Broncos 31-13 Colts (December 15, 2024) Game Summary

DENVER — — Linebacker Nik Bonitto foiled a trick play by stepping in front of quarterback Anthony Richardson and hijacking Adonai Mitchell’s lateral pass then ran 50 yards for a touchdown Sunday that sealed the Denver Broncos’ 31-13 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

With five takeaways, the Broncos (9-5) strengthened their grip on an AFC wild-card berth that would end a playoff drought dating to 2016. They began the defense of their Super Bowl 50 title that season with a 4-0 start , which was the last time they sat four games over .500.

The Colts (6-8) blew both an early 10-0 lead and a great opportunity to tighten the AFC wild-card race.

A big reason was the tide-turning blunder by running back Jonathan Taylor, who dropped the ball milliseconds before crossing the goal line on what would have been a 41-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Instead of lining up for the extra point to give the Colts a 20-7 lead, the touchback left the rushing Colts clinging to a six-point edge they would soon relinquish — and in such a big way .

Denver had just taken its first lead of the game on Bo Nix’s 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nate Adkins that made it 17-13 when Bonitto scored his second touchdown in two games.

Bonitto, who had a pick-6 against Cleveland before Denver’s bye week, was in full stride when he caught Mitchell’s pass — which was officially recorded as a fumble recovery because it was a backward pass.

Denver’s defense was determined to atone after allowing Jameis Winston to throw for nearly 500 yards two weeks ago, and they came up with five takeaways that more than offset Nix’s first three-interception game of his rookie season.

One of Denver’s interceptions was by cornerback Patrick Surtain II, who limped to the sideline with a sprained right ankle. He went back into the game but was helped off the pitch just before the 2-minute warning after apparently aggravating the injury.

The Broncos’ barrage of points started with Wil Lutz’s 44-yard field goal that pulled Denver within 13-10 after the teams traded turnovers on back-to-back plays.

Adkins’ TD put the Broncos ahead for good, Bonitto had his defensive touchdown and Nix threw a 20-yard TD pass to Courtland Sutton after the Colts’ neutral zone violation on a field goal gave Denver’s drive new life.

Richardson completed just five of 17 passes for 56 yards in the first half with no touchdowns and one interception for a paltry 16.3 passer rating. And one of those completions was to himself — and in his own end zone after Jonah Ellis knocked down his throw. Still, the Colts took a 13-7 lead into the locker room.

Twice converting on third-and-10, the Colts took a 7-0 lead when Richardson raced around the right side for a 23-yard touchdown run on the game’s opening drive.

Denver’s first drive ended when linebacker Zaire Franklin intercepted Nix’s pass, leading to a 37-yard field goal by Matt Gay for a 10-0 lead in the stadium.

Nix threw a 13-yard dart to tight end Adam Trautman to make it 10-7, but twice in the final five minutes of the first half the Broncos went three-and-out, and Anthony Gould’s 36-yard punt return across the midfield was set up. Gay for a 49-yard field goal that gave Indianapolis a six-point cushion at halftime.

Both of these AFC wild card contenders were coming off a bye week, and both looked more rusty than rested.

The Colts outgained the Broncos 122 yards to 32 in the first quarter, but managed just 34 yards in the second quarter as they went 0 for 4 on third down. The Broncos managed just 93 yards of offense in the first half

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Colts WR Alec Pierce suffered a concussion in the final seconds of the second quarter when rookie Kris Abrams-Draine, starting in nickel in place of Levi Wallace, slammed into Pierce while breaking up a pass in the end zone with 10 seconds left.

Broncos RG Quinn Meinerz (shoulder) and RB Jaleel McLaughlin (thigh) both left late in the third quarter. Surtain was injured in the fourth, as was DT DJ Jones (finger).

Next

Colts: Host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Broncos: Visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night.

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