Colts lead the Broncos 13-7 in the first half in playoff defining game

The Indianapolis Colts are looking to keep their playoff hopes alive with a do-or-die match against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium. So far, the first half featured a great performance from the Colts defense, and the Anthony Richardson experience that fans have come to know and love (or hate).

The Colts began by receiving the ball, and the Broncos defense quickly shut them down on the first two plays; the Broncos have one of the best defenses in the NFL, and it showed. However, on 3rd down, Richardson threw a perfect throw to Josh Downs for a first down. Under pressure, Richardson had to scramble, and gained five yards; Jonathan Taylor followed that up with a run for a first down.

On the next play, the Colts saw one of the problems that has plagued them recently: good throws by Richardson which the receivers just can't hold onto. This pass went right into Alec Pierce's hands, and he just couldn't hold on. Richardson followed that up with a poor throw of his own, and the Colts were then facing 3rd and 10. Jonathan Taylor saved the drive with an incredible 15-yard run for a first down.

Richardson again was forced to run under pressure from the Broncos defense, and tried to throw it to Taylor, who couldn't get a hold of it. But he quickly managed to rebound with an amazing 23-yard run -- the longest of his career yet -- for the touchdown, getting the Colts onto the board first.

The Colts managed to burn through nearly five minutes on that drive, and despite looking a little worrisome in those first plays, came out strong. The question then was whether or not the Colts defense could shut down the Bo Nix and the Broncos offense.

After originally converting on third down, there was a brief scuffle in which the referees seemed to indicate a loose ball may have been a fumble; Jaylon Jones knocked the ball out and it was recovered by the Colts, but the referees ultimately decided the ball was down by contact, putting the Broncos at 2nd and three. Zaire Franklin stepped up and shut down their run play for a loss of two yards, and the defense was able to keep the receivers covered on the next play, only for Nix to be able to run a first down into Colts territory

But the tables were quickly turned as Franklin intercepted a pass from Nix, giving the Colts offense the ball back and putting an end to the Broncos' drive.

The Colts started out with back-to-back runs for Taylor, and then threw an incredible pass on third down for 17 yards to Michael Pittman, Jr., perfectly threading the needle between two Broncos' defenders. In typical Anthony Richardson fashion, he followed that up with a terrible pass meant for Downs, but was overthrown. He then faked a handoff to Taylor on second down, and managed to run for seven yards when he couldn't find an open receiver. On 3rd and three, Taylor came up short one yard, and as per usual, head coach Shane Steichen opted to go for it; Taylor easily got the first down with a five yard run.

On the next two drives, Steichen went with Taylor, trying for a run, but the Broncos defense put a stop to that quickly. The Colts now were facing 3rd and 9, and Taylor managed to run again for yet another first down.

The Broncos' rush defense is one of the best in the league, but it didn't seem like it on these first two drives from the Colts. Steichen called in Trey Sermon, who got the Colts to 3rd and 5 on the Broncos' 18-yard line, bringing an end to a first quarter in which the Colts absolutely dominated.

Richardson tried to throw for Kylen Granson, who was in perfect position, but he was slammed at the last moment by Brandon Jones, and Steichen sent Matt Gay onto the field for a field goal. With 14:49 left in the first half, the Colts were leading 10-0.

Nix led the Broncos offense to a quick first down, including a scramble for four yards. The Colts defense managed to keep the Broncos from getting much on the next drive, holding them to 3rd and 6, and then with DeForest Buckner getting a huge sack with a loss of nine... Buckner's third straight game with a sack.

The Broncos were forced to punt the ball away, with Anthony Gould returning it for 16 yards, with two flags thrown in the back. Both were against the Colts, putting the Colts offense back on the field at the four yard line.

Richardson quickly came under pressure on his first play, and was forced to throw the ball away out of bounds. On 2nd and 10, Taylor gained three yards; on third down, Richardson was nearly sacked. But showing his extraordinary athleticism, Richardson escaped not one, but two sacks, which would have given the Broncos a safety. The Colts had to punt the ball away, putting a quick end to that drive.

The Broncos were taking the field with their best field position of the game, and quickly drove into Colts territory. Nix dropped back to pass, but chased down by multiple Colts' defenders, he was forced to throw it away. The Broncos moved to a run on the next play, but E.J. Speed shut it down with a brutal hit, putting the Broncos at 3rd and 7. A pass from Nix got them a first down, though, and the Broncos ended up continuing their drive.

Jaylon Jones handed the Broncos a first down with a pass interference penalty, putting the Broncos into the red zone for the first time in the half. From there, Nix had an easy pass for a touchdown, narrowing the gap to just three points.

The Colts tried to respond with a run from Taylor up the middle, which went nowhere. Richardson then faked a handoff, and ran in for a first down. Under pressure, Richardson showed what an incredible escape artist he is, as multiple Broncos tried to take him down and completely, utterly failed. He was able to throw it away, while the Broncos defenders were seen visibly out of breath on the sideline. But Richardson then threw an interception, in an overthrown pass meant for Alec Pierce. A flag was thrown, but it was against the Colts, and the Broncos kept possession of the ball.

With just under four minutes left in the half, the Colts defense needed to put a quick stop to the Broncos offense, and managed to do just that; the Broncos went a quick three-and-out.

Anthony Richardson now had an opportunity to redeem himself with another chance on offense. They started with a handoff to Taylor, who gained four yards, and Richardson unfortunately followed that up with a pass meant for Downs that went nowhere. On 3rd and 6, he threw a pass meant for Pittman, who caught it too late and on the ground, and it was ruled an incompletion.

The Broncos started their drive at their own 28 yard line, and on the first two plays, the Colts managed to keep them from a first down, when the two-minute warning was called. At 3rd and 2, there were numerous flags thrown; the Broncos got charged with a false start after being tricked by the Colts defense, putting it at 3rd and 7 instead. The pass from Nix was complete, but it was absolutely buried by Samuel Womack, putting a quick stop to that drive again.

Gould gave the Colts incredible field position with a whopping 36-yard run, putting the offense nearly into Broncos territory with just 1:30 left in the half. A short pass from Richardson to Granson, despite heavy pressure, got the Colts 18 yards and a first down, not to mention well beyond field goal range.

On second down, the Broncos finally got Richardson, with a huge sack putting the Colts at 3rd and 15. Richardson threw a bomb aimed at Pierce in the end zone, but it was broken up by Kris Abrams-Draine, and Pierce remained down in the end zone, seemingly injured. He was able to walk of the field, and Matt Gay came out for a 49-yard field goal attempt, which was successful, and the Colts widened their lead, 13-7, as the half came to a close.

The Colts absolutely dominated the Broncos in the first quarter, but struggled much more in the second. Can they hold onto their lead through the rest of the game?