Q3 15:00: Eddie Royal is back deep to receive the kickoff to start the second half.

Q3 14:54: Royal picks up 21 yards on the return out to the 19-yard line. The offense is back on the field, and Kyle Orton hands off to Knowshon Moreno to start the drive. The rookie carries it to the 24-yard line. On second down, Orton finds Brandon Marshall, who tries to spin out of tackle. He is brought down, however, after a gain of three. Now it’s 3rd-and-2, and Orton is in the shotgun. He drops back and fires to Royal, but the receiver can’t haul it in before being tackled. The incompletion brings in Mitch Berger for a punt. T.J. Rushing calls for a fair catch at the 19-yard line — it’s a 54-yard punt by Berger.

Q3 13:40: Peyton Manning takes the snap under center before faking a handoff and dropping back. He fires a pass toward Dallas Clark under pressure by Vonnie Holliday. The pass falls incomplete, as Ty Law was right there with the coverage on Clark.

Q3 13:13: A two-yard run by Joseph Addai brings up 3rd-and-8 for the Colts. Elvis Dumervil chases Manning, who lets loose a pass for Clark. It is hauled in momentarily, but Darcel McBath bursts in for a big hit to break up the pass. That brings up fourth down for the Colts, and Royal is deep to receive the punt. He finds a little space after the 50-yard punt, picking up five yards after reversing field. The offense will take over on its own 34-yard line.

Q3 12:42: On first down, Moreno takes a carry for 11 yards and another first down. The next play nets another first down after a 13-yard completion from Orton to Brandon Marshall.

*INJURY UPDATE: Correll Buckhalter is doubtful to return to the game with an ankle injury.

Q3 10:39: After a run for no gain by Moreno, Orton escapes pressure and scrambles out of the pocket for a pickup of nine yards. That sets up 3rd-and-1 at the 33-yard line. Moreno is stopped behind the line, but the play never officially happened — a delay of game penalty on the Broncos pushes the ball back to the 38-yard line. On 3rd-and-6, Orton is in the shotgun. He is sacked on a blitz by Gary Brackett. Now the ball is on the 40-yard line, and Berger is in to punt. The punt is fair caught at the 11-yard line.

Q3 9:11: On 1st-and-10 for the Colts, Manning takes the snap under center. He hands off to Addai, who picks up three yards before being taken down by Dumervil. On second down, Manning drops back into the shotgun. He drops the ball off to Addai, who picks up a first down before being tackled by Brian Dawkins.

Q3 7:40: The Colts pick up four yards on a first-down carry. Manning drops back in the shotgun on second down, and the pass is tipped in the air before being intercepted by Dawkins — his second of the day. The offense will take over at the Indianapolis 38-yard line.

Q3 7:19: On first down, it looks like a screen is being set up for Moreno, but the Colts are ready for it, so Orton throws the ball at the running back’s feet. On second down, Moreno takes a carry seven yards to set up 3rd-and-3. Orton is nearly sacked on the third-down play, but he ducks away from the pressure, scrambles to his left and finds Marshall for the first down at the 24-yard line.

Q3 5:41: After a Moreno run for no gain, Orton finds Marshall near the first-down marker — it’s a nine-yard gain, setting up 3rd-and-1.

**INJURY REPORT: Renaldo Hill is questionable to return to the game with an ankle injury.

Q3 5:05: A false start penalty moves the ball back five yards. It is now 3rd-and-6, and Orton is in the shotgun. He drops back and throws an interception at the goal line. Tim Jennings returns the pick to the 14-yard line.

Q3 4:33: The Colts offense is back on the field, and Manning is in the shotgun. The quarterback fakes a handoff before trying to find Reggie Wayne, but the pass falls incomplete.

Q3 4:28: The Colts run the ball on second down — a two-yard gain to the 16-yard line, setting up 3rd-and-8. On the ensuing play, Manning is in the shotgun. He fires down the middle of the field intended for Austin Collie, but D.J. Williams was right with the receiver in coverage, and the pass sails incomplete. On fourth down, Pat McAfee is in to punt the ball away to Royal, who is deep to receive. He signals for a fair catch at the 43-yard line, where the offense will take over.

Q3 3:34: A five-yard penalty is called on the Colts for encroachment before the first play of the Broncos’ drive. With Orton in the shotgun, Moreno takes a carry for no gain. That makes it 2nd-and-5, and Orton fakes a handoff to Moreno before firing to Marshall for a first down. The receiver now has the second-most catches in a game in Broncos history — behind his own record of 18 set last season.

Q3 1:44: A Moreno run for 11 yards gains another first down, and Peyton Hillis takes a carry two yards to set up 2nd-and-8 at the 24-yard line. Orton drops back and tries to find Marshall, but the pass is broken up by Kelvin Hayden. On 3rd-and-8, Orton throws toward Jabar Gaffney out of the shotgun, but the pass is incomplete. Matt Prater is in to attempt a 42-yard field goal — and he misses wide right. Indianapolis will take over at its own 32-yard line.

Q3 1:02: Darcel McBath picks off Manning’s pass on first down — his second career interception. The rookie returns the ball to the 24-yard line. On first down, Orton quickly finds Gaffney for a first down. The Broncos now have a 1st-and-10 at the 12-yard line. Moreno gets the carry on the next play, picking up two yards. On 2nd-and-8, Orton tries to fire quickly to Marshall, but it falls incomplete. The play brings the third quarter to an end.

Q4 15:00: The Broncos have a 3rd-and-8 at the 10-yard line to start the fourth quarter. Orton is forced to throw the ball out of bounds after no one comes open in the end zone. Prater is in to attempt another field goal — this one 28 yards out. This time he knocks it home, and the Broncos narrow the lead by three points.

COLTS 21, BRONCOS 10

Q4 14:50: Prater’s kick sails eight yards deep in the end zone, and it is fielded for a touchback. Manning and the Colts take over at their own 20-yard line, and the quarterback takes the first-down snap in the shotgun. He fakes a handoff and tries to set up a screen, but the pass falls incomplete.

Q4 14:42: Manning sprints back up to the line and tries to hurry off a play, firing downfield for Garcon. Goodman is there, however, and he swats the pass out of the receiver’s hands to set up 3rd-and-10. Manning is in the shotgun, and his pass is nearly intercepted by Goodman. The Broncos defense has started to stiffen, and McAfee is in to punt to Royal. Royal is hit by three Colts, however, immediately after receiving the 46-yard punt. There is a loss of two on the return. The offense will take over at its own 32-yard line.

Q4 14:28: On 1st-and-10, the Colts are called for encroachment, pushing the ball forward five yards. Now 1st-and-5 from the 37-yard line, Orton drops back and gets the ball to Marshall for his 16th catch and a first down. Moreno takes the carry on the ensuing first down, picking up six yards. On 2nd-and-4, Orton lines up under center. The signal caller drops back and finds Gaffney, who bursts across the field to the 30-yard line for another first down.

Q4 12:52: Orton tries to get the ball out to Marshall for a bubble screen, but Marshall can’t quite hold onto it. On second down, Orton drops back and fires to Marshall for his 17th catch — a yard short of the first-down marker. That sets up 3rd-and-1, and the Broncos hurry up to the line. Orton keeps the ball on a quarterback sneak, picking up two yards for the first down.

Q4 11:47: Moreno picks up a yard on first down, and Orton finds Marshall for his 18th catch — tying a Broncos franchise record set by Marshall last season — and a first down at the 6-yard line.

Q4 10:47: Moreno is dropped for a loss of three yards, so it is 2nd-and-goal from the 9-yard line. Orton fires to Marshall — his franchise record-setting 19th catch — at the 5-yard line, setting up 3rd-and-goal.

Q4 9:58: The Lucas Oil Stadium crowd is getting loud as the offense steps back up to the line. Orton lines up in the shotgun, and Brandon Stokley goes in motion from left to right. Marshall ties the NFL record with his 20th catch after Orton finds him in the end zone for a touchdown. The Broncos are going for two after the score. Orton lines up under center and hands off to Moreno, who is stopped short of the line. The Broncos cut the lead to five points.

COLTS 21, BRONCOS 16

Q4 9:44: Prater’s kickoff goes nine yards deep in the end zone, and is fielded for a touchback. The Colts will take over at the 20-yard line. Manning lines up in the shotgun and hands off to Addai, who is hit right away by Vonnie Holliday. The running back slips away, however, but is still taken down for no gain. On 2nd-and-10, Manning lines up in the shotgun again. He throws an incompletion intended for Clark, and it is now 3rd-and-10. With Manning in the shotgun yet again, Austin Collie comes away with a big reception to move the chains. The ball is now at the Indianapolis 43-yard line.

Q4 7:58: Holliday and Wesley Woodyard taken down Addai for a loss of a yard on first down. On second down, Manning fakes a handoff but gets the ball to Wayne despite being hit as he threw. That sets up the Colts with another first down at the Denver 38-yard line.

Q4 6:47: Addai picks up 11 yards for another first down. The Colts take their time, letting the clock wind down before stepping up to the line. On the ensuing first down, Addai takes another carry and picks up two yards before being tackled by Mario Haggan. On 2nd-and-8, Manning finds Collie out of the shotgun for another first down into the red zone.

Q4 4:41: Mike Hart carries the ball inside the 10-yard line, setting up 2nd-and-5. Manning seems to check out of the original play, but the Colts are called for a false start. That makes it 2nd-and-10 at the 14-yard line, and stops the clock. On the next play, Manning hands off to Hart, who nearly picks up the first down. It is 3rd-and-1 at the 5-yard line for the Colts. The play is a handoff to Hart, who is hit in the backfield, but he bounces off the tackle and sets up a 1st-and-goal on the second effort.

Q4 2:43: Denver calls its first timeout of the second half. On the other side of the break, Manning steps back in under center. He hands off to Hart, who fights his way to the 1-yard line. Denver calls its second timeout of the half.

Q4 2:29: The Broncos stop Hart short of the goal line on the next play before calling their final timeout of the half. Now 3rd-and-goal, Manning fakes a handoff before firing to Clark for a touchdown. The extra point is up and in, and the Indianapolis lead is back up to 12. That was a 14-play, 80-yard drive for the Colts.

COLTS 28, BRONCOS 16

Q4 2:25: After a touchback, Denver has the ball at its own 20-yard line. Orton lines up in the shotgun and tries to find Marshall, but the pass falls incomplete. On second down, the team tries to set up Marshall for a bubble screen, but Orton and the receiver can’t connect. On 3rd-and-10, Orton is sacked. After the 8-yard loss, the Broncos are on the 12-yard line, and the clock ticks down to the two-minute warning.

Q4 2:00: Orton is in the shotgun and fires the ball to Marshall for his 21st catch. Marshall then laterals to Chris Kuper, but the offensive lineman can’t quite get to the first-down marker. Marshall’s catch set a new NFL record for most catches in a game. Marshall finishes the day with 21 catches for 200 yards.

Q4 0:00: The Colts take over on the turnover on downs, and Manning takes three knees to run the clock out. The Broncos fall to 8-5 and the Colts remain undefeated at 13-0. Next on Denver’s schedule is a home contest against the Oakland Raiders.

-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com

Tags: Indianapolis Colts, Second Half, Week 14

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 13th, 2009 at 12:47 pm and is filed under DenverBroncos.com. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.