Denver Broncos Lose First Game of Season to Colts

The Denver Broncos lost their first game of the season to the Indianapolis Colts by a score of 27-24.

The Denver Broncos entered their week nine tilt against the Indianapolis Colts with an unbeaten 7-0 record; however, the Indianapolis Colts proved too much to handle, beating the Broncos by a score of 27-24. The Broncos came off of a convincing home win against the Green Bay Packers where they held Aaron Rodgers to under 100 passing yards in the game. Also, Peyton Manning looked rejuvenated in the matchup, throwing for a season-high 340 yards.

Although Peyton Manning threw for a season-high 340 passing yards in week eight, he failed to throw a passing touchdown for the first time since the Denver Broncos’ week one battle with the Baltimore Ravens. Despite Manning and the Broncos’ offensive woes for the majority of the 2015-2016 season, the Broncos’ defense performed outstanding for the first eight weeks of the season, leading to them being the highest-rated defense in the NFL. The Broncos’ defense is among the league-leaders in takeaways; however, in week nine, for the second-consecutive week, they failed to record an interception or a fumble recovery.

Peyton Manning returning to face his former team in week nine headlined the matchup between the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts. The Colts allowed Manning to leave after earning the first pick of the 2012 NFL Draft. Manning entered week nine with one thing on his mind – show Indy what they let walk away. With an undefeated record for the first-half of the 2015-2016 season, the buzz around the Denver Broncos is another trip to the Super Bowl. However, this time, they have a defense to lean on instead of a potent offense.

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With the Denver Broncos returning to Indianapolis, the Broncos looked to improve their record to an impressive 8-0 mark. However, the Denver Broncos found themselves down early in the game against the Colts. The Colts were up by a score of 17-0 (Frank Gore 7-yard rush, Adam Vinatieri FG, and Andrew Luck touchdown pass) just before half-time, but as time expired, the Broncos special teams helped provide the team with their first points, returning a punt all the way for a touchdown.

The Colts entered half-time up by 10 points; however, if it were not for the Denver Broncos’ special teams play, the Broncos would have been shutout in the first-half. Entering the third quarter, down 10, the Broncos turned their offense up a notch, scoring a quick touchdown. Peyton Manning threw a 64-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders to cut the deficit to three points. Shortly after the touchdown pass, Brandon McManus converted a 29-yard field goal to tie the game entering the fourth quarter.

In the first minute in the fourth quarter, Andrew Luck completed an eight-yard touchdown pass to Ahmad Bradshaw to take the lead 24-17; however, the Denver Broncos answered with their own touchdown pass, a one-yard completion to Owen Daniels. During the following drive after the Peyton Manning touchdown pass, the Colts marched down the field, but the Broncos forced them to attempt a 55-yard field goal. Adam Vinatieri proved to be clutch, knocking in the 55-yard field goal to take a 27-24 lead.

The Denver Broncos could not score in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter, and the game finished with a score of 27-24, leading to the Broncos’ first loss of the season. Peyton Manning finished with two touchdowns, two interceptions, and 281 passing yards. Owen Daniels led the receiving corps for the Broncos, accumulating 102 yards and a touchdown on six receptions, by far his best game this season. Once again, the Broncos’ rushing attack looked incapable of the task, with Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson finishing with less than 50 rushing yards combined.

Next: Demaryius Thomas: Will He End TD Drought in Week Nine?

Also, Vernon Davis did not make an impact in his first game as a member of the Denver Broncos; however, the Broncos enter week 10 of the NFL season with a home matchup against the struggling Kansas City Chiefs. Look for the Broncos to get back into the win column in week 10, and hopefully, Demaryius Thomas finds the end zone next week; he has now played five-straight games without scoring a touchdown. This road loss in no need to panic, as the Broncos are sitting pretty heading into the home-stretch of the season.

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