Colts Blasted In Home Opener, Embarrassed On Both Sides

The Indianapolis Colts opened the regular season at home on Sunday, and while their opening-drive touchdown sparked optimism early, it was short-lived as they failed to come close to keeping up with the Baltimore Ravens on both offense and defense.

Baltimore got a touchdown on their first drive and hardly ever let up, going into the locker room at halftime with a 31-13 lead, and then ultimately winning 41-23.

Here's how it happened.

The Colts' offense sliced through Baltimore's back seven with passing precision over the middle of the field. Wide receiver Josh Downs account for 37 yards on two catches before running back Jonathan Taylor scored on a one-yard touchdown. Kicker Spencer Shrader missed the extra point, making it 6-0 with 10:33 left in the first quarter.

The Ravens responded with a touchdown of their own, as quarterback Lamar Jackson found receiver Zay Flowers for a 49-yard catch-and-run down to the one-yard line. After a false start, Jackson ran the ball in from five yards out. Their extra point gave them a 7-6 lead with 8:20 left in the first quarter.

The Colts failed to answer properly, with quarterback Daniel Jones throwing an interception to linebacker Roquan Smith just two plays into the drive.

Starting with great field position, Baltimore went 31 yards in six plays, culminating in a four-yard touchdown run by running back Derrick Henry to extend the lead to 14-6, with 4:05 remaining in the first quarter.

At this point, things really began slipping away from the Colts, as they had a three-and-out and punted late in the first quarter.

The Ravens' offense went methodical on the next drive, marching 59 yards down the field in 10 pays. However, their drive stalled out on 4th-and-Goal from the Indy 3-yard line as Jackson overthrew receiver Ja'Kobi Lane.

Taking the ball over deep in their own territory, the Colts were forced to punt after accumulating just 11 yards on five plays.

The Ravens responded with another touchdown on the ensuing drive, as Jackson and Flowers connected once again for a 54-yard catch-and-run score to make it 21-6, with 6:54 left in the first half.

Disaster struck once again for the Colts as Taylor fumbled on the first play of the next drive, gifting Baltimore yet another possession.

After another 12-yard completion from Jackson to Flowers to give the receiver a career-best 150 yard-day, Henry sauntered into the end zone from 32 yards out to extend the lead to 28-6, with 5:04 remaining in the half.

After another Colts three-and-out, the Ravens finally made a crucial mistake, as Colts edge defenders Laiatu Latu and Arden Key got to Jackson for a sack, as Key's hit dislodged the ball, and Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner scooped up the fumble.

Indy's offense showed signs of life on the following drive, as Taylor scooted in for a three-yard touchdown, his second of the day. That made it 28-13, Ravens, with 2:16 left in the half.

The teams then traded three-and-outs before the Ravens finished off the first half with a 57-yard field goal by Tyler Loop to go into halftime up 31-13.

The Ravens received the opening kickoff of the second half, but went three-and-out.

The Colts responded with a career-long 58-yard field goal from Shrader to cut the lead to 31-16 with 7:55 left in the third quarter.

The two sides each exchanged punts on a combined 10 plays to round of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter began much better than the third quarter ended, with both teams trading touchdowns.

The Ravens got Henry's third touchdown of the day, from three yards out, to make it 38-16 with 12:46 remaining in the game.

The Colts strung together a six-play, 74-yard drive, capped off by a nine-yard throw from Jones to tight end Tyler Warren up the middle for a score to cut the lead to 38-23, with 10:26 remaining.

Baltimore responded with a 45-yard field goal on a 10-play drive to extend the lead to 41-23, with 4:09 left in the game.

The Colts fell flat turning the ball over on downs on a four-play drive.

Baltimore ran the clock out afterward, concluding in a 41-23 final.