The NFL Preseason is into its final week, meaning it’s time for one last tune-up before the real action kicks off in September. After a boatload of games over the last couple of days, the schedule wraps up on Saturday with just two contests. At 1 p.m. ET, the Indianapolis Colts host the Detroit Lions for the second-to-last matchup of the preseason.
The Colts enter as 3.5-point home favorites with -168 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Lions are +140 underdogs, with the game total set at O/U 35.5 points.
Here’s a prediction and pick for Saturday’s NFL preseason matchup between the Lions and the Colts.
Lions vs. Colts preview
The preseason really doesn’t mean all that much in the grand scheme of things, so it shouldn’t be used as a measuring stick for a team’s future performance. However, for the squads themselves, these games matter — especially since the final week offers a last chance to evaluate talent and potentially decide position battles and depth moves.
The Lions are 1-1 after their opening two contests. Both contests were one-score affairs: 16-14 and 17-13. If the SATs taught me anything, it’s that this game will be 18-15. If only it were that easy.
Head coach Dan Campbell hasn’t announced whether the starters will play, but the important ones haven’t played so far this season and didn’t last preseason either. This game will likely focus on bubble players and positional battles.
Luke Altmyer and Josh Dobbs are battling for the backup quarterback position behind Jared Goff. Dobbs is a six-year veteran with 15 career starts. He’s also appeared in 20 preseason games and completed 166-of-267 (62%) for 1,839 yards, nine touchdowns, eight interceptions and nine sacks taken. This preseason, Dobbs has gone 11-of-20 for 106 yards, one interception and two sacks taken. Altmyer is an undrafted free agent who played his college ball at Ole Miss and Illinois. In this preseason, he’s gone 22-of-35 for 216 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions and five sacks taken.
At running back, Raheem Blackshear leads the Lions with 16 carries but is averaging only 3.8 yards per carry. Jacob Saylors rushed 14 times for team-high 87 yards. Trayveon Williams has scored the only rushing touchdown, while Dobbs has the other.
At receiver, Jackson Meeks leads the team with five catches on seven targets and 50 yards, with 33 of those after the catch. The three first downs are the most as well. Dominic Lovett has the most targets (10) but has only converted four of those into catches for 34 yards. Tarik Black has the lone receiving touchdown on his only catch, good for 24 yards.
The Colts tied the Patriots, 13-13, then got walloped by the Falcons, 34-6. Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor have been ruled out, but some of the other starters, like wide receiver Keenan Allen, will play around eight snaps.
Anthony Richardson will get the entire first quarter, Riley Leonard will play the second quarter, then Easton Stick will finish out the game. This preseason, Richardson has gone 14-of-23 for 169 yards, one interception and two sacks taken. He’s rushed nine times for 68 yards and a touchdown with five first downs. Leonard hasn’t been good, completing only 17-of-35 for 151 yards, one interception and one sack taken.
Anderson Castle has a team-high 17 carries for 88 yards and five first downs. Seth McGowan rushed 13 times for 44 yards and one first down.
Will Mallory leads the team with six receptions for 80 yards on seven targets and four first downs. 25 of those yards came after the catch. Raylen Sharpe and Coleman Owen both garnered nine targets. Sharpe caught four for 29 yards while Owen hauled in three for 56 yards. Owen leads the team with 35 yards after the catch. No pass catcher has caught a touchdown yet.
Lions vs. Colts prediction, pick
Neither team has been an offensive juggernaut this preseason, and that will likely continue here. The motivation isn’t to put up points; it’s to evaluate players. The total of 35.5 is low, but I lean under in this one, as the teams will likely have made decisions by halftime and want to get the game over to start preparing for the regular season.
