Colts found a way to win the worst game of the season but they are in serious trouble
After a really bad game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos, Indy found a way to pull out a win in overtime.
On Thursday night, the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos played a game that has to be a shoo-in for the worst game of the season. If another game can somehow be worse than that one, bless the fans that will be able to make it through. For the fans that weathered the storm and made it to the end of regulation on Thursday night, they were rewarded with overtime— an additional period for bad football to be played.
In overtime, that’s when the Colts were finally able to take their first lead of the game going up 12-9. The score would hold after Indy was able to deny Denver’s fourth-down pass attempt into the end zone. In total, the game had seven field goals, 12 punts, and 10 sacks. While many people entered the game with low expectations, both teams still failed to meet them.
Part of this was because it was a Thursday game and both teams had a short week. But, the majority of the issue was that both teams are just playing bad football right now, especially Indianapolis. Although they now have a 2-2-1 record, fans likely didn’t leave the game feeling any better than they would have felt if Indy lost.
The Colts looked really bad against the Broncos
Let’s be fair and give credit to the defenses. While it was some bad offense played, both defenses have been solid all year and they continued that on Thursday. Stephon Gilmore may have been the best player on the field and he ultimately won the game for Indianapolis. He had a clutch interception towards the end of regulation and also the game-sealing deflection.
Alec Pierce also officially arrived, becoming Matt Ryan’s go-to target on the night catching eight passes for 81 yards. There were several times when Ryan kind of floated up a bad pass and Pierce bailed him out. With more performances like Thursday’s game, Pierce could be a contender for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
However, that may be the only trophy the Colts are in the running for this season. With five games now played, the offensive line still looks really bad, even with all of the movement Indy has been trying. Matt Ryan has also been extremely inconsistent, making indefensible decisions and costly turnovers. On top of all of that, Indy is extremely banged up.
The Colts entered Thursday’s game with Jonathan Taylor, Shaquille Leonard, and Julian Blackmon out and they left the game with Nyheim Hines in concussion protocol, Ryan Kelly dealing with a hip injury, Ashton Dulin injuring his foot, Matt Ryan shaking the wrist of his throwing hand, and Kwity Paye leaving the game on a cart.
If Indianapolis wasn’t challenged enough by its poor play, the team now has to find a way to overcome several injuries.