The Denver Broncos (1-1) fell to the Indianapolis Colts (2-0) on a last-second field goal in a 29-28 thriller at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Indy went 61 yards on the game’s opening drive before settling for a 29-yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. Denver topped that with a 64-yard drive that was capped with quarterback Bo Nix’s 23-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marvin Mims to take a 7-3 lead. After that, the Colts added a 33-yard field goal to make it 7-6.
Following a 47-yard punt from Broncos rookie Jeremy Crawshaw, Indy drove down to the Broncos’ one-yard line and quarterback Daniel Jones scored on a QB sneak to take a 13-7 lead early in the second quarter. Denver retook the lead on its next drive after Nix threw a three-yard touchdown pass to receiver Troy Franklin to make it 14-13. That score was set up by Nix’s 42-yard pass to Franklin on a scramble drill earlier in the drive.
After the Broncos’ defense stopped the Colts on fourth down near midfield, Denver went 50 yards (aided by 21 penalty yards from Indy’s defense) before Nix threw a three-yard touchdown pass to tight end Adam Trautman to extend the lead to 21-13. The Colts matched that score when Jones threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to running back Jonathan Taylor to cut the deficit to 21-20, which ended up being the score at halftime.
Denver opened the third quarter with a seven-play, 60-yard drive that ended with a five-yard touchdown run from J.K. Dobbins to make it 28-20. Indy added a 36-yard field goal on its ensuing drive to cut the deficit to 28-23. The Broncos punted on their next drive, then the defense got another fourth-down stop to give the ball back to Denver’s offense at midfield. Four players later, Nix threw an interception to give the ball back to the Colts at their nine-yard line.
On Indy’s ensuing drive, Taylor ripped off a 68-yard run to set the Colts up at the 12-yard line, but they were forced to settle for a field goal to make it 28-26 midway through the fourth quarter. Broncos kicker Wil Lutz missed a 42-yard field goal on the team’s next drive and Indy got the ball back down by two points with 3:15 remaining in the game. The Colts later missed a 60-yard field goal attempt wide right, but defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike was penalized for “leverage.” Following that 15-yard penalty, Indy kicker Spencer Shrader converted a 45-yard attempt to seal a 29-28 win.
On the injury front, Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen briefly left the game in the first quarter, but he returned to the field just a few plays later. Denver cornerback Pat Surtain left with an ankle injury in the second quarter, but returned to the game one series later.
Up next on the Broncos’ schedule is a road game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL news: Late penalty cost Broncos game in loss to Colts