NFL

Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts

· National Football League
1-0, 1-0 Away
Final
34 - 30
0-1, 0-1 Home

Rookie Bo Nix's strong NFL debut leads Broncos past Colts 34-30 in preseason opener

Nix, the No. 12 overall draft pick in April, was 15 of 21 for 125 yards while rushing three times for 17 yards before departing midway through the third quarter and being replaced by former New York Jets starter Zach Wilson.

Veteran Jarrett Stidham started the game and finished 4 of 7 with 57 yards and one interception.

But in his first NFL game, Nix may have taken the lead in the battle for Denver's starting job.

“Bo Nix is just a great athlete, and I was so close to getting that dude,” Colts rookie Laiatu Latu said. “But I didn’t get him.”

He certainly was the most efficient of the three and proved the difference playing mostly against Indy's backup defense.

For the Colts, it was all about seeing second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson and 2021 NFL rushing champ Jonathan Taylor in the same backfield after injuries limited the duo to just two snaps all of last season.

They played just two series and didn't get much done. Richardson finished 2 of 4 with 25 yards and ran once for 1 yard in his first action since suffering a season-ending injury to his throwing shoulder in October. Taylor had two carries for 4 yards.

“We were talking about that in the locker room at halftime,” Richardson said, explaining he was excited to appear in his first game since October. “We were kind of disappointed we didn't get more reps than that. But there's time for that.”

Longtime veteran Joe Flacco led the Colts to a field goal on his only series and was 3 of 5 for 28 yards.

Nix broke a 3-3 tie with a 1-yard TD pass to Marvin Mims Jr. late in the second quarter and, after Evan Hull tied the score on a 1-yard scoring plunge, set up Will Lutz for the go-ahead 27-yard field goal with 5 seconds left in the first half.

Audric Estime's 2-yard TD run gave the Broncos a 20-10 lead midway through the third, but Indy cornerback Micah Abraham made it 20-17 when he ripped the ball out of Estime's hands and sprinted 45 yards for a touchdown.

Denver sealed the victory with Blake Watson's 6-yard TD run with 5:55 to play.

Homecoming Estime and another Broncos rookie, cornerback Reese Taylor, made their NFL debuts in a familiar state.

Estime rushed 10 times for 31 yards after spending three seasons at Notre Dame.

Taylor, a defensive back, made a tackle on a kickoff. He started his college football career at Indiana, finished at Purdue and was the state’s 2017 Mr. Football Award winner as a quarterback at Indianapolis' Ben Davis High School.

Injuries Broncos: Tight end Lucas Krull did not return after being diagnosed with an injured toe during the third quarter. He had four catches for 31 yards. Cornerback Art Green left late in the third quarter and was ruled out after being evaluated for a concussion.

Colts: Backup running back Trey Sermon was held out after injuring his left hamstring during the first half. Defensive end Titus Leo also entered the injury tent during the second half. Leo was carted off the practice field with a knee injury earlier in training camp. Running back Trent Pennix left with a groin injury.

Up Next Broncos: Host Green Bay next Sunday.

Colts: Welcome Arizona to town Saturday following two joint practices this week.

How can I watch Broncos vs. Colts?

  • TV Channel: Broncos at Colts 2021-22 NFL, week 2 is broadcasted nationally on NFL Net and NFL+.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
    In Canada, viewers can watch Broncos vs. Colts on DAZN.

Scoring Summary

IND FG 1st Period 3:11 Matt Gay 35 Yd Field Goal
DEN FG 2nd Period 14:47 Wil Lutz 41 Yd Field Goal
DEN TD 2nd Period 4:51 Marvin Mims Jr. 1 Yd pass from Bo Nix (Wil Lutz Kick)
IND TD 2nd Period 1:45 Evan Hull 1 Yd Run (Matt Gay Kick)
DEN FG 2nd Period 0:05 Wil Lutz 27 Yd Field Goal
DEN TD 3rd Period 9:10 Audric Estime 2 Yd Run (Wil Lutz Kick)
IND TD 3rd Period 6:58 Micah Abraham 45 Yd Fumble Return (Spencer Shrader Kick)
DEN TD 3rd Period 2:18 Tyler Badie 11 Yd Run (Wil Lutz Kick)
IND TD 4th Period 13:38 Tyler Goodson 1 Yd Run (Spencer Shrader Kick)
DEN TD 4th Period 5:55 Blake Watson 6 Yd Run (Wil Lutz Kick)
IND TD 4th Period 4:11 Laquon Treadwell 16 Yd pass from Jason Bean (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/den.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originDEN https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/ind.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originIND
32 1st Downs 17
16 Passing 1st downs 11
11 Rushing 1st downs 5
5 1st downs from penalties 1
7-13 3rd down efficiency 4-10
2-2 4th down efficiency 1-1
79 Total Plays 51
410 Total Yards 283
5.2 Yards per Play 5.5
12 Total Drives 11
279 Passing 219
29/41 Comp/Att 17/26
6.8 Yards per pass 7.8
1 Interceptions thrown 1
0-0 Sacks-Yards Lost 2-4
131 Rushing 64
38 Rushing Attempts 23
3.4 Yards per rush 2.8
4-6 Red Zone (Made-Att) 3-5
6-60 Penalties 7-79
3 Turnovers 2
2 Fumbles lost 1
1 Interceptions thrown 1
0 Defensive / Special Teams TDs 1
38:02 Possession 21:58

Game Information

Lucas Oil Stadium

Location: Indianapolis, IN
Attendance: 63,528 · Capacity:

2024 AFC West Standings

TEAM W L PCT T PF PA
Kansas City 14 1 .933 0 356 278
Los Angeles 9 6 .600 0 328 274
Denver 9 6 .600 0 363 281
Las Vegas 3 12 .200 0 264 390

2024 AFC South Standings

TEAM W L PCT T PF PA
Houston 9 6 .600 0 347 327
Indianapolis 7 8 .467 0 318 359
Jacksonville 3 12 .200 0 277 396
Tennessee 3 12 .200 0 284 417
Full Standings

NFL News

Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes throws 2 TD passes early

Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes throws 2 TD passes early

Worthy's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the first TD resulted in a longer PAT try, which Harrison Butker missed.

Seahawks look to boost fading playoff hopes against struggling Bears

Seahawks look to boost fading playoff hopes against struggling Bears

Seattle (8-7) at Chicago (4-11)

2024 NFL Christmas games: Picks, schedule, predictions, odds

2024 NFL Christmas games: Picks, schedule, predictions, odds

We have top storylines, bold predictions, game-plan keys and fantasy X factors for the Christmas games and Week 17's Thursday night matchup.

NFL Week 17 uniforms: Texans rock H-Town blue for Christmas

NFL Week 17 uniforms: Texans rock H-Town blue for Christmas

The Christmas week is bringing out notable uniforms on the field during NFL's Week 17.

Chiefs and Steelers make festive Week 17 arrivals

Chiefs and Steelers make festive Week 17 arrivals

NFL players around the league showed out in their Week 17 arrivals.