3:36. Drive: 3 plays, 69 yards in 1:53.
TDDallas Clark, 3 Yd pass from Peyton Manning (Adam Vinatieri kick is good), 0:47. Drive: 8 plays, 78 yards in 2:49.
3RD QUARTER
FGJason Hanson 30 Yd, 10:00. Drive: 6 plays, 10 yards in 2:15.
4TH QUARTER
TDKevin Smith, 1 Yd run (Dan Orlovsky pass to Casey Fitzsimmons for 2 Pt. Conversion), 12:52. Drive: 13 plays, 91 yards in 7:39.
TDDominic Rhodes, 1 Yd run (Adam Vinatieri kick is good), 8:39. Drive: 7 plays, 88 yards in 4:13.
FGAdam Vinatieri 31 Yd, 0:39. Drive: 11 plays, 67 yards in 4:42.

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Players of the Game

D. Rhodes		 Rush 20
Yds 86
Avg 4.3
TD 2
Detroit

C. Johnson		 Rec 9
Yds 110
Avg 12.2
TD 1
 
Detroit
PassingCP/ATYDSTDINT
D. Orlovsky23/3423310
RushingATTYDSTDLG
K. Smith2088125
R. Johnson2202
ReceivingRECYDSTDLG
C. Johnson9110133
M. Gaines239033
J. Standeford436016
K. Smith63109
K. Colbert1909
C. Fitzsimmons1808
Indianapolis
PassingCP/ATYDSTDINT
P. Manning28/3731810
RushingATTYDSTDLG
D. Rhodes2086210
C. Simpson71716
P. Manning2304
ReceivingRECYDSTDLG
D. Clark12142131
R. Wayne7104039
D. Rhodes430017
M. Harrison222016
G. Robinson1808
A. Gonzalez1606
C. Simpson1606
Complete Player Stats
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