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USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Paul Bretl

Colts vs Broncos: Live updates, highlights, analysis from Week 15

Colts Broncos

It may only be Week 15 around the NFL, but for the Indianapolis Colts, the playoffs are underway this week against the Denver Broncos.

The Colts will enter Sunday’s game at 6-7, a full two games behind the Broncos for the AFC’s final wildcard spot. But with a win, that lead is cut to just one game with the Colts having a favorable remaining schedule, along with holding the head-to-head tie-breaker over Denver.

In this scenario, we see the Colts’ playoff odds skyrocket to 68 percent, according to PFF.

But on the flip side, a loss to the Broncos and the Colts’ playoff odds drop to just 10 percent and making the postseason would require a lot of help from other teams.

So, to say the least, this is a big one for Anthony Richardson and the Colts, who will face a Broncos team that’s performed very well in the trenches this season.

The Colts vs. Broncos game will be broadcast regionally on CBS. Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta will call the game from the booth at Empower Field at Mile High, with Aditi Kinkhabwala reporting from the sidelines.

Colts Inactives

The Colts have listed five players as inactive for this game. For more on that, click here.

QB Sam Ehlinger
DE Isaiah Land
S Darren Hall
WR Ashton Dulin
G Atonio Mafi

Of note with the Broncos, they will be without starting cornerback Riley Moss.

Live Scoring Updates

First quarter

Anthony Richardson runs it in on the opening drive from 23 yards out. Colts lead 7-0.

Second quarter

Following Zaire Franklin’s interception, the Colts put together a 14-play, 52 yard drive that ended with a Matt Gay 37 yard field goal. Colts lead 10-0.

Box Nix finds TE Adam Trautman wide open for a touchdown. Colts lead 10-7.

The first half ends with Matt Gay making a 49 yard field goal, that was set up by a defensive stop by the Colts and a big punt return by rookie Anthony Gould. Colts lead 13-7.

In-game Analysis

– Shane Steichen continues to be very good with the opening script at the start of the game. Also, those were two really big third-and-long conversions on that possession–a completion to Josh Downs and a run by Jonathan Taylor–to keep the drive alive, which eventually resulted in the touchdown.

– An opening drive touchdown followed by an interception by Zaire Franklin–you can’t ask for a better start from the Colts.

– Colts are really sticking with the run game early on, which is great to see. Running between the tackles for Taylor hasn’t come easy, but some outside runs have found success.

– There’s still a long ways to go as I’m typing this, but a really nice start for the Colts’ offensive line in pass protection against one of the best defenses at forcing pressure. It also doesn’t hurt to have Richardson as your quarterback and his elite ability to avoid sacks.

– Well, we are now about to start the third quarter, and the Denver pass rush is getting home Per PFF, Richardson was pressured on 43% of his first half dropbacks

– I mentioned it as something to watch today beforehand, but Bo Nix is having some success with the ball in his hands, particularly when the Colts are rushing only four.

– There were some big stops at the end of the first half by the Colts defense. In total during that first half, as Joel Erickson noted, the Broncos’ offense ran 27 plays and had 94 yards at 3.5 yards per play. The Broncos drives ended in interception, punt, touchdown, punt, and punt.