Broncos vs. Colts: 4 takeaways from Indianapolis’ 29-28 comeback win to improve to 2-0

By James Boyd, Nick Kosmider and David Carrillo Peñaloza

It looked like Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts couldn’t be stopped early on Sunday — scoring on their record 10th straight possession to open the season. And when it mattered, they weren’t as the Denver Broncos were unable to hold the Colts on the final drive.

Spencer Shrader hit a game-winning 45-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Colts to a 29-28 comeback win at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Shrader got a second chance to attempt the field goal after missing a 60-yard try on the previous play where Broncos linebacker Dondrea Tillman was flagged for a 15-yard personal-foul leverage penalty. With the second opportunity, Shrader nailed his fifth field goal of the game.

Jones, who completed 23 of 34 passes for 316 yards and one touchdown, had his first 300-yard game since 2023. The performance helped the Colts start 2-0 for the first time since 2009, when they reached the Super Bowl.

The quarterback and the Colts began Sunday the same way they finished last week: scoring.

The Colts made it 10-for-10, producing points on each of their first 10 possessions to start this season, breaking the 2024 New Orleans Saints’ record, on Jones’ 1-yard sneak that gave Indianapolis a 13-7 lead early in the second quarter.

Jones led the Colts to a score on the game’s opening drive, capped by Shrader’s 29-yard field goal — their eighth straight scoring drive. The lead was short-lived, though, as Broncos quarterback Bo Nix hit Marvin Mims Jr. for a 23-yard touchdown pass 18 seconds later.

Indianapolis extended its streak of consecutive scoring drives to nine, but again settled for a Shrader field goal — this one from 33 yards.

They set the record on Jones’ third 1-yard touchdown run of the season, but the streak ended when the Broncos stopped Indianapolis’ fourth-and-1 attempt at midfield later in the second quarter.

Nix, who had 206 passing yards, threw short touchdown passes to Troy Franklin and Adam Trautman in the second frame.

But Jones, who had a career-best 236 passing yards in the first half, found Jonathan Taylor with a 7-yard touchdown pass to cut Denver’s lead to 21-20 before halftime.

J.K. Dobbins’ 5-yard TD run put the Broncos ahead 28-20 early in the third quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Broncos again stopped Indianapolis on downs at midfield. Jones’ fourth-and-2 pass fell incomplete, but Denver (1-1) didn’t capitalize on the great field position. Nix threw an interception inside the Colts’ 10-yard line.

On the ensuing Indianapolis drive, Taylor broke loose for a 68-yard run, giving him his 25th 100-yard rushing game to break a tie for second in franchise history with Eric Dickerson. The play put the offense at Denver’s 12. Schrader cut the deficit to 28-26 with a 28-yard field goal — his second make of the half.

Denver had a chance to increase the lead late. However, Wil Lutz’s 42-yard field-goal attempt clanked off the right upright, allowing the Colts to put together one more scoring drive to win it.

Here are some key takeaways from the game.

Shrader is a hero

After Lutz missed a field goal in the fourth quarter, Shrader drilled his in dramatic fashion on the ensuing possession. Shrader initially missed a 60-yard field goal attempt at the buzzer, but Tillman’s mistake moved the Colts up 15 yards and allowed Shrader to deliver a walk-off win.

After a stellar Colts debut in Week 1, Jones showed no signs of slowing down in Week 2’s crazy win. The 2019 No. 6 pick, who supplanted 2023 No. 4 pick Anthony Richardson for the starting job in Indy, saved his best for last by leading the Colts on a game-winning field-goal drive. — James Boyd, Colts beat writer

Broncos pick on Xavien Howard

The Colts defense was nearly flawless in its season opener, allowing only eight points, which was the fewest amount of points it had conceded in nearly five years. The Dolphins hardly targeted veteran cornerback Xavien Howard, who was playing in his first NFL game in over a year, in Week 1, but on Sunday, the Broncos clearly thought Howard was a weak link. The 32-year-old gave up a 23-yard TD reception to Mims in the first quarter, and he was flagged three times on one Broncos possession in the second quarter. His miscues ultimately led to a 2-yard TD reception by Trautman that gave the Broncos a 21-13 lead.

But despite Howard’s struggles, Colts free safety Cam Bynum jumpstarted the defense with an interception at Indy’s 9-yard line in the fourth quarter. It marked the first time in the veteran’s career that he has recorded a pick in back-to-back games. Since Denver didn’t score on that drive, it provided just enough of a window for Indianapolis to mount a comeback win. — Boyd

Broncos defense gashed for too many explosive plays

The Broncos’ defense, which limited the Tennessee Titans to a meager 133 yards in Week 1, suffered one coverage breakdown after another Sunday.

Jones had four explosive passes in the first half alone that totaled 147 yards. He found Tyler Warren in the middle of the field after the rookie tight end ran by both of Denver’s linebackers. The Broncos busted two coverages on Taylor, including once on a 7-yard touchdown. Denver gave up four plays of more than 40 yards, including Taylor’s 68-yard in the fourth quarter. Taylor finished with 165 rushing yards on 25 carries.

It was a confounding performance for a veteran group in its third year under coordinator Vance Joseph. It’s one thing to get beat in coverage, but the Broncos were too frequently out of position. The splash plays helped the Colts reach the red zone on five of their first six possessions.

“It can’t happen,” coach Sean Payton said during the CBS broadcast at halftime.

The Broncos are clearly eager for inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw to make his debut. Denver has struggled against running backs in coverage dating back to last season, an area the free-agent acquisition was signed to help clean up for the Broncos. Greenlaw practiced on a limited basis Friday, so it’s possible he could return in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Yes, the leverage penalty on the game’s final play stood as the defining moment. But the Broncos were in position to lose because they couldn’t consistently stop the Indianapolis offense. — Nick Kosmider, Broncos beat writer

Nix’s ill-timed turnover costs Broncos

For much of Sunday, Nix displayed blended improvisational play-making with sound decision-making, bouncing back from a rocky season opener in which he had three turnovers. He threw three touchdown passes through the first three quarters, picked up a big first down with his legs and generally ignited Denver’s offense.

But his lone big mistake turned out to be catastrophic. With the Broncos leading 28-23, Nix’s pass for Courtland Sutton near the red zone sailed on him and was intercepted by Bynum. The Broncos were in position for a field goal that would have extended their lead to eight points, but the Colts turned the takeaway into a field goal that cut the lead to two. After Lutz missed a 42-yard field goal with a little more than 2 minutes left, the Colts had time to drive for the winning field goal.

Nix appeared to alter his arm angle to avoid the rush and the ball came out high. Bynum made a diving catch that extinguished a critical drive for the Broncos. — Kosmider

(Photo: Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA Today Network via Imagn Images )