Stampede Blue
It seemed like neither team could get a stop in the second half, but the Indianapolis Colts secured their third red zone stop with a critical turnover on downs to outlast the Arizona Cardinals in Sunday’s thrilling 31-27 victory inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
Colts quarterback Daniel Jones has guided the surging city to a 5-1 record to start the 2025 season and a 4-0 record at home. Cardinals starter Jacoby Brissett, who is with his fifth different NFL team since leaving the Colts in 2021, threw for 320 yards and two passing TDs in his return to Indianapolis. Both players traded blows for three hours and proved they can still sling it in a matchup featuring opposing QBs who hope to have found their home for good.
The Colts found another way to beat a tough, competitive Cardinals team. The way head coach Shane Steichen continuously declares his players fight, scratch, and claw through opponents until the final whistle was proven for a second time during the fourth quarter rally. Indy’s All-Pro tailback Jonathan Taylor powered a nine-play, 66-yard drive and punched in the go-ahead 1-yard touchdown with just 4:32 left to play. Taylor carried the load with 123 rushing yards and one touchdown on 21 carries, including the 16-yard sprint to declare the win in victory formation.
Jones orchestrated a methodical nine-play, 65-yard opening drive, connecting repeatedly with receiver Josh Downs and rookie tight end Tyler Warren. Once the Colts breached the red zone, Jones hit Warren running a shallow for an 8-yard touchdown strike to give Indianapolis a 7-0 lead just four minutes into the game. Warren led the Colts with six catches for 63 receiving yards and scored his third career touchdown.
Chaos ensured in the second quarter as momentum swung back-and-forth like a pendulum. Just two plays after Jones was picked off by Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson, Colts cornerback Mekhi Blackmon returned the favor and snatched Brissett’s pass near the goal line for a critical interception to seize possession at a pivotal moment.
The Colts capitalized with brute force, feeding Taylor on five of the first eight plays for a bruising sequence of 14 and 30-yard runs to set up goal-to-go. Jones faked the handoff for a 3-yard bootleg right into the end zone to take a 14-7 advantage.
The Colts second red zone stop was after a clutch sack from defensive end Kwity Paye halted Arizona’s next possession and forced a 40-yard field goal by kicker Chad Ryland to sustain the 14-10 lead at halftime.
The Cardinals found their rhythm after the break, pounding out a 61-yard drive finished by a short touchdown pass to tight end Trey McBride. After newly signed Colts kicker Michael Badgley hit a 45-yard field goal to tie it at 17, Brissett answered by firing a 12-yard touchdown to receiver Greg Dortch to give the Cardinals a 24-17 lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Colts retaliated behind their poised veteran QB, who completed six passes on the ensuing 67-yard march,...
