The Game of Leverage: How Spencer Shrader and a Rare Penalty Handed the Indianapolis Colts a Stunning Victory Over the Denver Broncos
A stadium silenced. A sideline erupted. A yellow flag flew onto the turf, rewriting what had seemed a finished script. For a brief moment on Sunday, the Denver Broncos believed they had secured a gritty victory over the Indianapolis Colts. The scoreboard read 28–26, the clock had expired, and Spencer Shrader’s game-winning field goal attempt had fallen short. Then came the call: a rare and consequential leverage penalty.
The Colts were suddenly granted a second chance. Moments later, Shrader drilled a 45-yarder to seal a 29–28 comeback win that will go down as one of the strangest and most dramatic finishes in recent NFL history.
This analysis goes beyond the final score, breaking down the controversial ending, spotlighting key performances, and exploring the narratives that shaped this Week 2 clash between the Colts and Broncos.
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The Anatomy of a Controversial Finish
The ending was a masterclass in how one obscure rule can flip a result on its head.
Trailing by two points with just over three minutes left, the Colts leaned on the run game, methodically gaining 26 yards to set up a daunting 60-yard field goal attempt at the buzzer. Shrader’s kick drifted short and right. Broncos players began to storm the field to celebrate.
Then the yellow flag came into focus. Officials cited Broncos linebacker Dondrea Tillman for leverage — using a teammate to vault upward in an attempt to block the kick. Though initially misattributed to another defender, referee Craig Wrolstad clarified the infraction, calling it both “unsafe and unfair.”
The result? A 15-yard personal foul, moving the ball to Denver’s 27-yard line and giving Shrader another chance from a much-more-makeable 45 yards. This time, Shrader split the uprights for his fifth field goal of the game and ninth already this season, sending the Colts sideline into bedlam and leaving Denver stunned.
Head coach Shane Steichen called the locker room “electric.” Broncos coach Sean Payton admitted, “We did a lot of things late in that game to keep ourselves from winning.”
Player Spotlights
Jonathan Taylor’s Ground Dominance
Taylor was unstoppable, rushing 25 times for 165 yards while adding 50 receiving yards and a touchdown catch before half that cut the Colts' deficit to one. It was his 25th career 100-yard rushing game, passing Eric Dickerson for second-most in franchise history.
Credit also goes to the Colts’ offensive line, which stifled Denver’s edge rushers (Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss) and opened consistent running lanes.
Daniel Jones’ Efficiency
After an unforgettable home debut in a 33-8 win over the Dolphins, Daniel Jones delivered at Lucas Oil Stadium yet again against the Broncos:
23 of 34 passing (316 yards, 1 TD)
1 rushing TD (third of the season)
0 turnovers
Jones’ poise stood in stark contrast to Denver’s rookie QB.
Bo Nix’s Tale of Two Halves
Broncos rookie Bo Nix was sharp early, completing 78% of his passes in the first half with three touchdowns. But his costly red-zone interception to Cam Bynum in the third quarter flipped the game’s momentum.
Final line: 22 of 30 for 206 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT. Impressive on paper, but overshadowed by Denver’s late collapse.
Game Comparison
Stat | Broncos | Colts |
|---|---|---|
Final Score | 28 | 29 |
Total Yards | 324 | 473 |
Pass Yards | 206 | 306 |
Rush Yards | 118 | 167 |
Yards/Play | 6.0 | 7.1 |
Time of Possession | 27:53 | 32:07 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Looking Ahead
The Colts’ 2-0 start — their first since 2009 — has the franchise buzzing. With Jones efficient, Taylor dominant, and Shrader clutch, momentum is high heading into Week 3 against the winless Titans.
For the Broncos, this is a bitter reminder that discipline wins games. Payton hasn’t won a road opener since 2018, and this collapse will sting. Rookie QB Bo Nix flashed promise, but Denver must find consistency — and composure — to contend.
Conclusion
This game will be remembered not just for its bizarre ending, but for the lesson it delivered: in the NFL, discipline is everything. The Colts seized a rare second chance and turned it into a signature win, while the Broncos let a golden opportunity slip away.
For Colts fans, it’s a moment of euphoria. For Denver, heartbreak. And for everyone else, it was a reminder of why NFL Sundays are never over until the final whistle, or the final flag.
