The Broncos beat the Colts 31-13 to improve to 9-5! Below is the recap and postgame interviews:
Denver won the toss and deferred to the 2nd half.
Anthony Richardson and the Colts offense took the field for the first time, starting from their own 30 yard line. Defense did a great job on 1st and 2nd down but on 3rd and 11, Richardson found Downs over the middle into Denver territory. Facing another 3rd and 10, the Colts handed it off to Jonathon Taylor and he gained 15 down to the Broncos 23 yard line. Two plays later, Anthony Richardson ran around the right side on a zone read and scampered into the endzone for the first score of the game. Colts lead 7-0 with 10:52 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Bo Nix and the Broncos offense onto the field for the their first drive of the game started from their own 30 yard line. Broncos move into Colts territory on a 16 yard run by Bo Nix but on the very next play, he threw it right to Zaire Franklin who returned it to the Indianapolis 30 yard line. Colts offense went back to work with 7:06 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Facing 3rd and 5, Richardson found Pittman over the middle for another 1st down and completion into Denver territory. On 4th and a foot, Richardson pitched to Taylor and he easily picked up the 1st down to the Denver 35 yard line. Nice TFL by Jonah Ellis put the Colts behind the sticks and would eventually set up a 3rd and 9. They handed it off to Jonathon Taylor and he picked up 10 yards for another rushing 1st down. Nobody set the edge. Closing out the 1st quarter, the Colts had EIGHTY-THREE RUSHING YARDS vs the Broncos defense. To open the 2nd quarter, Richardson threw incomplete on 3rd down and the Colts settled for a 37 yard FG from Matt Gay. Indianapolis leads 10-0 with 14:49 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
Broncos offense back to work for only their 2nd drive of the game, starting again at their 30 yard line. After an initial 1st down to the 40 yard line, Nix was sacked on 3rd and 6 by DeForest Buckner and forced to punt it back to Indianapolis who would start their next drive at their 4 yard line with 11:39 remaining in the 1st half.
Malcolm Roach NEARLY got a Safety on Anthony Richardson but escaped out to the end zone on 3rd down for a 1 yard loss. Nevertheless, the defense FINALLY forced a 3 and out and the Offense went to work starting from their own 46 yard line with 10 minutes remaining in the 1st half.
Broncos offense got their initial first down on a Bo Nix QB sneak inside Colts territory. Courtland Sutton drew a big defensive pass interference that got the Broncos down to the 13 yard line and two plays later, Bo Nix found a wide open Adam Trautman for the Broncos first score of the game. Colts lead cut into 10-7 with 5:29 remaining in the 1st half.
Anthony Richardson gained an initial first down on the 2nd play of the drive but a couple plays later, Brandon Jones intercepted Anthony Richardson at the Broncos 38 yard line with 3:57 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
Looking to capitalize off of the turnover but unfortunately went 3 and out and were forced to punt the ball right back to Indianapolis, who would start their next drive at their own 14 yard line with 3:02 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
The Broncos defense did their job and forced a quick 3 and out by the Colts, getting the ball back to the offense with 2:40 remaining in the 1st half. Unfortunately, the offense couldn't get much going after a Mike McGlinchey false start on 3rd down effectively ended the drive. Denver punted it back to Indianapolis who started their next drive at the Broncos 47 yard line after a 37 yard punt return.
The Colts offense worked down to the 27 yard line on a screen to Kyle Granson. Kris Abrams-Draine broke up a deep pass targeting Alec Pierce and stalled the drive. Matt Gay converted the 49 yard field goal, extending the lead 13-7 before halftime.
The Broncos offense got the ball to start the 3rd quarter, starting from their own 30 yard line. On 3rd and 1, Bo Nix took a deep shot to Courtland Sutton and was pick off by Womack. Colts took over at their own 38 yard line, early in the 3rd quarter..
Brandon Jones called for a personal foul on the first play that moved the ball into Denver territory. Jonathon Taylor took a handoff off the right side 41 yards to the end zone but fumbled the ball as he crossed the plane, giving it right back to the Broncos at their 20 yard line. The offense couldn't do anything with the gift and went 3 and out, sending the ball right back to Indianapolis who started their next drive at their 18 yard line.
A holding penalty against the Colts backed them up behind the sticks and effectively ended the drive. Defense did their job (again) and the offense went back to work from the Indianapolis 39 yard line after a 37 yard return by Marvin Mims.
The Broncos set up in fantastic position to get some points but Bo Nix threw is THIRD interception, giving the ball back to Indianapolis...but on the very next play, PJ Locke forced a fumble on Michael Pittman. Denver's offense only able to gain 5 yards but got a 44 yard field goal from Wil Lutz to pull within 3, 13-10 with 5:18 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Colts got an offensive holding call on 1st down, backing them up behind the sticks and effectively ending the drive. Indianapolis quickly going 3 and out, punting it back to Denver who started their next drive at their 48 yard line after Marvin Mims drew a late hit penalty out of bounds.
The Denver offense got their first 1st down on a QB sneak to the Colts 41 yard line to get the drive going but that's all they could muster and after a couple of incompletions, Denver punted it right back to the Colts who would start from their own 20 yard line with 1:04 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
The Denver defense forced ANOTHER 3 and out with Jonathon Cooper tackling Anthony Richardson in the backfield on an option. Marvin Mims took the punt all the way back to the Colts 15 yard line for a 60 yard return and two plays later Bo Nix hit Nate Adkins who was able to break a couple of tackles to get into the end zone for a 15 yard TD. Broncos take their first lead 17-13 with 13:51 remaining in the 4th quarter.
Indianapolis went quickly into Denver territory after a completion to Granson and then a DPI against Cody Barton. On a double pass attempt, Addonai Mitchell threw it back across the field and Nik Bonitto took it 50 yards to the house!!!!! Broncos extended their lead 24-13 with 12:29 remaining in the game.
Colts offense, now in an 11 point hole, went back to work went quickly into Denver territory after a completion to Michael Pittman and an illegal hands penalty. A few plays later, on 4th and 6, Kris Abrams Draine broke up a pass intended for Josh Downs and the Broncos offense went back on the field at their own 45 yard line with 10:10 remaining in the game.
The Broncos offense didn't do much with the change in possession and punted it back to Indy, who took over at their 20 yard line. After an initial 1st down, Pat Surtain baited Anthony Richardson into an interception, giving the ball back to Denver at the Colts 35 yard line with 7:39 remaining in the game. Initially, it looked the offense would have to settle for a FG attempt but an offsides by Indy gave the Broncos a 1st down and a few plays later, Bo Nix found Courtland Sutton for a 20 yard touchdown along the right sideline to extend the lead 31-13.
Colts would drive into the Red Zone but would get nothing out of it and the Broncos win 31-13!
The next broadcast will be on Thursday, December 19th as the Broncos travel to Los Angeles to face the Chargers. Coverage on KOA begins at 12pm.
Below are the postgame interviews with Sean Payton, Bo Nix, Marvin Mims and Nik Bonitto