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The Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts were locked in a defensive battle all game long. The Colts gained the advantage late with back-to-back field goals in the fourth quarter and overtime. The game would come down to a fourth and one from the Colts’ six yard line. Russell Wilson missed a wide open KJ Hamler and threw the ball into tight coverage instead to send the Broncos to 2-3.
In-Game Updates
1:15 PM MT: The Broncos elevated running back Devine Ozigbo, safety Anthony Harris, and outside linebacker Jonathan Kongbo from the practice squad ahead of their game against the Colts on TNF.
5:00 PM MT: A few surprises for the Broncos inactives tonight. Right tackle Billy Turner looks like he might actually be able to go for the first time in a Denver uniform in this game. He’ll be active. Check out the full list of inactives for this Broncos-Colts game here.
6:19 PM MT: Nyheim Hines was knocked out of the game early. After getting hit and tackled he came up clearly having issues with motor ability. With the concussion protocol in the NFL being under fire in recent weeks, we can assume they’ll be extra careful with Hines here.
6:25 PM MT: After forcing the Colts into a three and out on their opening drive, Russell Wilson and the Broncos quickly drove down to the field into the red zone. However, their drive would stall out at the 15 where Brandon McManus would put them up 3-0 in the first quarter.
6:53 PM MT: The first quarter would come to an end with a battle of three and outs forming up. Outside of that first Broncos’ drive that ended in a field goal, both teams have mostly punted and a three and out is usually how they got there. Full first quarter recap.
7:01 PM MT: Denver got things going again finally. However, as they were threatening the red zone, Garett Bolles moved early to a Russell Wilson hard count that backed them up. KJ Hamler would nearly break a third down pass for six, but was tackled short of the sticks. McManus would put Denver up 6-0 in the second quarter instead.
7:11 PM MT: With the Colts driving and just two plays removed from Phillip Lindsay breaking open a 16-yard gain, Matt Ryan would try to force the ball over the middle of the field to a waiting Caden Sterns. He would intercept the ball and return it back to the Broncos 37-yard line to keep the Colts scoreless.
7:36 PM MT: Ronald Darby came up limping on a play late in the first half and was taken to the locker room. He is questionable to return.
7:41 PM MT: The Colts drove all the way down to the 15-yard line, but back-to-back sacks by the Broncos’ defense for huge losses put them into a 3rd and 38 situation. They got just enough yards to give them a 52-yard field goal attempt to cut the Broncos lead to 6-3 just before halftime. Full second quarter recap.
7:44 PM MT: News broke at halftime that ILB Josey Jewell is also questionable to return with a knee issue. He was limping on the Colts final drive and he is now unlikely to play in the second half. He would be ruled OUT to start the second half.
8:18 PM MT: Indianapolis could tie the game up early in the third quarter with a strong drive, but Denver’s defense would stiffen to force a field goal and a 6-6 tie.
8:25 PM MT: After yet another Caden Sterns interception right after a Broncos field goal attempt was blocked, Denver was able to get the ball back in field goal range to retake the lead late in the third quarter up 9-6. Ronald Darby would officially be ruled out of the this game too.
8:33 PM MT: The third quarter would end with a bang with Russell Wilson hitting Mike Boone on a screen pass. Boone would follow his blockers all the way for a 34-yard gain to the Colts’ 31-yard line. Well inside of McManus field goal range. Full third quarter recap.
8:39 PM MT: With field goal range in hand, Russell Wilson felt the pressure and just chucked it up for an interception to end the Broncos’ drive. Another scoring opportunity removed through head scratching decisions. Immediately after the drive, Wilson went to the blue medical tent. Brett Rypien is warming up on the sideline. Wilson came out clapping and looking like he was ready to go.
8:52 PM MT: Dre’Mont Jones left the game to be evaluated for a concussion. He was later cleared to return to the game after going through the concussion protocol.
8:56 PM MT: Baron Browning then left the game with what looks like a hand or wrist injury. He would walk to the locker room with trainers.
9:06 PM MT: The Broncos would lose LT Garett Bolles to an apparent ankle injury after being rolled up on. He was carted off the field.
9:13 PM MT: Needing a first down to end the game, Russell Wilson threw a terrible pass to the end zone that was intercepted to give the Colts one last chance to extend the game.
9:18 PM MT: With the Colts driving, the Broncos lost another edge rusher with rookie second-rounder Nik Bonitto going down. Bradley Chubb is the only guy in the top four on the depth chart still in there. Bonitto would reenter the game quickly, though. Missing just one play.
9:25 PM MT: Much to the chagrin of all of America, the Colts were able to kick the game-tying field goal to send this game into overtime.
9:37 PM MT: In overtime, the Colts drove straight down the field to kick a field goal to take their first lead of the game 12-9. The Broncos get one shot to keep this game alive.
9:45 PM MT: Denver would get two big plays to the Colts 14-yard line. But instead of going for the tie, they went for the win and failed on a fourth down pass into the end zone.
Game Preview
Week 5 kicks off with Thursday Night Football and the Denver Broncos (2-2) will host the Indianapolis Colts (1-2-1) in their third prime time game this season. Both teams have stumbled coming out of the gates as their new quarterbacks figure out their new teams.
Matt Ryan is throwing a lot of interceptions, but over his last two games he has improved a lot with a 4-1 touchdown to interception ratio. However, he does have nine fumbles this season and that is an area the Broncos defense could exploit. Ryan has turned the ball over eight total times in four games.
Meanwhile, Russell Wilson has been up and down and all over the place in his start in Denver. He hasn’t been turnover prone like Ryan, but he also hasn’t been able to find any consistency on offense yet this season. He had his most efficient game last week, but a horrible third quarter led to a deficit the team could not overcome.
Kickoff is set for 6:15 p.m. Mile High time on Thursday, October 6, 2022 at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado.
My Prediction
In partnership with DraftKings Sportsbook, I am covering all my picks this year on TallySight. Our staff is fairly confident the Broncos can pull out a win here in our weekly score predictions and I was more confident than most with a 27-17 score prediction there. I think this is a game Denver pulls away from against the Colts.
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