The Indianapolis Colts opened the scoring against the Atlanta Falcons with a touchdown by Jonathan Taylor, who found the end zone on his third attempt from the 1-yard line, with 9:24 left in the first quarter. The Falcons quickly evened the score at 7-7 with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Pitts. The Colts' opening drive was 13 plays, 75 yards, and included a crucial 18-yard pass on third and 11. The Falcons' offense, despite some missed opportunities and penalties, including an offsides on a missed 49-yard field goal attempt by Younghoe Koo, took a 13-7 lead into halftime. The Colts' quarterback Minshew was 8-of-17 for 80 yards and was sacked three times, with the team totaling 109 yards, 75 of which came on the opening drive. The Falcons continued to apply pressure, leading 20-7 after scoring 20 unanswered points.
Everything is so hard for Colts. Minshew to Mallory for FD on third-and-5, but Mallory fumbled/recovered. Falcons challenging.
One of the uglier defense series of the season for the Colts. Defenders were run over downfield, eluded in the backfield, even pancaked BY THE QUARTERBACK. Falcons have scored 20 in a row, lead 20-7.
After getting no help last week, #Jaguars division rivals @colts and @texans r down 13 and 15 points in 3rd quarter.
Falcons get the ball to start the second half and fumble the opening snap but get back on it. I mean, I don't think Smith will go back to Ridder, but...
If being right is wrong, the Falcons donβt want to be right https://t.co/suWyLVSts6
Halftime: Falcons 13, Colts 7. Colts: 34 plays, 109 yards, 3.2 per play Falcons: 32 plays, 224 yards, 7.0 per play Feels like Indy's lucky the score's within reach. Anyway, it's time for this week's edition of #askjoel, brought to you by National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Atlanta 13, Indianapolis 7, :05 left Q2. Falcons have moved the ball, 224 yards of offense, but sloppiness has cost them chance at more points.
Colts entering danger zone. Falcons get ball back at 2-minute warning, leading 10-7. Get ball to open 3Q. Minshew 8-of-17, 80 yards, sacked 3 times. Run game 43 on 14. 109 total yards. 75 on opening drive.
Falcons manhandling Colts up front. Another sack of Minshew.
Atlanta 10, Indianapolis 7, 3:23 left Q2. Younghoe Koo good from 23 yards to cap an 82-yard scoring drive that could have been touchdown if Heinicke and Bijan were a little cleaner on third-down throw into end zone.
Colts avoid TD when Robinson's right foot out of bounds. Koo 23 FG. So, ST gives 'em 3. Falcons 10, Colts 7
Younghoe Koo hit the right upright on a 49-yard FG attempt, but Colts called for offsides to set up fourth-and-1, which Cordarrelle Patterson converts.
Koo hits right up right, but #Colts offsides. #INDvsATL
End of first quarter: Colts 7, Falcons 7. Atlanta faces a 4th-and-1 at its own 31 coming out of the break. Per a governmental source, Santa's stopping off at the International Space Station right now.
Kyle Pitts benched, instant TD
Holy Cow Batman, another sack by the #Falcons.
Kyle Pitts for 6!! @kylepitts__ ππ¦ #GatorMade | #ProBowlVote https://t.co/kDbgDwtyMN
Kyle Pitts touchdown alert π¨ π₯: @nfl https://t.co/1aAjTszlcB
ITβS A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE! π KYLE PITTS TD! (via NFL, FOX) https://t.co/pndXty5Htc
KYLE PITTS IS IN THE END ZONE https://t.co/RyP6aSYBVN
Buy a lottery ticket, Kyle Pitts just scored a TD. π (π₯: @NFL) https://t.co/KVxf0U0l1p
#Falcons TE Kyle Pitts with the 24 yard TD. His 6th career TD in 42 games. #Falcons 7, #Colts 7. Quick answer.
KYLE PITTS TOUCHDOWN. πΊ: #INDvsATL on FOX π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/UIg1XAk0MB https://t.co/YwoHsJYEcE
Falcons are getting the ball to their playmakers today. Robinson catch, throw to London (PBU by Jones), first-down throw to Scotty Miller, then Robinson for 32 and a TD pass to Kyle Pitts. Colts 7, Falcons 7.
Kyle Pitts touchdown, a Christmas miracle
Colts open with 13 play, 75 yard drive and JT TD. Let's not overlook Minshew's 18-yard hookup to Mallory on third and 11 on third play of series.
No frills on that final TD series. Steichen kept running Jonathan Taylor into the middle of the Atlanta defense until he got into the end zone. Third time worked. Colts 7-0 early.
#Colts 7, #Falcons 0. Scoring drive, 13 plays, 75 yards (13 in penalties). 3 of 3 on third downs. 6 first downs. Little resistance.
Indianapolis 7, Atlanta 0, 9:24 left Q1 Colts 2-for-2 on third down (one a 3rd-and-11, another on an iffy DPI call) to take a quick lead. Taylor Heinicke up next.
Taylor gets in on his third try from the 1. Eye candy with Downs aided the third. Colts 7, Falcons 0.
Falcons got away with a hand to Minshew's helmet. But they didn't get away with PI on a ball to Pierce on the next one. Colts have the ball at the 1.