Colts Beat Packers

The Indianapolis Colts improved their record to 4-5 after beating the Green Bay Packers 31-26 Sunday afternoon in Lambeau Field.

This battle of elite quarterbacks had a must-win feel for two teams that have struggled to consistently play solid football midway through this season.

Coming into Sunday’s game after a loss to Kansas City, Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts were able to take advantage of explosive plays and multiple mistakes by the Packers to steal a road victory.

A traditionally weak first quarter team, the Colts were able to benefit from a 99-yard kickoff return by Jordan Todman to start the game. Green Bay were able to counter Indy’s hot start with a drive featuring a 24-yard run from Ty Montgomery and back-to-back catches by tight end Richard Rodgers. The Colts defense managed to bend and not break, only allowing a 34-yard field goal from Mason Crosby on the Packers opening drive.

On Indianapolis’s second possession, the Colt’s reverted back to their tendency of weak first quarters with an Andrew Luck interception to Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Despite Luck’s pick, the Packers were not able to capitalize with points thanks to a missed 48-yard field goal by Mason Crosby. Crosby’s missed kick was the first of many Green Bay mistakes that cost them points.

Following Crosby’s missed kick, the Colts made several long passes, cutting up Green Bay’s secondary en route to a touchdown drive that resulted in a seven-yard Frank Gore touchdown run, making the score 14-3. Following a Green Bay punt on the next possession, Clinton-Dix was able to grab another interception from an over-throw by Luck. Green Bay were able to capitalize on this turnover, with a 26-yard pitch and catch from Rodgers to Jordy Nelson to end the first quarter.

Indianapolis were able to further extend their lead to 17-10 early in the second quarter with a 28-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri. Green Bay’s defensive line continually collapsed the pocket around Luck only for him to evade tackles or escape into space, extending the play and finding open receivers down field, allowing the Colts to get into Green Bay territory.

With Eddie Lacy and James Starks continuing to miss games with injuries, the Packers opted for a pass-heavy offense, current Packers starting running back Ty Montgomery received only 7 carries in their loss to the Colts per ESPN. The Packers passing offense was largely disorganized Sunday and Rodgers and his receivers had several miscommunications. Key drops by Packers receivers on long passes and third downs stymied drives in the second quarter and throughout the day for Green Bay.

The Colts closed the half with a five-minute drive ending in an eight-yard touchdown pass from Luck to Donte Moncrief.

Green Bay opened the third quarter with a drive lasting over six minutes, but ending in Colts territory with a Rodgers interception to Darius Butler in the middle of the field. The Packers defense was able to hold Indianapolis scoreless through the third quarter, stuffing runs and forcing incompletions. Mason Crosby added the only scoring in the third quarter with a late 27-yard field goal making the score 24-13.

The Colts continued to hit explosive plays at the beginning of the fourth quarter with a 39-yard pass from Luck to Moncrief up the sideline. Moncrief’s big gain did not go to waste as the Colts scored minutes later on a four-yard Frank Gore rush, extending their lead to 31-13.

Down 18 points with just under 10 minutes left, Rodgers and the Packers took the field using a hurry-up offense that quickly gained a rhythm and gave problems to the Colts defense. Green Bay scored quickly after Gore’s touchdown, a one minute and 55-second drive ended with a two-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Davante Adams, a missed two-point conversion made the score 31-19.

After a quick three-play drive from the Colts, the Packers went down field again, hitting on numerous long passes and resulting in a three-yard touchdown from Rodgers to Randall Cobb closing Green Bay’s gap to 31-26.

With three and a half minutes left, the Colts were able to drive down field against the Packers defense, repeatedly converting on third downs and running the clock out.

The 4-4 Packers next game is Sunday at Tennessee, the Colts leave Green Bay going into a bye week.

[Featured Image by Jeffrey Phelps/AP Images]