Broncos roar back on the strength of 5 takeaways to beat Colts 31-13 and close in on playoff berth

DENVER (AP) — Nik Bonitto's defensive touchdown was jaw-dropping. Jonathan Taylor's botched touchdown run was head-scratching.

Bonitto foiled a trick play by stepping in front of quarterback Anthony Richardson and hijacking Adonai Mitchell's lateral pass, then racing 50 yards for a touchdown Sunday that sealed the Denver Broncos' 31-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

A blunder by Taylor turned the game around in the third quarter. Indy's star running back dropped the ball milliseconds before crossing the goal line on what would have been a 41-yard touchdown.

“That can’t happen," said Taylor, who finished with 107 yards — but no touchdowns — on 22 carries. “No, you’re never consciously aware you’re dropping the ball. Otherwise, you wouldn’t do it.”

The blunder breathed new life into the Broncos, whose special teams and defense would bail out a sputtering offense that managed just 193 yards.

“If he would have scored that touchdown, it would have been even more of a dogfight to get back,” Denver pass rusher Jonathon Cooper said. “We would have had a tougher fight. ... I just hope it never happens to us.”

Denver's defenders dejectedly retreated to the sideline, but suddenly the 76,416 fans roared. Safety P.J. Locke said he looked up and saw the replay on the giant scoreboard and suddenly the Broncos had a holiday gift.

Instead of lining up for the extra point to give the Colts a 20-7 lead, the touchback left the reeling Colts clinging to a six-point edge they would soon relinquish.

“That was a game changer, yeah, absolutely,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said. “Obviously, it hurt us, but he’s one of our leaders. Sometimes that happens in football, but he’s our guy, and that’s what you say to him.”

With five takeaways, the Broncos (9-5) ended a seven-year string of losing records and strengthened their grip on an AFC wild-card berth that would end a playoff drought dating to 2016. They began defense of their Super Bowl 50 title that season with a 4-0 start, which was the last time they sat four games above .500.

The Colts (6-8) blew both an early 10-0 lead and a big opportunity to tighten the AFC wild-card race, and the biggest reasons were Taylor's blunder and Bonitto's plunder.

Denver had just taken its first lead of the game on Bo Nix's 15-yard touchdown toss to tight end Nate Adkins that made it 17-13 when Bonitto scored his second touchdown in two games.

Bonitto, who had a pick-6 against Cleveland before the Broncos' bye week, was in full stride when he caught Mitchell's pass at the midfield logo and raced untouched to the end zone.

The play was officially recorded as a fumble recovery and not a pick-6 because it was a backward pass. Whatever you want to call it, Cooper said it was just the spark the Broncos needed.

“Man, I love playing with this dude,” Cooper said. “His football instincts are off the charts. He's a phenomenal football player. He's got my vote for Defensive Player of the Year.”

Mitchell said his coach had admonished him to throw the ball away if he saw the Broncos sniffing out the trickery, but he said he never sensed Denver had deciphered the play.

“It was there pretty much until 15 turned into Ed Reed and just came through out of nowhere,” Mitchell said.

Denver's five takeaways more than made up for Nix's first three-interception game of his rookie season.

One of Denver's interceptions was by cornerback Patrick Surtain II, who limped to the sideline tent with a sprained right ankle. He went back in the game but was helped off the field just before the 2-minute warning after seemingly aggravating the injury. He left the stadium without comment but wasn't in a walking boot, a good sign because the Broncos have a short week before their next game.

The Broncos' barrage of points started with Wil Lutz's 44-yard field goal that pulled Denver to 13-10 and ended with Nix's 20-yard TD pass to Courtland Sutton.

Richardson completed just five of 17 passes for 56 yards in the first half and one of those completions was to himself. It came in his own end zone after Jonah Ellis batted down his throw.

Richardson capped Indy's opening drive with a 23-yard touchdown run after twice converting on third-and-10.

Both of these AFC wild-card contenders were coming off a bye week and both looked more rusted than rested.

“It won't be fun looking at the tape,” bemoaned Broncos coach Sean Payton.

Imagine how much worse it'll be for Taylor and the Colts.

Colts WR Alec Pierce left in the first half with a concussion.

Broncos RG Quinn Meinerz (shoulder) and RB Jaleel McLaughlin (thigh) both left late in the third quarter. Surtain got hurt in the fourth, as did DT D.J. Jones (finger).

Colts: Host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Broncos: Visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Indianapolis Colts' Anthony Richardson gets away from Denver Broncos' John Franklin-Myers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Indianapolis Colts' Jonathan Taylor runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos' Adam Trautman celebrates his touchdown with Bo Nix during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos' Nik Bonitto celebrates after returning an interception for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos' Jaleel McLaughlin runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos' Nik Bonitto celebrates his interception and return for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos' Bo Nix throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos' Courtland Sutton drops a pass in front of Indianapolis Colts' Kenny Moore II during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos' Kris Abrams-Draine breaks iup a pass intended for Indianapolis Colts' Alec Pierce during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos' Marvin Mims Jr. celebrates after a long return during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

As No. 1 Indiana prepares for Friday night's College Football Playoff semifinal against No. 5 Oregon, coach Curt Cignetti is already reloading.

On Sunday, the undefeated Hoosiers acquired two key players in the transfer portal, landing former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, according to a person with knowledge of the commitment. The person requested anonymity because official announcements have not yet been made. Former Michigan State receiver Nick Marsh also is headed to Indiana, his mother, Yolanda Wilson, confirmed to The Associated Press on Sunday.

Marsh considered transferring last year but said he turned down more money from other schools to stay with the Spartans.

Hoover could be the successor for Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza even though Mendoza's younger brother, Alberto, could stay at Indiana. But Hoover brings a dimension that has worked well for Cignetti in his first two seasons in Bloomington — a proven, multiyear starter.

Indiana went with Kurtis Rourke, a Mid-American Conference Player of the Year with Ohio, in 2024 then got Mendoza, a two-year starter at California, this season.

Hoover is 19-12 in 2 1/2 seasons as the Horned Frogs starter and has completed 65.2% of his 1,183 attempts for 9,629 yards and has 71 TD passes and 33 interceptions. In 2025, the Texan was 272 of 413 for 3,472 yards with 29 TDs and 13 interceptions. He also has eight TD runs in his career.

But the other part of Sunday's haul was equally impressive. Marsh had 100 receptions for 1,311 yards and nine TD receptions in his two seasons with the Spartans and broke school records for a freshman with 41 catches and 649 yards in 2024.

The 6-foot-3, 203-pound Marsh is expected to replace Elijah Sarratt, who caught the winning TD passes at Iowa and in Indiana's first matchup against Oregon.

Multiple news outlets also reported former Boston College running back Turbo Richard also was heading to Indiana. Richard had 145 carries for 749 yards and nine TDs in 11 games last season after only logging 55 carries in 2024. The Hoosiers also are losing their top two rushers — Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black.

The Hoosiers (14-0) and Ducks (13-1) meet Friday night in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta with the winner advancing to the Jan. 19 national championship game.

Quarterback Brendan Sorsby announced in an Instagram post that he is transferring to Texas Tech.

Sorsby was regarded as one of the top quarterbacks available in the transfer portal. He had thrown for at least 2,800 yards each of the last two seasons at Cincinnati. This season, Sorsby completed 61.6% of his passes for 2,800 yards with 27 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed for 580 yards and nine touchdowns.

That followed a 2024 season in which Sorsby completed 64% of his passes for 2,813 yards with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He rushed for 447 yards and nine touchdowns that year.

Quarterback Colton Joseph is heading to Wisconsin after throwing for more than 2,500 yards and eclipsing 1,000 yards rushing at Old Dominion this season.

Joseph announced his decision Sunday with an X post that included the message, “On Wisconsin.” He completed 59.7% of his passes this season for 2,624 yards with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for Old Dominion, which went 10-3. He also rushed for 1,007 yards and 13 touchdowns on 158 carries. He didn’t play in Old Dominion’s 24-10 Cure Bowl victory over South Florida after deciding to enter the transfer portal.

Wisconsin has gone to the transfer portal for quarterbacks every year since coach Luke Fickell arrived, though injuries have limited their production.

Tanner Mordecai came over from SMU in 2023 but missed 3 1/2 games with a broken hand that season. Tyler Van Dyke arrived from Miami the following year but tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the third game of the season. Former Mississippi State quarterback Braedyn Locke started when Mordecai and Van Dyke were injured.

Billy Edwards Jr. transferred from Maryland and opened the 2025 season as Wisconsin’s starter, but he sprained his knee in the second quarter of the Badgers’ season-opening victory over Miami (Ohio). He did not play after Sept. 20. San Diego State transfer Danny O’Neil, Southern Illinois transfer Hunter Simmons and freshman Carter Smith each started multiple games after Edwards’ injury.

Illinois found a potential replacement for Luke Altmyer, signing QB Katin Houser out of the transfer portal. He threw for 6,438 yards and 43 touchdowns over four seasons for Michigan State and East Carolina.

It was a big weekend for Colorado coach Deion Sanders, who was looking to add weapons for highly touted quarterback Julian Lewis.

The Buffaloes received commitments from an array of players including San Jose State receiver Danny Scudero, who was named to The Associated Press All-America second team. Scudero’s intention to join the Buffaloes was confirmed by a person familiar with the situation who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because Colorado hasn’t announced its new arrivals.

Colorado also had pledges from receiver Kam Perry of Miami (Ohio), along with defensive linemen Lamont Lester Jr. and Yamil Talib, the nephew of longtime NFL cornerback Aqib Talib. In addition, running back Damian Henderson II is set to join Colorado.

Scudero had 88 catches for 1,291 yards and 10 TDs last season for San Jose State. He had a program-best four touchdown catches against Wyoming.

The Buffaloes will be the third school for Perry, who started at Indiana before transferring to Miami (Ohio). He finished with 43 catches for 976 yards and six touchdowns for the RedHawks in 2025.

Henderson follows his coach at Sacramento State to Colorado. Brennan Marion was hired by Sanders as offensive coordinator to implement Marion's high-tempo, run-oriented “Go-Go” system. Henderson rushed for 565 yards last season after starting his career at Colorado State.

Talib comes to Boulder from Charlotte, where he had 28 tackles and an interception last season for the 49ers. He was at Oklahoma State in 2024.

Lester had 9 1/2 sacks and two forced fumbles last season for Monmouth.

AP Sports Writers Pat Graham, Larry Lage and Steve Megargee also contributed to this report.

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FILE - Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh runs with the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez,File)

FILE - TCU quarterback Josh Hoover (10) plays against Houston during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith,File)