Colts coach Shane Steichen goes Nathaniel Hackett. Broncos lose anyway

Initial thoughts from the Broncos’ 29-28 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium:

1. Strong commitment: The Broncos’ first three offensive plays of the game? All between-the-tackles runs from running back J.K. Dobbins — for two first downs and a total of 28 yards. Should it be a surprise that the drive ended in a Bo Nix-to-Marvin Mims Jr. touchdown pass? Good things happen when the Broncos quarterback has a run game to work with. There was no better proof of that than Denver’s very first drive. Six plays, 64 yards. Every single snap produced a positive gain, and a comfortable quarterback in the pocket. More of that, please, Sean Payton.

2. Missing piece: If the Broncos defense is going to take the step from good to elite, they’re going to need Dre Greenlaw in uniform and on the field — soon. The veteran free-agent addition was signed specifically for matchups like Sunday, when the Broncos need an inside linebacker who can show up in coverage against tight ends and running backs, and deliver crushing blows in run support. That the Colts’ running backs and tight ends had a combined five catches for 113 yards at halftime was no coincidence. Greenlaw needs to be the answer to that problem, or this defense has a ceiling.

Broncos analysis: ‘Leverage’ serves as final dagger, but Sean Payton’s team set itself up for failure several times

3. Just ducky: Remember when Denver drafted Oregon teammates Bo Nix and Troy Franklin in April 2024, and visions of 50-yard bombs danced in our heads? Well, the first year didn’t exactly produce that (outside of Denver’s first drive in the Wild Card round). But, boy, is Duck Dynasty, Year 2 starting to look promising. One bit of improvisation early in the second quarter stood out most, when Nix escaped pressure, rolled to his left, and found Franklin streaking down the sideline for 42 yards. The catch sparked a TD march that featured four Nix-to-Franklin hookups for 58 yards, the last a 3-yard score. He finished with eight catches for 89 yards, as well as 11 yards on a nifty end-around. Yes, the Age of Troy Franklin may soon be upon us.

4. Opportunity lost: Sean Payton told us exactly what he thought of QB Daniel Jones early in the fourth quarter. Given the chance to take a holding penalty that would’ve pushed the Colts back to third-and-12, the Broncos coach instead opted to give them fourth-and-2 at midfield. Then, Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph brought the heat, Jones threw incomplete, and the Broncos were set to bust open a 28-23 contest. It felt like that was the game. Instead, the Broncos made multiple mistakes on the Colts’ end of the field (Bo Nix interception, Adam Trautman facemask, Will Lutz’s 42-yard doink). And then they made another after Colts coach Shane Steichen went full Nathaniel Hackett and ran down the clock for a 60-yard field goal. Dondrea Tillman got flagged for a penalty, Spencer Shrader got a second chance from 45 yards after his miss, and the Broncos went home losers. Steichen did everything he could to hand Denver the game, and the Broncos gave it right back.