INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Atlanta dropped their second road game of the season on Sunday in a 27-24 loss to Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium. Hindering the Falcons throughout the game was the lack of discipline, evident by their 123 yards on 15 penalties. Seven of those penalties gave Indy first downs.
Here’s how it all went down Sunday in Indianapolis.
The Colts received the ball and marched down the field to get on the board first with a 49-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri. After Atlanta’s opening drive stalled out near midfield, Indianapolis drove 93 yards downfield as Jacoby Brissett connected with Zach Pascal in the endzone on an 18 yard TD.
With 1:25 left in the 1st quarter, Atlanta was in serious need from some offensive production, trailing 10-0. Devonta Freeman marched the Birds downfield and was set up just outside of the red zone. Then on 1st and ten from the 28-yard line, Ryan was picked off over the middle by Clayton Geathers. This set the Colts up at their own 3-yard line.
The Colts once again drove down the field and inside the 10-yard line. Atlanta’s D was able to keep them out of the endzone this time, however. Indianapolis added a 21 yard Vinatieri field goal to make it 13-0.
Atlanta was finally able to get something going in the final part of the 2nd half as Matt Bryant knocked through a 34-yard field goal. The excitement would be short-lived as the Colts closed out the half with a ten-play, 64-yard drive capped off with a Brissett to T.Y. Hilton 4-yd TD pass. At the half, the Colts led 20-3.
In the 2nd half, Atlanta marched 75 yards down the field on the first drive capping it off with a 13-yard TD connection from Matt Ryan to Austin Hooper. This cut the deficit to 20-10 with 10:30 left in the 3rd.
The Atlanta D answered back with a defensive stand, forcing a three and out and the first Indy punt of the day. Matt Ryan saddled up the troops for their second drive of the half starting at their own 22-yard line.
Ryan again marched the Falcons downfield as he found Hooper again in the endzone, this time for a 2-yd TD reception. This made it 20-17, with Indianapolis still leading the score with just under 14 minutes left to play.
Then a 5 minute and 11-second drive by the Colts, capped off by a 4 yard Marlon Mack TD run, made it 27-17 with just 8:40 left to play.
Julio Jones got his first TD of the day on the Falcons ensuing possession after multiple penalties against the Colts kept the Atlanta drive alive. Jones hauled in a 10-yard reception from Ryan to make it 27-24 with the Colts on top and 4:11 left to play.
Despite the valiant effort to make a comeback, Atlanta wouldn’t touch the ball again as the Colts were able to pick up three first downs on the final drive. The Falcons drop to 1-2 on the season, while Indianapolis improves to 2-1.
Ryan finished the day with 304 yards passing on 29 of 35 passes. He added 3 TD’s and had one interception that came in the red zone. Brissett had 310 yards through the air for Indy, on 28 of 37 passes, including 2 TDs and no interceptions.
Written by Adrian Beecher
