The 2024 NFL season was a rough experience for fans of the Indianapolis Colts. From the Anthony Richardson rollercoaster to the 29th-ranked defense, there were plenty of lowlights. And yet, the Colts were still in the playoff race until late in the year. Unfortunately, a Week 15 collapse virtually ended their campaign and sealed their fate to miss a fourth straight postseason.
That embarrassing 31-13 loss to the Denver Broncos is a candidate for being the Colts’ worst moment of the year. Indianapolis made unforced errors and ultimately hammered the final nail in its own coffin. Nine months later, the Colts have a chance to redeem themselves via a Week 2 reunion with Sean Payton, Bo Nix, and the Broncos.
Indianapolis can’t erase years of disappointment in one game, but knocking off a playoff-caliber team is a great start. The Colts have an opportunity to show the world that they’ve learned from last year’s mistakes.
The Indianapolis Colts must avoid beating themselves in Week 2 against Denver
Denver’s 18-point margin of victory doesn’t really tell the whole story of last December’s game. It was way closer than the final scoreline suggested. The Colts actually held a 13-7 lead at halftime before the Broncos went on a 24-0 run that overwhelmed Indy. Their second-half destruction was caused by a series of blunders across the offense, defense, and special teams.
Richardson’s accuracy struggles were on full display throughout the game. The former first-rounder completed less than half of his passes and also threw a pair of interceptions. The first pick was an overthrow and killed the Colts’ early-game momentum, while the second was an underthrow and ended their fourth-quarter comeback attempt.
New starting QB Daniel Jones is far from perfect, but the passing game should be less of an issue this time around.
Along with Richardson, the other key players on the Indianapolis offense also had some mishaps against Denver. Elite running back Jonathan Taylor surpassed 100 rushing yards, but his game will always be remembered for a 41-yard would-be touchdown run that was negated after he dropped the ball before reaching the end zone.
No. 1 wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. also fumbled in the same quarter. The Colts need their star players to act like ones if they want to win games.
Possibly, the most humiliating part of the game was a failed trick play in the fourth quarter, right after the Broncos took their first lead of the day. Denver linebacker Nik Bonitto blew up a double-pass attempt and ran the ball back for a 50-yard defensive touchdown. Head Coach Shane Steichen’s playcall on a must-score drive was risky, and the execution was horrible.
On the other side of the ball, the Indianapolis defense was outstanding for three quarters, but then gave up two touchdowns late in the game. The Colts were guilty of missed tackles and blown coverages on both scores, opening the door for the Broncos to take control of the game. Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo needs to have his defense ready and locked in from kickoff to the final whistle.
Indianapolis even had issues on special teams. A 61-yard punt return from Denver’s Marvin Mims set up the Broncos inside the red zone and led to a go-ahead touchdown with less than 14 minutes to go.
Now, in 2025, Indianapolis has a real chance to avenge last season’s loss to Denver. According to oddsmakers, the Colts are only slight underdogs. But if they want to pull off this upset, they can’t afford to commit five turnovers or forget to play defense again.