NFL Week 5: Broncos lead Colts on Thursday Night Football

The Indianapolis Colts are facing the Denver Broncos in an AFC battle on Thursday Night Football to open Week 5 of the NFL season.

The Colts (1-2-1) are aiming to turn their season around with a road win, while the Broncos (2-2) hope to get above .500 with a home victory. Both teams enter Thursday’s tilt third in their respective divisions.

Indy is without starting running back Johnathan Taylor, who is sidelined with an ankle injury, while Denver is missing star back Javonte Williams, who is out for the year after tearing his ACL in Week 4.

Here are the top plays from Thursday’s matchup.

Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos

Rough start

Misfortune struck early for the Colts when Nyheim Hines, who was expected to be very involved in Thursday’s action with Taylor out, got injured on the first drive of the game.

He was taken straight to the locker room to be evaluated for a head injury. He has since been ruled out for the remainder of the game due to NFL concussion protocol.

On the move

Denver moved the chains on its first drive, which included an impressive 18-yard pickup from Russell Wilson. But the Broncos stalled in the red zone and settled for a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.

Gaining momentum

Colts running back Deon Jackson was able to provide a small spark for Indy as the first quarter got underway.

Broncos get it back

It was more trouble for the Colts, as Matt Ryan threw a pick in the red zone midway through the second quarter. Denver safety Caden Sterns came up with the interception and returned it 23 yards to give the Broncos the ball right back after they took a 6-0 lead with their second field goal of the game.

Down he goes

The Broncos’ defense was a force to be reckoned with in this one, sacking Ryan four times in the first half, two of which came on the Colts’ final drive of the second quarter.

Indianapolis was able to avoid a shutout by getting a field goal on the board ahead of halftime, however, to keep things close.

Stay tuned for updates.