Cornerback Stephon Gilmore (#5) of the Indianapolis Colts intercepts a pass by quarterback Russell Wilson of the Denver Broncos in the game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, October 6, 2022. /CFP
The Indianapolis Colts defeated the Denver Broncos 12-9 in overtime (OT) at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday to secure their second win of the 2022 NFL regular season.
Neither side scored any touchdown in this game, but considering that it was two of the league's worst teams on the offensive front playing each other, it was not as surprising as it sounded. The Colts averaged 13.8 points, the lowest among all 32 teams, while the Broncos scored only six touchdowns, the least in the league (a record shared with the Colts, Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys).
Kicker Chase McLaughlin (R) of the Indianapolis Colts shoots a field goal in the game against the Denver Broncos at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, October 6, 2022. /CFP
Kicker Chase McLaughlin scored all 12 points for the Colts after making every of the four field goals he shot, the longest of which was from 52 yards. The Broncos' kicker Brandon McManus was responsible for all of his team's nine points as well but he missed a shot that was blocked by defensive tackle Grover Stewart.
As the quarterbacks (QBs) of the two teams, Matt Ryan completed 26 of 41 passes for 251 yards with two interceptions for the Colts. Russell Wilson threw 21-for-39 for 274 yards with two interceptions for the Broncos. The two were sacked 10 times in total which cost the two sides 75 yards.
"Our defense played lights out," Ryan said. "We need to play better for sure, but I'm proud of the guys. Wins are what we need. We're right in the mix. ... I thought the two drives at the end showed a lot of guys. You just keep battling – and it helps when your defense is shutting them down, too."
Quarterback Matt Ryan (R) of the Indianapolis Colts is sacked in the game against the Denver Broncos at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, October 6, 2022. /CFP
The Colts scored first in OT but left the Broncos the opportunity to save the game. The Broncos drove 70 yards all the way to the edge of the opponents' red zone with five players on fourth-and-1. They had three choices: One was to go for a touchdown which could give them at least four more chances to attack; one was to go for a field goal, which could tie the game for it to go on; one was to go for a touchdown, which could make the Broncos the winner if they scored it.
The Broncos decided to bet on Wilson's passing for a touchdown. Their offensive line held the Colts' defenders long enough for him to look, think and then throw. Wilson targeted wide receiver Courtland Sutton, but cornerback Stephon Gilmore clapped the ball onto the ground to end the game. It was the second pass he defended on Thursday night. He also intercepted Wilson's pass to Tyrie Cleveland for a touchdown in the red zone at 2:13 in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Russell Wilson (L) of the Denver Broncos looks to pass in the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, October 6, 2022. /CFP
"They tried me like two times in a row the play before [the interception]," Gilmore told Prime Video Thursday Night Football. "I knew he was gonna come back and I had to make him pay. He kept trying me, so I made him pay."
"We wanted to win the game," Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett said. "We hadn't moved the ball very well the whole night and I thought we had a spectacular drive to get all the way down there."
"It's very simple: at the end of the day I got to be better," Wilson said. "I got to play better. I let the team down tonight. One thing I know about myself is I'm going to respond."