Ugliness in Primetime

10/07/2022

By: Jeff Yoder

Colts Beat Broncos in Ugly Touchdown-Less Thursday Nighter (12-9, OT)

The Thursday Night Football matchup was one many circled on the schedule at the beginning of the season. By Week 4, it was less enticing. And in the end, the Colts-Broncos showdown was one of the ugliest games of the season. With both Russell Wilson (Broncos) and Matt Ryan (Colts) being offseason headlines with new teams, the two QBs combined for zero touchdowns and four interceptions. They both fumbled six times, too, but no fumbles were lost. Both teams were already missing players with injuries, and the war of attrition continued as Denver OL Garett Boles was carted off with a leg injury.

 

The Broncos held a 9-6 lead in a field goal frenzy before Colts DB Stephon Gilmore secured a late-game interception. Indy tacked on the game-tying field goal to force overtime with seconds left before winning with another field goal in OT. Some fans were so disgusted, they left at the end of regulation (imagine leaving a primetime game heading to overtime).

 

Scoring Summary

K C. McLaughlin (IND): 4-for-4 (12 Points)

K B. McManus (DEN): 3-for-4 (9 Points)

 

Watch: Colts Beat Broncos in Field Goal Laugher (12-9, OT)

 

Fun Fact: Even with an extra game in the books, the Colts (31st) and Broncos (21st) still rank near the bottom in scoring offense. In what seemed to be an attempt to replicate Matthew Stafford’s career revival in Los Angeles from a year ago, Denver and Indy appear lifeless on offense with their new quarterbacks.

 

Additional Storylines

SI: NFL World Collectively Groans as Broncos-Colts Ends in a Dud

CBS Sports: Ryan & Wilson Stumble as Colts Win Ugly Defensive Battle

 

Photo: Cooper Neill / Getty Images