DENVER — In a game marked by dramatic plays, Nik Bonitto’s defensive touchdown stood out, while a significant mishap by Jonathan Taylor raised eyebrows. Bonitto intercepted a lateral pass from the Colts’ quarterback Anthony Richardson intended for Adonai Mitchell, returning it 50 yards for a touchdown, ultimately leading the Denver Broncos to a 31-13 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Taylor’s mishap occurred during the third quarter when he fumbled just moments before reaching the end zone on what could have been a 41-yard touchdown run. “That can’t happen,” expressed Taylor, who churned out 107 rushing yards on 22 attempts but failed to find the end zone. “No, you’re never consciously aware you’re dropping the ball. Otherwise, you wouldn’t do it.”
This turnover energized the Broncos, whose special teams and defensive units stepped up significantly to support an offense that struggled with just 193 total yards. Denver pass rusher Jonathon Cooper remarked, “If he would have scored that touchdown, it would have been even more of a dogfight to get back. We would have had a tougher fight. … I just hope it never happens to us.”
Initially, the Denver defenders felt deflated as they returned to the sidelines, but suddenly, cheers erupted from the crowd of 76,416. Safety P.J. Locke recalled gazing up at the large scoreboard, realizing that they had received an unexpected gift as the Colts transitioned from a potential 20-7 lead to a touchback, which kept their lead at only six points.
“That was a game changer, yeah, absolutely,” said Colts coach Shane Steichen. “Obviously, it hurt us, but he’s one of our leaders. Sometimes that happens in football, but he’s our guy, and that’s what you say to him.” The Broncos capitalized on this momentum, recording five turnovers and breaking a streak of seven consecutive losing seasons, solidifying their position for an AFC wild-card spot that could end a playoff drought dating back to 2016.
Following a touchdown pass from Bo Nix to tight end Nate Adkins, which gave the Broncos their first lead at 17-13, Bonitto seized the moment again with his stunning score. This impressive play was not categorized as a pick-6, since it originated from a backward pass, but nevertheless, it sent a clear message about Denver’s defense. Cooper praised Bonitto’s instincts and skills, saying, “I love playing with this dude… He’s got my vote for Defensive Player of the Year.”
Mitchell reflected on the trick play, stating that the instructions from his coach were to throw the ball away if the Broncos showed signs of recognizing the scheme. However, he admitted that he didn’t perceive that Denver had caught on. “It was there pretty much until 15 turned into Ed Reed and just came through out of nowhere,” he said.
Denver’s defense compensating for Nix’s three-interception debut as a rookie demonstrated their tenacity, including a crucial interception from cornerback Patrick Surtain II. However, Surtain left the game late in the fourth quarter after appearing to re-aggravate a right ankle injury. Fortunately, he was seen leaving the stadium without a walking boot, which is a positive sign ahead of the Broncos’ quick turnaround for their next game.
The Broncos began their scoring spree with a 44-yard field goal by Wil Lutz that narrowed the gap to 13-10, culminating in Nix’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton. In a game where both teams had recently returned from a bye week, both appeared more out of sync than sharp. “It won’t be fun looking at the tape,” Broncos coach Sean Payton admitted, indicating the challenging review ahead for both teams following the match.
In injury news, Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce suffered a concussion in the first half, while the Broncos managed several injuries of their own, including RG Quinn Meinerz (shoulder), RB Jaleel McLaughlin (thigh), and Surtain. The upcoming matches will see the Colts hosting the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, while the Broncos will be facing the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night.
