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.
Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo had to find a solution on the fly when starting cornerback Charvarius Ward was the second player to be ruled out after sustaining a pre-game injury. Ward was back-pedaling and flipped his hips to sprint during his pre-game warmup, but accidentally collided with tight end Drew Ogletree and ultimately sustained his second concussion this season. Indianapolis ultimately started cornerbacks Mekhi Blackmon, Jonathan Edwards, Chris Lammons, who entered Sunday’s affair with just seven combined NFL starts.
The Colts found another way to beat a tough, competitive Cardinals (2-4) team and the way head coach Shane Steichen continuously declares his players fight, scratch, and claw through opponents until the final whistle was proven 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 second red zone stop for Indianapolis was ignited by a clutch sack from defensive end Kwity Paye that 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, finishing with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Downs to even the score at 24-24. Jones completed an efficient 22-of-30 passes for 212 yards and scored three total touchdowns, including his third rushing TD this season.
Arizona’s final drive reached the red zone, but Paye’s second sack forced the fourth down that sealed the outcome. Despite surrendering 400 total yards and allowing Arizona to convert 9 of 14 third downs, Indianapolis made three stops when it mattered most.
The Colts head back out west to face the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium next Sunday.
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