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Posted on Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 7:24 a.m.

Jahvid Best, Maurice Morris help Lions' run game; Peyton Manning, Colts win and more links

By Jim Knight

JAHVID-BEST.jpg

The Lions like seeing Jahvid Best breaking long runs again.

Associated Press

The Detroit Lions enter their sold out game Sunday against the Green Bay Packers feeling better about their running game.

Most of that renewed confidence comes from one play, Tom Kowalski writes for MLive.com. Best had a 45-yard run late in the first half last week against the Chicago Bears. From Kowalski:

With the run, the Lions finished with 134 rushing yards, their largest total of the season. Without it, they would have finished with just 89 yards on the ground, and the criticisms of the running game would have surfaced again. With Best's run, the Lions averaged 5.0 yards per carry against Chicago. Without it, the average dips to 3.4 yards per attempt.

Maurice Morris, who started the season as the Lions' No. 3 back, has 92 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries in the past two games combined.

MORE NFL • Detroit Free Press: Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham supports Ndamukong Suh • ESPN.com: Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning looked just fine against the Titans

BASEBALL • MLive.com: Carl Crawford's price tag was too high for the Tigers • Detroit News: Jim Leyland expects Phil Coke to transition easily from bullpen to starting pitcher • SI.com: Columnist Tom Verducci says Boston's quick move to secure Carl Crawford surprised the baseball world

NBA • ESPN.com: Columnist Rick Reilly spends 16 hours with Ron Artest