INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts struggled to get anything going with the ground game last week against the New York Jets.

Jonathan Taylor averaged just 2.4 yards per carry, and the team tallied just 91 yards on 35 attempts. It marked the first time this season the Colts failed to hit the 100-yard rushing mark in a game quarterback Anthony Richardson started.

And, yet, the running game still was an under-rated factor in the 28-27 come-from-behind victory.

There’s the obvious pair of rushing touchdowns by Richardson, including the game winner with 46 seconds remaining, but it goes deeper than that.

At other points this season, head coach Shane Steichen has given up early on the rushing attack, and the one-dimensional offense has allowed defenders to pin their ears back and make life even more difficult for Richardson in the passing game.

Against the Jets, Steichen stuck with the run game even when things were difficult, and it helped lead to the best passing game of Richardson’s young career.

“It allowed us to move the ball,” Richardson said of Steichen’s game plan. “He dialed it up, and we weren’t behind the sticks a lot of the time. So just moving the ball and just keeping it going, I feel like it helped the offense out a lot.”

It won’t be an easy formula to replicate Sunday against the Detroit Lions (9-1).

Detroit ranks fifth in the NFL against the run by total yardage and is 11th with an average of 4.3 yards allowed per attempt.

The threat of the Lions’ high-scoring offense — averaging a league-best 33.6 points per game — adds stress to the play-calling process if the run game isn’t working early.

Richardson has admitted some early rushing attempts help him to get a feel for the game and enable him to settle in more comfortably. And Indianapolis’ offense has been most effective this season when it runs the ball efficiently.

So the ground game is almost certain to be a part of the early game plan. The question becomes how long will the Colts have the stomach — or luxury — of sticking with it if it’s not working?

“A lot of (defenses) try to have teams shy away from (the run game) so that they can kind of change their scheme, their plan, what they’re doing,” Taylor said. “But, for us, staying committed and being able to stay true to that, it forces them to stay true and saying, ‘OK, well, these guys are going to stick with it.’ So just being able to keep that mindset, keep working, keep working and eventually, those big runs will come.”

One other factor to consider is the health of the offensive line.

The Colts will again be without left tackle Bernhard Raimann (knee) and could again start three rookies up front – left tackle Matt Goncalves, center Tanor Bortolini and right guard Dalton Tucker.

Right guard Mark Glowinski was re-signed to the practice squad this week and adds some depth and experience to the room. He also has chemistry with left guard Quenton Nelson and right tackle Braden Smith after making 55 starts for Indianapolis from 2018-21.

Whoever is on the line will have a big task slowing down the Lions’ front seven – even without sack-leader Aidan Hutchinson, who is on season-ending injured reserve.

Hutchinson had 7.5 sacks in just five games. Alim McNeill is the active team leader with 3.5.

The Colts will again rely on offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr. to make sure whatever combination is on the field can find a way to help the offense function properly.

“He’s done a phenomenal job,” Steichen said. “I’ve said this before, he coaches all the guys the same. Whether they;re undrafted, rookie, seven-year vet, he’d coach them all the same because you never know in this business – next man up. Excited for those three (rookies), what they’re doing and their opportunity they get every week.”

INJURY REPORT

Raimann was the only player ruled out Friday by the Colts.

Defensive end Tyquan Lewis (elbow) was listed as questionable. He was a full participant in practice all week after opening his 21-day window to return from IR.

Cornerback Ennis Rakestraw (hamstring) was ruled out for Detroit.

Cornerback Terrion Arnold (groin) and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley (pectoral) were listed as questionable. Both were full participants Friday.