Broncos vs. Colts: Indianapolis Grades, Notes and Quotes

When the 2015 NFL schedule was announced, Peyton Manning versus Andrew Luck was highlighted as a red letter day for both squads. With both teams having expectations of making it to the Super Bowl and the emotion of Manning returning to Lucas Oil Stadium, this had the potential of being one of the best games of the season. But while the lead-up to the game disappointed, the contest itself did not.

The Denver Broncos lived up to their expectations, coming into the Sunday afternoon game at 7-0 and sporting one of the best defenses in the NFL. But the Indianapolis Colts were playing on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Coming off three consecutive losses, hopes of an upset weren’t high, but the NFL rarely adheres to the script.

Turning in a complete performance—both the offense and defense played better than they had all season—the Colts jumped out to an early 17-0 lead and did enough to hold on for a 27-24 victory against the Broncos.

With the win Indianapolis moves to 4-5 and back to the top of the AFC South, but more importantly it could be the spark the Colts needed to turn things around and build toward another playoff run.

Position Grades for Indianapolis Colts

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Position	Grades
QB	B+
RB	A
WR	A-
TE	B+
OL	C+
DL	B-
LB	B
DB	C
Special Teams	C+
Coaching	A

This was the performance everyone had been waiting for by Andrew Luck and the Colts offense. Against the best defense in the league, the quarterback looked like the player he had been his first three seasons, while Frank Gore continued to impress in his short Indianapolis career.

Even when limited by injury, T.Y. Hilton continues to be not only the Colts' best receiver but one of the league’s top players at the position. Behind him, things were much less impressive, but as long as the Florida International product is in the lineup, Indianapolis is always a threat through the air.

Despite low expectations coming into the game, the Colts offensive line played a masterful first half against an elite defensive unit. Although unable to fully hold blocks often, the Indianapolis linemen would bump and throw off blitzers with just enough time for Luck to get the ball away. The performance didn’t last in the second half, but the opening quarters were a bright light for a unit that has struggled all year.

There were a number of injuries for the Colts on defense, but it was still one of the best overall performances this season: consistent pressure on Peyton Manning, holding the Broncos running game to minimal success and even an improved game from the secondary.

Greg Toler still struggled, and losing both Mike Adams and Henry Anderson hurts, but if the Colts can get this sort of performance out of their defense every week, it will go a long way toward a potential run in the playoffs.

Andrew Luck Is Back to His Very Best

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No one could quite figure out what was going on with Luck through the early stages of the season. Coming into the game with a league-leading 12 interceptions, the franchise player had looked more like a liability than the superstar he had been for three years so far this season.

Against the Broncos, though, who sported the best defense in the NFL coming into the game, Luck went 21/36 for 252 yards and a pair of touchdowns. More important than what he did, though, was what he didn’t do: The quarterback did not turn the ball over at all in the game, only the second time he has done so this season.

Looking like he hadn’t missed a beat from the end of last season despite what had occurred over the past few months, Luck was also incredibly effective on the ground, picking up a number of huge first downs.

There have been so many problems for Indianapolis this season, but as Luck has gone so have the Colts. When he plays well, Indianapolis has a chance to win games, but when he turns the ball over and struggles, it is too much to overcome.

Luck’s record as a starter isn’t great this season, at just 2-5, but if he plays like he did against Denver for the rest of the season, the Colts could still very well be in the hunt for a title.

Defensive Injuries Ruin a Strong Performance

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This season has been one to forget for the Indianapolis Colts secondary. Unable to stop any offense they have come up against, there have been few bright spots for the defensive backs this season.

Arguably the lone exception this year—especially with Vontae Davis’ inconsistency—has been safety Mike Adams. With 10 interceptions in the last two years, Adams has developed into one of the league’s best defenders and the Colts' most consistent player in the secondary.

Against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Adams was up to his old tricks. Finding himself in the right spot at the right time once again, Adams grabbed a tipped Manning pass for his fifth pick of the year. But when he got up to try and pick up a few yards on the return, Adams went right back down to the ground and was essentially carried off the field by his teammates. He did not return.

On the defensive line the Colts faced a similar situation in the game, with standout rookie Henry Anderson helped to the locker room in the third quarter, apparently in a lot of pain. Coach Chuck Pagano would call it a "significant knee injury" after the game, with the defensive tackle's status moving forward left up in the air pending an MRI, according to Nat Newell of the Indianapolis Star.

Indianapolis has played much better defensively the past two weeks, but losing two starters will do the team no favors as it tries to hold onto a slim lead in the AFC South.

Frank Gore Needs to See a Heavy Load Every Week

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Gore's usage by the Colts through the first few games of the season was absolutely dumbfounding. Despite showing that he was still the player who made it to the Pro Bowl five times with the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis refused to give him the ball.

Before the season, there was talk of a pitch-count approach with Gore, with the idea of keeping him fresh for a deep playoff run. But as the season dragged on it became clearer and clearer the Colts would need their veteran running back just to make it to the playoffs.

When he is getting his fair share of touches, the Colts offense completely changes for the better. Not only is Gore consistently finding success, but the passing game opens up for Luck and the receivers as defenses are forced to focus on stopping the run.

Facing the league’s best defense on Sunday, Indianapolis turned to its veteran back early and often hoping to find a weak point that has eluded Denver’s opponents this season, and it was not disappointed.

Finishing the game with 83 yards and yet another touchdown, Gore played his best game of the season when the Colts needed him most in the team’s biggest win to date. Sunday's game at Lucas Oil Stadium should be all the proof the Indianapolis coaching staff needs that Gore has to be a focal point of the offense moving forward.

Chuck Pagano on Offensive Coordinator Rob Chudzinski

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The biggest news of the week, and arguably the entire season, for the Indianapolis Colts was the firing of offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton and the promotion of Rob Chudzinski.

Despite a number of high-profile weapons on offense, the Colts had struggled moving the ball during their 3-5 start to the year. But against the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis played its best game of the year, and Pagano was impressed with the job Chudzinski did on such short notice, according to Newell:

"

Pagano: 'Chud's one hell of a football coach. Putting that thing together and making it work against the No. 1 defense was phenomenal.'

— Nat Newell (@NatJNewell) November 9, 2015"

It is hard to imagine the Colts' performance in game one under Chudzinski was a fluke, coming against the top defense in the NFL, so the change in offensive coordinator might prove to be just what Indianapolis needed.

Andrew Luck on the Colt's Overall Improvement

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The Colts spent the first eight games of the season failing to live up to high expectations set by the media and fanbase. Hopes of a title and possible MVP for Luck had the 3-5 start classified as a serious failure, with the team on the brink of falling even further down the conference standings.

Against the Broncos, though, Indianapolis looked like the team many had predicted it would be. Both sides of the ball played great games, Luck looked like one of the best players in the league and the offense found plenty of success against the best defense in the NFL.

After the game, Luck said the team knows it is capable of putting together this kind of performance, and now it is about repeating it every week, according to Kevin Bowen of Colts.com:

"

Luck on today’s performance: “That’s who we need to be….We have [all] the pieces. That’s pretty darn obvious.“

— Kevin Bowen (@KBowenColts) November 9, 2015"

If Indianapolis builds on its game against Denver and keeps playing at the same level, it will be hard to beat, and a Colts Super Bowl win might not be out of the question.

Dwayne Allen on Andrew Luck's Performance

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As the Colts have continued to improve and find success during the past three seasons, Luck has been the recipient of much of the credit for the team's performance, and rightfully so. But being in that position is a double-edged sword. When things are going well he gets praised, but when they aren't he gets blamed.

This season, that has very much been the case, with the onus of the team's struggles put squarely on Luck's shoulders. Turnover problems and a general lack of efficiency had hurt the quarterback this year, and Indianapolis was 1-5 when he was the starter as a result.

It is just one game, but after Luck's performance against the Denver Broncos, the quarterback looks to be back on track. Tight end Dwayne Allen took notice of the improved confidence and added that the offense needs to do its best to make sure he stays at his best, according to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star:

"

Dwayne Allen: "(Luck) is slowly, but surely getting his swagger back. It’s up to us as an offensive unit to make sure he stays there."

— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) November 9, 2015"

Luck can't be expected to play as well as he did against the Broncos defense every week, with turnovers impossible to completely eradicate. But it was the first sign of improvement all season for the quarterback and proof that he is still capable of dominating when he plays well.