It wasn't pretty in Week 15 for the Denver Broncos, but it doesn't always need to be.
The Broncos were able to overcome a sluggish start on Sunday before coming alive defensively in the second half. Two self-inflicted wounds by the Colts helped propel the Broncos to a win, getting them to 9-5 on the season. The win gets the team to within inches a clinching a Wild Card spot in the playoffs.
Though the final score read 31-13 in favor of the Broncos, the win didn't come easily. The Colts went right down the field on the game's opening drive and Anthony Richardson capped it off with a 23-yard touchdown run. An interception by Bo Nix on the Broncos' first drive looked like the beginning of a big letdown in the Mile High City.
But the defense stepped its game up after halftime, forcing several turnovers but it was really two plays that changed the course of this game.
The first, which will be talked about for some time, saw Colts running back Jonathan Taylor score on a 41-yard touchdown run to put Indianapolis up 19-7, pending the extra point. But replays showed he dropped the ball before crossing the goal line. Not only did he not have a touchdown, but it was ruled a fumble out of the back of the end zone and Denver took possession.
Rather than being down two scores, the Broncos got the ball trailing just 13-7. This was a huge break.
Later, with momentum slipping away, the Colts tried to dial up a gadget play that backfired in the worst way. Nik Bonitto stepped up to make the play of the game and blow this one open.
With the win, the Broncos get to 9-5 on the year, three games ahead of the three teams behind them in the Wild Card race (Bengals, Colts, Dolphins). The Broncos are now on the verge of ending their long playoff drought.
The team now has a short week before facing the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night. That game will be critical for playoff positioning between two AFC West teams.
The Chargers beat the Broncos back in Week 6, 23-16.
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