The Colts' Week 2 matchup against the Denver Broncos was expected to be a back-and-forth, intense and exciting game from the start; both teams boasted impressive players on both offense and defense who could make a big play at any time. The two teams lived up to the hype throughout Sunday's game, but the Colts won the battle in rallying after a Cam Bynum interception to win by a score of 29-28.
The Colts offense picked up where they left off, scoring on the first drive of the game with a 29-yard field goal. However, the Broncos responded with a touchdown drive to quickly grab the lead, taking advantage of a Colts defense that was missing defensive end Laiatu Latu (hamstring) and cornerback Charvarius Ward Sr. (concussion).
Daniel Jones settled in on the Colts' second possession, showing off his arm strength with a deep 41-yard completion to tight end Tyler Warren, but after a throw to wide receiver Alec Pierce in the end zone was broken up the Colts once again had to settle for a field goal.
After the Broncos went three-and-out on the following drive, though, the Colts were able to take hold of momentum. A 43-yard catch-and-run from running back Jonathan Taylor brought the Colts to the Broncos' 11-yard line and, after two more short yardage gains from the running back, Jones lunged across the goal line for the Colts' first touchdown of the day.
In doing so, the Colts set an NFL record for 10 straight scoring drives to start a season (they scored on all seven possessions in Week 1).
The back-and-forth continued as the second quarter went on, with the Colts defense struggling in both pass rush and secondary play. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix saw an opportunity and launched a deep ball to wide open receiver Troy Franklin and, a few plays later, Franklin was wide open again in the end zone for a touchdown to give the Broncos a 14-13 lead.
The Broncos fought their way downfield on their next possession, and after the Colts fell victim to four defensive penalties were put in a position to score another touchdown to go up 21-13.
With three minutes remaining in the first half, Jones retook hold of the ball and promptly launched the Colts downfield: a nine-yard completion to wide receiver Josh Downs followed by a 44-yard pass to Pierce put the Colts at the Broncos' 21-yard line. A 14-yard catch-and-run by tight end Tyler Warren put Jones in perfect position to pitch a short ball to Taylor, who easily reached the end zone.
A big stand by the Colts defense forced the Broncos to go three-and-out in their final possession of the first half.
Jones in the first half completed 13-of-19 passes for 236 yards, with three passes for 40-plus yards.
The Broncos continued to pick apart the struggling Colts defense in the second half, setting the tone with a quick. Jones and the offense tried to respond in kind and reach the end zone. But after an offensive penalty and a sack, they had to settle for another field goal; with just over five and a half minutes to go in the third quarter, the Colts trailed 28-23.
The Colts regained momentum with just under 12 minutes left in the game as safety Cam Bynum snagged his second interception of the season, seizing the ball at the Colts' own 28-yard line and preventing what more than likely would have been some kind of scoring drive for the Broncos.
Taylor continued his impressive day with a blazing 68-yard run to bring the Colts to Denver's 12-yard line; kicker Spencer Shrader was once again called upon after the Colts were unable to convert a touchdown, making his third field goal of the day to narrow the Broncos' lead to two.
The defense rallied and held strong, and when the Broncos' attempted field goal bounced off the right post the momentum fully went back to the Colts with three minutes and 15 seconds remaining. A series of runs and completions by Taylor and Pierce, among others, brought the Colts across the 50-yard line.
Sitting at the Broncos' 40-yard line, the Colts called on Shrader one final time to make the 60-yard field goal. On the kick, the Broncos were called for a penalty to move the Colts up 15 yards to turn the kick into a 45-yard field goal.
Shrader made it easily, securing the comeback victory and moving the Colts to 2-0.
SUN., OCT. 5 – COLTS VS. RAIDERS
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