(Photo: Clutchpoints)
Intriguing Game- NFL, Week Two
Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts
Broncos: (1-0)
They got all they could handle from a Tennessee Titans team that wasn’t expected to compete in that Week 1 showdown. With a rookie quarterback making his NFL debut in Colorado—a notoriously tough place to play—the Titans held their own, even in a losing effort. This weekend, every team in the AFC West won their game—except for one: the Kansas City Chiefs. Let’s go back to last season for a moment. The Broncos made the postseason for the first time since Super Bowl 50. It’s been a struggle for them to find consistency at the most important position—quarterback—but they finally have their franchise guy in Bo Nix. Under the tutelage of Sean Payton, Nix put the offense on his back and led Denver to one of its best seasons in recent memory. That’s great, but now the question is: can they do it again? The Broncos are out to prove last year wasn’t a fluke. Bo gave them their best quarterback play since the Peyton Manning days. And Sean Payton reminded everyone he’s still a solid head coach—not just the byproduct of a Hall of Fame QB. This is the same coach who had the New Orleans Saints sitting at 5-2 in 2021 before Jameis Winston went down with an injury. Now, I’m not saying Denver will take over the AFC West, but they can definitely climb the ladder—especially if they keep adding and developing young talent through the draft. Two of their cornerstone players—Bo Nix and Patrick Surtain II—were both drafted by the team. One is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and the other is still proving he’s a quality NFL quarterback. This Sunday, they head to Lucas Oil Stadium for a late afternoon showdown.
Colts: (1-0)
Welcome to the National Football League—where the unexpected happens. Who would’ve thought the Indianapolis Colts would have one of the best performances of Week 1? I certainly didn’t. I thought the Miami Dolphins would be too much for them to handle, but that’s why you never know in this league. One of the biggest training camp storylines was the quarterback battle: Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones? Head coach Shane Steichen named Jones the starter—and in Week 1, he delivered what was arguably the best performance of his pro career. I said this on The Prime on Monday night: you either handle the spotlight of New York City, or you don’t. Daniel struggled significantly during his time with the Giants—to the point that he was released during the season, which says a lot. Now he’s in a smaller market where he can just focus on football—no media circus, no constant headlines. He went 22 of 29 for 271 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns. The Colts’ offense got what it wanted, and the defense was physical—pushing the Dolphins around in a way few expected. They also clearly wanted this win—it was their first game since the unfortunate passing of owner Jim Irsay. Sunday’s victory marked their first Week 1 win since 2013. To put that in perspective, Andrew Luck was the starting QB and Chuck Pagano was the head coach. They’ll look to start 2-0 when the Broncos come to town.
Broncos X-Factor: Talanoa Hufanga
I thought he’d be more of a driving force with the 49ers, but injuries limited him. Now a Bronco, he joins an already stout defense—and he can make them even better. Hufanga has drawn comparisons to Troy Polamalu, and it’s easy to see why. He anticipates plays before they happen and is always in attack mode. He makes runners think twice about coming his way because he will deliver a hit. He plays downhill, wraps up in open space, and can drop back in coverage. Opposing offenses must always know where he is.
Colts X-Factor: Josh Downs
I don’t think people realize just how good Josh Downs is. Even with inconsistent quarterback play last season, he still racked up over 800 receiving yards. Since entering the league, he’s become the go-to slot target in this offense. He’s twitchy after the catch, knows how to make people miss, and he’s phenomenal in the open field. Downs is also a speedster who can sneak behind coverage and get wide open. With Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce drawing defensive attention, don’t sleep on No. 1.
Final Thoughts
Both teams are 1-0, but their Week 1 performances couldn’t have been more different. The Broncos barely got past a scrappy Titans team, while the Colts imposed their will on the Dolphins. Now they face off. Denver’s offense must be sharper. Bo Nix has to take better care of the ball, especially against a Colts defense that intercepted Tua Tagovailoa twice last week. On the other side, can Daniel Jones build on his strong start? I want to see him do it again before anyone declares he’s “always been this guy.” It’ll be fascinating to watch how Denver plans to limit Jonathan Taylor and how the Colts’ offensive line holds up against the Broncos’ pass rush. To win, Indy must force takeaways and create short fields for their offense. But ultimately, I think the Denver defense will be too much. That will be the difference in this one.
