THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT DENVER BRONCOS

BY ADAM GREENE

Back when the NFL schedule was first released, this looked as if Amazon Prime was going to get one of the highlights of Week 4, thanks to the additions of Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts and Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos. What a difference a month of actual football makes. Yes, much of the luster is off this one as the Colts make their way to the Mile High City to take on the Broncos.

This will just be the 29^th all time meeting between the two teams. It’s tied dead even 14-14. They last met on Oct. 27, 2019 when the Colts knocked off the Broncos in a defensive struggle, 15-13. Joe Flacco (now with the New York Jets) went 20 of 32 for 174 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in the victory. Phillip Lindsay (now with the Colts) rushed for 59 yards. Jacoby Brissett (now with the Cleveland Browns) threw for 202 yards for the Colts. Marlon Mack rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown.

Of course, the primary link between these two franchises is not one, but two Pro Football Hall of Famers. First, it was quarterback John Elway who was drafted No. 1 overall by Indianapolis in the 1983 draft, only Elway refused to play for them, so they traded him to the Broncos.

Nearly 30 years later, that switch would happen again, this time with Peyton Manning, after an already legendary 13-year career with the Colts (including two Super Bowl appearances and one win), was let go after neck surgery (and Indy landing the No. 1 pick to take Andrew Luck). As a free agent, Manning was wooed by pretty much every team that needed a QB in the league, but it was Elway, the man that was a Colt for all of a week, that brought Manning to Denver. There, he played four more seasons and, just like at his first stop, made it to two Super Bowls and won one.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT DENVER BRONCOS (-3, O/U: 43.5)

Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colo.

Broadcast: Amazon Prime Video

Kickoff: Oct. 6, 8:15 p.m. EST

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1-2-1)

Last week the Colts went right back into the 2022 toilet, losing 24-17 to their AFC South rival, the Tennessee Titans. Matt Ryan actually looked like a QB, throwing for 356 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. The Colts were held to just 38 total yards rushing as a team. Mo Alie-Cox caught six passes for 85 yards and two scores. Rookie Alec Pierce hauled in four for 80 yards.

The defense sacked Ryan Tannehill three times, but surrendered 114 yards and a score to Derrick Henry.

DENVER BRONCOS (2-2)

Russell Wilson is still having trouble keeping the burners going in his kitchen and cooking has got nothing but negative Yelp! reviews. Wilson went 17 of 25 for 237 yards and two touchdowns in the loss their 32-23 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. He rushed for 29 yards and another score. KL Hamler caught one pass for a 55 yard bomb. Jerry Jeudy hauled in four for 53 and a score. Courtland Sutton had five grabs for 52 yards and a TD.

The defense sacked Derek Carr twice, but let Vegas rush for 212 yards. 

THE PICK

While the grill is still cold and there’s a questionable smell coming from the cooler, I have a lot more faith in Wilson and his cooktop in Denver at home than I do Ryan, his off-brand air fryer and Indy on the road. Broncos 24, Colts 20

Last week

Straight up: 10-6

Against the spread: 8-8

Season

Straight up: 37-26-1

Against the spread: 31-33

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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