Highlights and lowlights from the Broncos’ 15-13 loss to the Colts on Sunday.
UP: Nice to see the roof open at Lucas Oil Stadium, and the sun streaming through the windows at The Place That Peyton Built on a mid-60s degree day in Indianapolis. Football is meant to be played outside and this was close enough.
DOWN: The Colts got the home crowd going as Zach Pascal took ‘ opening kickoff for a 47-yard return to the Indianapolis 49-yard line. McManus shoved Pascal out of bounds to prevent further damage.
UP: But, after that special teams gaffe, the Denver defense held Indianapolis to a field goal attempt. Future Hall of Famer Adam Vinatieri pushed his 45-yard kick wide right after ‘ tackle prevented a first down.
DOWN: The first quarter ended with Garett Bolles getting bull-rushed to the turf for a sack by Justin Houston on . It was the first gaffe in a series of gaffes on the drive for the embattled left tackle.
ٰ±:Two starters, right tackle Ja’Wuan James and tight end , went down with knee injuries on the same drive in the second quarter. James, active for the first time since Week 1, was ruled out.
:Despite startling ineptitude by the Denver offense in the red zone, the Broncos headed into halftime with a 6-3 lead thanks to stifling defense.
DOWN: Given a chance to put the game away in the fourth quarter, Denver couldn’t do anything with multiple opportunities. A combination of conservative play calls and penalties halted the offense all day.
UP: Flacco reached 40,000 career passing yards on the Broncos’ first drive of the second half, and Denver finally capitalized on a couple of Indianapolis penalties via Royce Freeman’s 4-yard touchdown run.
ٰ±: came untouched through the middle of the line on the first play of the Colts’ last drive, but Brissett slipped out of his fingertips in the Colts’ end zone and found for a 35-yard competition. It turned out to be the play of the game.
UP: Seven punts for Denver. and NO fakes. Heh, bright spots are hard to find.
ٰ±:Second-year linebacker Alexander Johnson further compounded the damage of that drive with a 15-yard penalty for a horse-collar tackle on Colts running back Nyheim Hines to put Indianapolis in position for Vinatieri’s winning field goal.
UP: Even when the defense did finally yield its first touchdown late in the third quarter, the Broncos continued to benefit from Vinatieri’s rough day. Vinatieri’s missed field goal in the first quarter was followed by a missed extra point to keep Denver in front, 13-12. Alas, it wasn’t enough.
