With playoff implications looming over both teams, there was no time for horsing around for the Broncos or the Colts on Sunday. With both teams coming off their BYE week, no clear advantages were going in besides the two-game lead the Broncos had in the playoff race. Trailing the Broncos in the standings, the Colts would have to close the gap if they wanted to have any chance to advance.

With everything at stake and a new generation believing in the newfound success of the Broncos, failure was unthinkable. Nonetheless, the Bronco’s play left Broncos Country uninspired through three quarters. The Colts jumped out in front from the gate, looking poised to pull off an upset. This was a Colts team with eleven of their 13 games played decided by one score - but not today. The Broncos would win despite themselves, but it wasn’t close. Even with a 31-13  Broncos victory, the score did not indicate how bad the Bronco’s offense was.

The Broncos struggled in all phases of the offense, but the defense came to the rescue in the fourth quarter. Bo Nix threw three interceptions and had zero run support. However, his three touchdown passes and Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson’s two interceptions counterbalanced the miscues.

“I’ve got to be better ... regardless that’s three [interceptions], you start feeling like every time I throw it, is it going to get picked? You start having those mental thoughts, it’s challenging,” Nix said. “It’s probably the toughest part of playing the position ... don’t let one turn into a false vision and see things that aren’t actually there.”

But this game was a tale of two stories. One team exhibited split personalities and tendencies, forcing alternate endings. Two opposing things were true at the same time. The Broncos’ play went from looking at the reality of what it would look like to lose to the Colts to celebrating an amazing win. The celebration went to devastation for the Colts.

After a 41-yard touchdown run by Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor, momentum shifted to the Broncos with a touch of Mile High magic. As if it were another day at the office, with no spiking the football or touchdown dance, Taylor released the ball as he crossed the goal line after his statement run. The problem was, upon further review, he released the ball before his foot touched down in the end zone and before the ball crossed the goal line. The officials reversed the call, taking the points off the scoreboard. Instead of a 20-7 lead, with 12:37 left in the third quarter, it was a turnover to the Broncos breathing life into a dead horse.

“It just can’t happen, no matter the game, no matter the scenario,” Taylor said after the game.  “You could be up by 50, down by 50, playoff game, first game of the season. That should never happen…. I didn’t know until they started saying they’re reviewing it,” he said. “I’m thinking, ‘Why are they reviewing it?’ Sometimes, someone gives you their best and your best just wasn’t good enough. But when you hurt yourself like that, that one hurts.”

Although Taylor said, ‘that should never happen,’ it did happen, and he did it. Even with the gift from the Colts, the Broncos offense still did not respond. They punted on their next two possessions, including a three-and-out, but they are still trailing to start the fourth quarter.

It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that the Broncos came to life, scoring three touchdowns in the final frame. It started with the special teams.  On the first possession of the fourth quarter, trailing 13-10, Marvin Mims, Jr. returned a punt to the Colts’ 15-yard line, where Bo Nix and company set up shop with the short field. Two plays later, Nix would connect with Nate Adkins for the 15-yard touchdown completion.

The Broncos would never look back - except when Nik Bonitto was in the end zone doing his best Michael Jackson impression directed at the Colts after his touchdown. Bonitto had recovered a Colts lateral at midfield and returned it untouched - except for touching himself - for his second consecutive game with a defensive touchdown. Bonitto was penalized 15 yards for the celebratory obscene gesture.

Nix connected on a 20-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton to complete the 21 answered points for the Broncos in the fourth quarter. The Broncos got their fourth straight win, the season’s longest win streak. The win also guaranteed the Broncos’ first winning season in eight years. Combined with a loss by the LA Chargers, the Broncos took second place in the AFC West.

Marvin Mims, Jr. was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his kickstarting the stalled Broncos. His total of 97 punt-return yards were the most in Week 15 in the NFL and second-most in a game this season. This is the second career Special Teams Player of the Week award for Mims Jr., who also earned the award in Week 10, 2023. He becomes the fifth Broncos non-kicker/punter to win the award multiple times.

For the Colts, it went from a 28% chance of making the playoffs with a win over Denver to an 8.5% chance with three games remaining after the loss. Denver went from a 74% chance of making the playoffs to a 91% chance after the win over the Colts. They will clinch a playoff berth with one win in their next three games.

With a Thursday night game next on the schedule, the Broncos have a prime opportunity to further their lead on the Chargers in the division when they face them on Thursday Night Football. It will be the second straight game, and they will face an opponent directly trailing them in the standings.

The NFL flexed the Broncos game against the Cincinnati Bengals next week, moving it to a Saturday game. It will be a stand-alone game, the only game played in the NFL that day, Saturday, December 28th, at 2:30 PM MT. (Broncos - Colts Photo Gallery can be seen at www.SportsReportNet.com)

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