December 16th 2024.
As the Denver Broncos celebrated their 31-13 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15, there were some initial thoughts that stood out. One of the main concerns was the absence of second-year cornerback Riley Moss, who was missing due to an injury. The results of his absence were evident in the first five quarters, with the Colts racking up 35 first downs and a whopping 674 yards, resulting in 42 points. This was a major cause for concern, especially when the Colts' running back Jonathan Taylor was able to easily break through the Broncos' defense on third-and-long situations. However, things turned around in the second quarter when the Broncos' defense stepped up and put pressure on the Colts' quarterback, Anthony Richardson, resulting in a much-needed shift in momentum.
Another area of concern for the Broncos was their run game, which heavily relied on quarterback Bo Nix in the first two quarters. This was surprising, as the Colts had the second-worst run defense in the league, making it the perfect opportunity for the Broncos to unleash their running backs Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime. However, this was not the case, and the Broncos' running backs only had eight carries for 15 yards at halftime, with Estime not even getting a single touch. Even more perplexing was the fact that head coach Sean Payton stated at halftime that the team needed to run more, but then called for a pass on a critical third-and-short play that resulted in an interception thrown by Nix. This was a disappointing turn of events for the Broncos' run game.
Speaking of Nix, the rookie quarterback showed some signs of inexperience during the game. It was expected for Nix to have some off days in his first season in the league, but many thought he had gotten them out of the way earlier in the season. However, this game proved otherwise, as Nix struggled with his decision-making and threw a few interceptions. This may have been a reality check for those who were quick to label Nix as the Offensive Rookie of the Year, but despite his mistakes, he was still able to throw three touchdown passes and lead the team to victory.
Despite the challenges and mistakes, the Broncos were able to come out on top and secure a critical win against the Colts. The defense was able to force five turnovers, and special teams also played a significant role in securing the win, with second-year returner Marvin Mims Jr. making a 61-yard return, and Nik Bonitto scoring a touchdown on defense. This is the mark of a good team, one that is able to find a way to win even when things are not going their way. The Broncos have now ended a seven-year losing streak at home and are likely to end their eight-year playoff drought with their current record of 9-5. It's an exciting time for Broncos Country, and fans can expect more NFL analysis by signing up for the Broncos Insider.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
