Colts fall to 0-2 with loss to Green Bay Packers
GREEN BAY, Wisc. – The Colts were able to withstand an early ground onslaught but were unable to mount enough offensive momentum on Sunday, losing 16-10 to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
The Colts went into halftime down just 10-0 despite a first half in which Green Bay – which was without starting quarterback Jordan Love due to a knee injury – held a significant advantage in total yards (262-80) and time of possession (23:05 to 6:55). Running back Josh Jacobs accounted for most of that damage, with the veteran running back churning out 128 yards on 20 carries (6.4 yards/attempt) in the first half.
The Packers had over 100 rushing yards a little over nine minutes into the first quarter, and in the first 15 minutes Green Bay rushed for 164 yards on 20 carries. Those 164 rushing yards were the most any team has had in the first quarter of a game since the Denver Broncos had 167 rushing yards in the first quarter of a game in 2011.
Green Bay was consistently able to stay ahead of the chains on first down with their first-half run game. The Packers totaled 16 carries for 137 yards on first down in the first half, with Jacobs carrying 10 times for 72 yards on those plays. Wide receiver Jayden Reed gained 37 yards on two first down rushes as well.
The biggest play of the first half for the Colts came when linebacker Zaire Franklin knocked the ball out of Jacobs' hands just before the goal line, with defensive end Laiatu Latu recovering the fumble in the end zone. The forced fumble and recovery kept Green Bay's lead from ballooning to three scores in the first half.
Richardson was intercepted to end the Colts' lone drive into Packers territory in the first 30 minutes, and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell had a drive-ending drop on a third down throw from Richardson just after the two-minute warning.
The Packers and Colts traded field goals in the third quarter.
Running back Jonathan Taylor looked to give the Colts a spark in the third quarter with three runs of 10-plus yards, including a 29-yard dash that sent the Colts in Packers territory. Kicker Matt Gay, though, missed a 50-yard field goal that would've made things a one-score game early in the fourth quarter.
An 39-yard third down completion from quarterback Malik Willis to wide receiver Romeo Doubs sparked the Packers – who struggled to move the ball early in the second half – into a field goal that pushed the score to 16-3 with just under 11 minutes left.
Richardson was picked off by linebacker Eric Wilson on the ensuing possession.
An 11-yard fourth-down scramble by Richardson set up a four-yard touchdown throw to wide receiver Alec Pierce, cutting things to 16-10 with 1:47 left.
Green Bay recovered the ensuing onside kick, and the Colts' defense got the stop they needed to get the ball back to the offense. Richardson got the Colts into position for a Hail Mary, but it was picked off just shy of the goal line to end the game.
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner sustained an ankle injury late in the third quarter and did not return. Defensive end Laiatu Latu also sustained a hip injury in the second half and did not return.
