Second-year QB Bo Nix shines, but late miscues doom Denver in Indianapolis
The Denver Broncos watched a statement win vanish in the final seconds Sunday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium, falling 29-28 to the Indianapolis Colts on Seth Shrader’s 45-yard field goal as time expired.
Second-year quarterback Bo Nix delivered a poised performance, throwing for 206 yards and three touchdowns. He connected with Marvin Mims on a 23-yard strike in the first quarter, then added red-zone scores to Tim Franklin and tight end Adam Trautman as Denver built a 21-13 cushion. Running back J.K. Dobbins powered in from five yards out early in the third, giving the Broncos what felt like a commanding 28-20 advantage.
But the Colts leaned on balance and resilience. Quarterback Daniel Jones threw for 316 yards, while running back Jonathan Taylor erupted for 165 on the ground — including a backbreaking 68-yard burst in the fourth quarter. Shrader shouldered the rest, hitting all five of his field-goal attempts, including the walk-off game-winner that silenced Denver’s sideline.
Denver had its chances late. Clinging to a 28-26 lead, Wil Lutz’s 42-yard attempt clanged off the right upright with just over three minutes remaining. The miss, combined with a costly leverage penalty on special teams that nullified a missed 60-yard try by Shrader, set the stage for Indianapolis’ final march.
The Broncos finished with 324 total yards compared to 473 for the Colts. Despite being perfect in the red zone (3-for-3), Denver was undone by missed opportunities and the inability to contain Taylor down the stretch. For Denver, it’s a bitter lesson in finishing — and a reminder that talent alone won’t be enough in a season that demands consistency.
