The Broncos haven’t nailed down a playoff berth simply but, but it surely appears to be like like their lengthy drought is about to come back to an finish.
After falling behind the Colts 13-7 within the first half, the Broncos had been the one staff to attain within the second half. The 31-13 win strikes them to 9-5 on the season and a win over the Chargers subsequent weekend will assure them their first postseason berth since they received Tremendous Bowl 50 in February 2016.
The Broncos have their particular groups and protection to thank for the turnaround. Large receiver Marvin Mims returned a punt 60 yards to arrange a Nate Adkins landing catch that gave the Broncos their first lead of the sport early within the fourth quarter. On the following drive, the Colts tried a trick play that known as for wideout Adonai Mitchell to throw the ball again to quarterback Anthony Richardson behind the road of scrimmage. Edge rusher Nik Bonitto stepped in entrance of the ball and returned it for a 50-yard rating that fully flipped the sport.
Bonitto additionally scored in opposition to the Browns a few weeks in the past and his knack for large performs is one in every of many issues to love a few Broncos protection that has been one of many thorniest to cope with in the whole league. It wasn’t their solely huge play within the second half.
Broncos security P.J. Locke additionally pressured a fumble by Colts vast receiver Michael Pittman Jr. within the third quarter and the Colts gave the ball away on their very own earlier within the second half. Working again Jonathan Taylor broke unfastened for what ought to have been a 41-yard landing run, however he selected to drop the ball earlier than breaking the airplane of the top zone and the ball went out of bounds for a Broncos touchback.
One unfavorable for the Broncos popped up late within the recreation when star nook Pat Surtain II injured his ankle, though he was capable of stroll off with assist from trainers. Defensive linemen D.J. Jones and Malcolm Roach additionally picked up accidents that will probably be monitored throughout the week.
The Taylor rating would have put the Colts up by 13 factors and each turnovers got here after the Indianapolis protection picked off passes by Broncos quarterback Bo Nix. These missed alternatives had been an excessive amount of for the Colts to beat and their playoff hopes are virtually extinguished after falling to 6-8 on the season.
If they’re going to have a greater destiny in 2025, they might want to discover a solution to improve quarterback Anthony Richardson’s accuracy. He confirmed off his athletic skill on a 23-yard landing run within the first half, however he was 17-of-38 for 172 yards and threw interceptions in each halves of the loss.
