Paging, Denver Broncos offense. Paging, Denver Broncos offense.
Try as they might, the Broncos could not get much going at all on offense in a frustrating 12-9 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night at Empower Field at Mile High.
The Broncos led 9-6 when they faced 4th-down-and-one at the Colts 28 yard line.
Head coach Nathaniel Hackett passed on a 46-yard field goal try and went for the first down, which Russell Wilson converted with a nine-yard completion to tight end Eric Saubert.
But later in the drive, Colts defensive back Stephon Gilmore intercepted Wilson in the end zone. Indy then drove down and tied the game 9-9 on Chris McGlaughlin's 31-yard field goal with five seconds left.
After McGlaughlin hit a 48-yard field goal in overtime to put the Colts ahead 12-9, Wilson drove the Broncos to the Indianapolis five-yard line. One 4th-and-one, Gilmore knocked away Wilson's pass to Courtland Sutton in the end zone and Indianapolis had escaped with the win, as ugly as it was.
The loss overshadowed an incredible effort by the Broncos defense, which gave up only four field goals, 306 yards of total offense while creating two turnovers and registering six sacks. Linebacker Bradley Chubb had seven tackles, one for loss, two-and-a-half sacks and three quarterback hits.
The Broncos offense was virtually non-existent. Denver failed to score a touchdown, converted only 2-of-15 opportunities on third down, turned the ball over twice and allowed the Colts to sack Russell Wilson four times.
Added to all of that was the growing pile of injuries. Tackle Garett Bolles left the game with a reported broken lower right leg, linebacker Josey Jewell and cornerback Ronald Darby suffered knee injuries and linebacker Baron Browning left the game in the second half with a wrist injury.
MORE ON THE BRONCOS LOSS HERE
The Broncos are 2-3 and next play the Los Angeles Chargers on the road on Monday night, October 17.
Check out KOA postgame interview with (in order) head coach Nathaniel Hackett, QB Russell Wilson, RB Melvin Gordon, WR KJ Hamler and S Caden Sterns.