Indianapolis keeps Lions winless

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.

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.