Denver Broncos vs Indianapolis Colts Match Player Stats On Oct 20, 2013

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 21, 2013

Colts 39, Broncos 33: Andrew Luck threw for three touchdowns and ran for another to spoil Peyton Manning's return to Indianapolis and knock Denver from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Luck threw for 199 of his 228 yards in the first half and Adam Vinatieri kicked three field goals as the Colts (5-2) snapped the Broncos' 17-game winning streak. Darrius Heyward-Bey had four catches for 44 yards and a touchdown while Coby Fleener and fullback Stanley Havili added scoring receptions for Indianapolis, which opened a two-game lead atop the AFC South.

Manning, who was cut loose by the Colts to pave the way for the drafting of Luck in 2012, overcame some early struggles and rallied Denver (6-1) by throwing for 386 yards and three touchdowns on 29-of-49. The Broncos cut a 19-point deficit to six with 8:44 to play but committed two costly turnovers - Manning's pick that led to Vinatieri's third field goal and a fumble by Ronnie Hillman at the Colts 3-yard line with 3:03 remaining.

Indianapolis seemingly was in command when Luck ran in from 10 yards out to cap a string of 23 unanswered points for a 33-14 lead with 5:00 left in the third quarter. After the teams traded field goals, Manning hit Demaryius Thomas with a 31-yard TD pass and Knowshon Moreno scored from a yard out following a Trent Richardson fumble to cut it to 36-30 with 8:44 to play.

The Colts turned a four-point deficit into a 12-point lead in the final 8:52 of the first half, ignited by Robert Mathis' sack of Manning that led to a safety. Luck moved Indianapolis 66 yards in seven plays on the ensuing possession, culminating with a 20-yard scoring strike to Havili before connecting with Fleener from 8 yards out with 10 seconds left in the half for a 26-14 advantage.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Manning threw a TD pass for the 30th straight game - the longest active streak in the league - and joined Brett Favre as the only QBs to throw a scoring pass against all 32 NFL teams. ... Colts DE Mathis took over the league lead with 10.5 sacks on the hit that led to the second-quarter safety. It marked only the sixth time Manning was sacked. ... Broncos CB Champ Bailey did not return after aggravating a left foot injury in the second quarter that caused him to miss the first five games this season, and Colts WR Reggie Wayne exited with a right knee sprain sustained midway through the final period.