INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Down by two points to the Denver Broncos with just over three minutes remaining in the game and 68 yards to go, Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts offense took possession of the ball.
With a chance to overcome the first bit of adversity thrown at them in the young season, they initially appeared to fall short.
Jones and the offense marched the ball down to Denver's 40-yard line, and on third down, they thought they'd pick up a few extra yards. However, running back Jonathan Taylor was stonewalled for a two-yard loss. It forced the Colts to settle for a 60-yard field goal attempt with three seconds remaining, with a kicker in Spencer Shrader who'd never even attempted a 50-yarder before.
Shrader launched his kick as it sailed wide right, the game appearing to be over. However, a flag on the field gave the Colts new life as the Broncos were called for a leverage penalty, due to a defender attempting to boost himself up to block the field goal.
The Colts were rewarded 15 yards, and just like he has on every other attempt that counted this season, Shrader put the ball through the uprights to give the Colts their first 2-0 start since 2009 and the days of Peyton Manning.
Here's how all the action transpired.
FIRST QUARTER
Shrader connected on a 29-yard field goal on the Colts' first drive to give them an early 3-0 lead, with 11:51 remaining in the first quarter. The drive went for nine plays, 61 yards, and lasted 3:09. The Colts had scored on eight consecutive drives to start the season, to this point.
On the Broncos' ensuing drive, quarterback Bo Nix found receiver Marvin Mims Jr. on a well-placed throw into the end zone from 23 yards out, with Colts cornerback Xavien Howard in coverage. Kicker Will Lutz's extra point gave Denver a 7-3 lead, with 8:24 left in the first quarter.
On the next drive, Jones outran Broncos edge rusher Jonathan Cooper to the sideline to pick up a first down on 3rd-and-1. On the next play, Jones found a wide-open Tyler Warren down the left side for a 41-yard catch and run. The Colts settled for a field goal on the play, as Shrader knocked it in from 33 yards to cut the lead to 7-6. The drive lasted eight plays, 55 yards, and 4:05.
SECOND QUARTER
For the third straight drive of the day and the 10th consecutive to start the season, the Colts put points on the board. That's a new NFL record to begin a season. Jones ran a quarterback sneak into the teeth of the defense from inches out to give the Colts their first touchdown of the day. It was Jones' third rushing touchdown in the first two games. Shrader's extra point made it 13-7, Colts, with 14:12 remaining in the first half. The drive lasted seven plays, 85 yards, and 3:30.
It didn't take Denver long to fight back, as they exploited the Colts' secondary on the next drive. Nix found Troy Franklin down the left side for a 42-yard gain before hitting him again on a wide-open three-yard touchdown later in the drive. The score and extra point allowed the Broncos to retake the lead, 14-13, with 10:42 left in the first half.
The Colts were finally forced to punt on their next drive, breaking their streak of 10 consecutive drives with a score to start the season (and three to start the day). The Broncos took advantage and built a solid lead, as Nix found Adam Trautman alone in the end zone from two yards out. The extra point made it 21-13, Broncos, with 3:303 remaining in the half. On the drive, in a span of five plays, Howard was called for three penalties: two defensive pass interferences and a defensive holding.
Rather than allow the chaos from the previous drive to consume them, the Colts' offense responded with its own touchdown. Right after the two-minute warning, Jones found Alec Pierce down the right side for a 44-yard gain. Two plays later, Jones found Taylor open along the right side for a seven-yard score. It made the game 21-20, Denver, with 1:31 remaining in the first half.
HALFTIME CHECK-IN
This was a defense optional first half for both sides. The Colts accumulated 272 yards of offense and 20 points, while Denver had 171 yards and 21 points.
There were a pair of no-calls that would've worked to the Colts' benefit. On each of their first two drives, Jones targeted a receiver in the end zone — AD Mitchell from 50 yards out and Pierce from 15 yards out — with a Broncos defender initiating enough contact before the ball arrived to justify a penalty. Later, on a Broncos 3rd-and-6 at Indy's 35-yard line, with just over five minutes left in the first half, Nix found Pat Bryant on a pass that was called good enough for a first down, but was clearly not long enough of a gain. It was upheld after a challenge by the Colts. The downward spiral by Howard then began shortly after. The first call against him was debatable by the officials (the Colts' sideline was then called for unsportsmanlike conduct for their reaction), but the others were clear infractions by Howard.
THIRD QUARTER
The Broncos arrived for the third quarter with authority, marching downfield 60 yards in seven plays, punctuating the drive with a five-yard run by J.K. Dobbins to extend the lead to 28-20, with 11:13 left in the third quarter.
The Colts responded with a 36-yard field goal by Shrader to cut Denver's lead to 28-23, with 5:42 remaining in the third quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
The Colts' first drive of the fourth quarter was a turnover on downs, as Jones dropped back on 4th-and-2 looking for Taylor, who was quickly covered by a defender. Jones then threw the ball to Warren on a shallow route on the left side, but was hit as he threw as the ball fell incomplete. The Broncos took back the ball, leading 28-23, with 13:02 remaining in the game.
On 3rd-and-3 at the Colts' 28-yard line, Nix overthrew a pass intended for Courtland Sutton, and it was intercepted by Colts safety Cam Bynum, who likely saved at least three points. What followed was perhaps the best turnover celebration of Bynum's career:
After finally catching a break on defense following their takeaway, the Colts' offense got 79 yards on three runs from Taylor, who sprinted 68 yards down the right side to the Broncos' 12-yard line. The Colts' drive stalled out, however, but they still got a 28-yard field goal from Shrader to cut Denver's lead to 28-26, with 8:33 remaining.
While holding a two-point lead, the Broncos attempted a 42-yard field goal that struck the right upright, falling no good. It gave the Colts the ball at their own 32-yard line with 3:15 remaining in the game.
The Colts marched methodically to Denver's 40-yard line, where they were all but doomed to settle for a 60-yard field goal attempt. The ball did go wide right, but the Colts were given a second chance due to a leverage penalty on Denver. With a renewed opportunity, Shrader's 45-yard attempt stayed true — Colts win.
Jake Arthur has been covering the Indianapolis Colts for over a dozen years and is a member of the PFWA. He's one half of the Locked On Colts podcast and has worked for the Colts' official website, On SI, and more. You can follow him on X @JakeArthurNFL.