Indianapolis defeated Denver 29-28 on September 14, 2025, behind Jonathan Taylor’s 165 rushing yards and Spencer Shrader’s game-winning field goal. Bo Nix threw three touchdowns, but his fourth-quarter interception proved costly. Daniel Jones threw for 316 yards in the Colts’ victory.
Game Overview and Final Score
The Colts escaped with a one-point victory at Lucas Oil Stadium after Spencer Shrader nailed a 45-yard field goal as time expired. Denver held a 28-23 lead entering the fourth quarter, but couldn’t protect it.
The Broncos outscored Indianapolis 21-14 in the second quarter to take a 21-20 halftime advantage. J.K. Dobbins’ 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave Denver a 28-20 lead, but the offense stalled when it mattered most.
Indianapolis controlled possession for 32:07 compared to Denver’s 27:53. The Colts converted 6 of 13 third downs (46.2%) while the Broncos managed just 4 of 9 (44.4%). That possession edge allowed Indianapolis to grind out the final drive and set up Shrader’s winner.
| Team | Total Yards | Passing Yards | Rushing Yards | Turnovers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | 324 | 206 | 118 | 1 |
| Indianapolis | 473 | 316 | 167 | 0 |
Quarterback Performance: Nix vs Jones
Bo Nix completed 22 of 30 passes for 206 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. His 111.2 passer rating looked solid on paper, but the numbers don’t tell the full story. Nix averaged just 6.9 yards per attempt—a sign of conservative playcalling that kept drives alive but failed to stretch the field.
The rookie quarterback found Troy Franklin for a 3-yard touchdown, connected with Marvin Mims Jr. on a 23-yard score, and hit Adam Trautman for a 2-yard touchdown. All three came in the first three quarters. When Denver needed a scoring drive in the fourth, Nix threw a critical interception to Cam Bynum inside Indianapolis territory.
Nix added 20 rushing yards on three carries, with an 18-yard scramble as his longest gain. His mobility helped extend plays, but Denver needed more explosive passing to match Indianapolis’s offensive output.
Daniel Jones delivered his best performance since returning to form. The Colts quarterback went 23 of 34 for 316 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions. His 107.0 passer rating reflected steady decision-making and aggressive downfield throws.
Jones averaged 9.3 yards per attempt—2.4 yards more than Nix. That gap reveals Indianapolis’s offensive approach: attack vertically, while Denver played it safe. Jones connected with Jonathan Taylor for a 7-yard touchdown pass and spread the ball to nine different receivers.
The veteran also contributed six carries for two yards and one rushing touchdown on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. His first 300-yard passing game since September 2023 proved he’s regained command of the position.
Running Game Dominance: Taylor’s Explosive Day
Jonathan Taylor controlled the game on the ground with 25 carries for 165 yards, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. His 68-yard rush stood as the game’s longest play from scrimmage and showcased the burst that makes him one of the league’s premier backs.
Taylor’s workload increased in the fourth quarter as Indianapolis protected a narrow lead. He carried the ball seven times on the final drive alone, grinding out first downs and draining the clock before Shrader’s field goal attempt.
The star running back also caught two passes for 50 yards, including the 7-yard touchdown reception. His 43-yard catch moved the chains on a critical third down. Taylor finished with 215 all-purpose yards and proved impossible for Denver’s defense to contain.
J.K. Dobbins led Denver with 14 carries for 76 yards and one touchdown, averaging 5.4 yards per attempt. His 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave the Broncos their 28-20 lead. Dobbins showed burst on a 23-yard rush but couldn’t match Taylor’s explosive plays.
Dobbins managed just one catch for nine yards, limiting his receiving impact. RJ Harvey added five carries for eight yards, while Tyler Badie contributed one carry for three yards. Denver totaled 118 rushing yards on 24 attempts (4.9 average)—solid production that couldn’t overcome the passing game deficit.
Receiving Corps Breakdown
Denver’s Passing Attack
Troy Franklin emerged as Bo Nix’s primary target with eight catches for 89 yards and one touchdown on nine targets. His 42-yard reception set up a scoring opportunity in the second quarter. Franklin’s 11.1 yards per catch and 88.9% catch rate made him the most reliable receiver on the field for Denver.
Marvin Mims Jr. maximized limited opportunities with two catches for 24 yards and one touchdown on just two targets. The big-play threat delivered when his number was called, but he wasn’t featured enough in the game plan.
Courtland Sutton caught just one pass for six yards on four targets—a disappointing afternoon for Denver’s top receiver. The lack of production from Sutton forced Nix to look elsewhere and limited the offense’s explosiveness.
Adam Trautman caught three passes for 10 yards and one touchdown, functioning as a red-zone weapon. Tight end Evan Engram added one catch for 12 yards. Pat Bryant hauled in two passes for 18 yards.
Indianapolis Receivers
Tyler Warren led all tight ends with four catches for 79 yards on seven targets, averaging 19.8 yards per reception. His 41-yard gain converted a third down and kept a crucial drive alive. Warren also carried the ball once on a trick play for zero yards.
Josh Downs served as Daniel Jones’ security blanket with six catches for 51 yards on eight targets. His consistent production moved the chains on third downs and kept drives alive when Indianapolis needed conversions.
Alec Pierce stretched the field with four catches for 68 yards on five targets. His 44-yard reception beat Denver’s secondary deep and created scoring opportunities. Pierce averaged 17.0 yards per catch.
Michael Pittman Jr. recorded four catches for 40 yards on five targets. His production fell below expectations as Indianapolis spread targets across multiple receivers. Adonai Mitchell added two catches for 20 yards on four targets.
Defensive Statistical Battle
Pat Surtain II led all defenders with 11 total tackles (nine solo) despite missing time with an ankle injury in the first half. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year added one pass deflection and maintained coverage discipline throughout the contest.
Talanoa Hufanga tallied 10 tackles (five solo) for Denver, patrolling the middle. Alex Singleton contributed nine tackles (four solo) from his linebacker position. Brandon Jones added seven tackles with one pass deflection.
Justin Strnad recorded Denver’s only sack, bringing down Daniel Jones once. He added one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit. Zach Allen generated three quarterback hits without recording a sack, applying consistent pressure from the edge.
Nick Cross and Joe Bachie each recorded seven tackles for Indianapolis. Cross contributed one pass deflection while Bachie provided run support in the middle. DeForest Buckner registered six tackles (all solo) with two tackles for loss, disrupting Denver’s interior running game.
Grover Stewart added seven tackles with one tackle for loss, clogging running lanes. Mekhi Blackmon contributed five tackles for Indianapolis while Kenny Moore II added four tackles with one tackle for loss.
Cam Bynum’s fourth-quarter interception of Bo Nix proved the game’s only turnover and killed Denver’s comeback attempt inside Indianapolis territory. The pick represented the difference between a potential Broncos win and a heartbreaking loss.
Special Teams: The Deciding Factor
Spencer Shrader converted all five field goal attempts for Indianapolis, including the game-winning 45-yarder as time expired. His attempts came from 29, 33, 36, 28, and 45 yards. The perfect performance followed a missed 60-yard attempt that fell short before a penalty gave him another chance.
Shrader’s composure under pressure delivered 17 points and proved the difference in a one-point game. He also converted both extra point attempts.
Wil Lutz missed his only field goal attempt for Denver—a 42-yard try that hit the right upright with 3:15 remaining. The miss opened the door for Indianapolis’ comeback and ultimately cost Denver the victory. Lutz converted all four extra points but couldn’t deliver when it mattered most.
The kicking comparison tells the story: Shrader went 5-for-5 while Lutz went 0-for-1. That 15-point swing in field goal production directly impacted the final score.
Anthony Gould returned three kickoffs for 77 yards (25.7 average) and two punts for four yards (2.0 average) for Indianapolis. Ashton Dulin added two kickoff returns for 63 yards, including a 39-yard return.
RJ Harvey returned three kickoffs for 70 yards (23.3 average) for Denver, while Marvin Mims Jr. contributed two returns for 52 yards. Jeremy Crawshaw punted three times for 134 yards (44.7 average) with all three pinned inside the 20-yard line. Indianapolis never punted, maintaining offensive drives throughout the game.
Key Stats That Determined the Outcome
Time of Possession: Indianapolis dominated possession 32:07 to 27:53, controlling the clock and limiting Denver’s opportunities.
Yards Per Play: Indianapolis averaged 7.2 yards per play compared to Denver’s 5.5, revealing the efficiency gap.
Third Down Conversions: Indianapolis went 6-of-13 (46.2%) while Denver converted 4-of-9 (44.4%). The Colts’ ability to sustain drives proved critical.
Red Zone Efficiency: Indianapolis converted 2-of-6 red zone trips (33.3%) while Denver went 3-for-3 (100%). The Colts settled for field goals instead of touchdowns, but Shrader’s accuracy made the difference.
Penalties: Denver committed eight penalties for 83 yards while Indianapolis committed 11 for 68 yards. The final leverage penalty on Denver’s Dondrea Tillman gave Indianapolis another field goal attempt after the initial 60-yard miss.
Turnover Differential: Indianapolis forced one turnover while committing none. Cam Bynum’s interception killed Denver’s best fourth-quarter scoring opportunity.
Passing Efficiency: Daniel Jones averaged 9.3 yards per attempt while Bo Nix averaged 6.9. That 2.4-yard gap reflected Indianapolis’ aggressive downfield attack versus Denver’s conservative approach.
The stats paint a clear picture: Indianapolis controlled the game through possession, efficiency, and mistake-free football. Denver’s inability to protect a fourth-quarter lead and Wil Lutz’s missed field goal sealed their fate in a game they should have won.
