Game recap: Falcons throttle Colts, damaging playoff hopes

Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star

The Indianapolis Colts are tied for the AFC South lead as they visit the Atlanta Falcons, who are just one game off the NFC South lead.

The Colts (8-6) have won five of their past six games. They have running back Jonathan Taylor back from a broken thumb, but receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (concussion) is out. The Falcons (6-8) have lost two straight and replaced their quarterback. Taylor Heinicke gets the start.

Nate Atkins, Joel A. Erickson and Gregg Doyel are the best Colts follows, and we will have updates throughout. So go ahead and hit refresh for updates.

Scoreboard watching: Will the Colts make the playoffs?

Keys to the game: 25 things to watch in Colts-Falcons on Christmas Eve

Key player: Colts safety Julian Blackmon leaves with shoulder injury

Final: Falcons 29, Colts 10

The Colts defense gets manhandled: Atlanta gains 406 yards and allows just 1 sack of Taylor Heinicke. For the first time this season, the Colts don't register a takeaway.

Indy's offense sputters after a strong opening drive. Gardner Minshew goes 20-of-37 for 201 yards (85 after the first quarter) without top receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (concussion). Minshew is sacked 6 times. The Colts rush for just 92 yards (24 on a Minshew scramble) as they play from behind.

Heinicke goes 23-of-33 for 229 yards and the Falcons rush for 166 yards. Rookie Bijan Robinson has 122 yards from scrimmage (72 rushing, 50 receiving).

The Colts (8-7) keep hunting a playoff berth next weekend at home against the Raiders.

In another early game involving AFC playoff hopefuls, the Browns throttle the Texans.

Bah, humbug: 10 thoughts on the Colts' blowout loss on Christmas Eve

Insider: Colts overmatched by Falcons, blow chance to improve playoff odds

1:57 left 4Q: Younghoe Koo connects again

His 25-yarder is his 5th field goal of the day. Falcons 29, Colts 10

5:44 left 4Q: Falcons add to their lead

Younghoe Koo hits a 35-yard field goal. Falcons 26, Colts 10

7:51 left 4Q: Gardner Minshew throws an interception

Jessie Bates III hauls in the desperation long ball. Atlanta has it at the Colts 42.

10:02 left 4Q: Colts fail on downs

Atlanta takes over at its 38.

14:06 left 4Q: Falcons add to their lead

Younghoe Koo connects for a 41-yard field goal. Falcons 23, Colts 10

End 3Q: Falcons are driving again

The Colts have allowed 354 yards through three quarters and the Falcons are at the Colts 24 with a first down entering the fourth quarter. Atlanta's yardage edge in the period is 130-65.

4:23 left 3Q: Colts add a field goal

Matt Gay connects from 33 yards. Gardner Minshew scrambles 24 yards up the middle on that drive, but he also suffers his 4th sack. Falcons 20, Colts 10

11:13 left 3Q: Falcons run over Colts

Tyler Allgeier finishes the drive with a 31-yard scoring run. Bijan Robinson (2 touches for 19 yards) and Cordarelle Patterson (3 carries for 23) also get the better of the Colts on that drive. Falcons 20, Colts 7

Halftime: Falcons 13, Colts 7

Younghoe Koo kicks a 47-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the half. Atlanta dominates the second quarter (126-12 yards advantage), and the Colts are fortunate to allow just a pair of field goals.

Gardner Minshew is 8-of-17 for 80 yards, and he has been sacked 3 times. Jonathan Taylor has 11 carries for 30 yards.

Taylor Heinicke is 16-of-22 for 171 yards and a TD. Bijan Robinson has 5 carries for 35 yards (1 is for 32) and 5 catches for 30.

The Colts, the only team to register a takeaway in every game this season, have 0.

Atlanta gets the ball to start the second half.

3:23 left 2Q: Falcons take the lead

Younghoe Koo hits a 23-yard field goal. On 3rd down, Taylor Heinicke hits Bijan Robinson, who can't keep his feet in-bounds. Falcons 10, Colts 7

Koo had missed a 49-yard field goal try, but Ameer Speed is lined up offside, giving Atlanta 4th-and-1. Cordarelle Patterson rushes for the 1st down.

10:11 left 2Q: Defenses are taking over

Colts have the ball at their 22 after an Atlanta punt.

2:10 left 1Q: Falcons get to Gardner Minshew

Atlanta sacks Gardner Minshew on two straight plays after the Colts had reached field goal range. Rigoberto Sanchez's punt is downed at the 3.

7:42 left 1Q: Falcons strike back

Taylor Heinicke hits Kyle Pitts for a 24-yard touchdown to complete a fast drive. One play before, Bijan Robinson has a 32-yard run. Colts 7, Falcons 7

9:24 left 1Q: Colts score on opening drive

Jonathan Taylor burrows in from 1 yard on 3rd down. Colts mix run (7 plays, 26 yards) and pass (4-of-6, 36 yards), and Alec Pierce is interfered with in the end zone on a 3rd-down play. Atlanta allows an opening-drive TD for the first time this season. Colts 7, Falcons 0

How Nate Atkins sees Colts vs. Falcons

Colts inactives

C Jack Anderson, CB Darrell Baker Jr., DT Eric Johnson II, RB Zack Moss, LB Segun Olubi, WR Michael Pittman Jr., T Braden Smith. Baker, who has started 6 games and has 35 tackles and 6 passes defended, is a healthy scratch.

Falcons inactives

Pat O'Donnell, Jovaughn Gwyn, Tommy Togiai, Kaleb McGary, John Fitzpatrick, Joe Gaziano, Logan Woodside (3rd QB)

Jonathan Taylor's workload

Colts vs. Falcons storylines

∎ Colts special teams performers Isaiah McKenzie and Tony Brown have been suspended for the rest of the season.

∎ The Falcons lean on their defense, allowing 19.9 points per game (No. 8 in the NFL), 33.5% of 3rd-down conversions (No. 3) and 37.5% red zone touchdowns (No. 2). The Colts score 24.6 points (No. 8) but are below average on 3rd down (36.1%, No. 23) and in the red zone (53.1%, No. 18).

∎ Atlanta runs on 48.7% of its plays (No. 3 most frequent), and gains 4.0 yards per carry (No. 21) and 126.4 per game (No. 9).

∎ The Falcons are in the bottom half of NFL offensive statistics (18.4 points, No. 26; 327.2 yards, No. 19) and turnover margin (-6, No. 23). The Colts struggle defensively, allowing 24.5 points (No. 27) and 347.5 yards (No. 21), but they create turnovers (+4, No. 11).

AFC playoff standings

Seeds, records through Week 15, and Week 16 opponent

1. Ravens

11-3

at 49ers, Mon.

2. Dolphins

10-4

vs. Cowboys

3. Chiefs

9-5

vs. Raiders, Mon.

4. Jaguars

8-6

at Buccaneers

5. Browns

9-5

at Texans

6. Bills

9-6

beat Chargers

7. Colts

8-6

at Falcons

8. Texans

8-6

vs. Browns

9. Steelers

8-7

beat Bengals

10. Bengals

8-7

lost to Steelers

11. Broncos

7-7

vs. Patriots

Colts start time vs. Falcons in NFL Week 16

1 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

What channel is Colts vs. Falcons on?

TV: Fox, with Adam Amin (play-by-play), Mark Schlereth (analysis) and Kristina Pink (sideline reporting)

Radio: 93.5, 97.1, 107.5 FM in Indianapolis, with Matt Taylor (play-by-play), Rick Venturi (analysis), Larra Overton (sideline reporting)

Streaming: SiriusXM Channels 380 and 813, ESPN+, Fubo, Paramount+, Sling, Dish, Amazon, NFL+

Who is favored to win, Colts or Falcons?

via BetMGM

Favorite: Falcons by 3 points (Colts are 9-5 against the spread; the Falcons are 4-10 ATS)

Over/under: 44.5 total points (10 Colts games have gone over, 4 under; 5 Falcons games have gone over, 9 under)

Moneyline: Colts +125, Falcons -150

ESPN's matchup predictor gives the Colts a 51.9% chance of winning.

Anthony Richardson, Colts news from IndyStar

More: Richardson 'progressing way faster than everyone thought'

‘Smallest thing on the football field’: Colts Josh Downs will be home for Christmas in NFL

Insider: How Nick Cross finally got on the field and made the most of it

'I'm not worried about that': Shane Steichen shows faith in Matt Gay despite struggles

More: Colts assistant disagrees with NFL suspension of Steelers safety

More: How Alec Pierce's family keeps track of three sons playing high-level sports

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts vs. Falcons score updates, highlights, analysis from NFL Week 16

Advertisement