Colts lose season opener to Bengals 34-23
INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - The Colts host the Cincinnati Bengals in their season opener, and welcome quarterback Andrew Luck back to the starting lineup.
Follow the action on the Eyewitness News game day blog with Dave Calabro, Bob Kravitz and photojournalist Ben Reiff:
4:10 p.m. - Unfortunately, Colts lose after 24 unanswered points by the Bengals in the last quarter. FINAL SCORE: Bengals 34 - Colts 23
Just like last year....colts blow a double digit lead in the second half. 34–23. 24 unanswered points. Bengals win.
— dave calabro (@calabro13sports) September 9, 2018
That's game. #CINvsIND pic.twitter.com/PiWvDBBG58
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 9, 2018
4:05 p.m. - Bengals continue their game-winning drive, increasing their lead 34-23 with 0:18 left in the game.
Doyle makes the first down catch on the Colts drive, but fumbles, recovered by Cincy and returned for a touchdown. Twenty four seconds left. Ball game. Bengals up 34-23.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) September 9, 2018
Just like last year....colts blow a double digit lead in the second half. 34–23. 24 unanswered points. Bengals win.
— dave calabro (@calabro13sports) September 9, 2018
3:52 p.m. - Bengals' Randy Bullock increases the team's lead 27-23 with a 39 yard field goal.
Bullock kicks a 39 yard field goal for Cincinnati and the Bengals lead 27-23 with 3:57 left in the game.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) September 9, 2018
That’s 17 unanswered points for the Bengals. Colts down 4. Luck has 4:00 to work with. @WTHRcom
— dave calabro (@calabro13sports) September 9, 2018
3:30 p.m. - Three Colts penalties of this half. Bengals take the lead by one, 24-23 with a touchdown from Mixon.
Aided by three Colts defensive penalties, the Bengals take the lead on a Mixon drive from the 1-yard line. Bengals up, 24-23. Colts led by 13 not so long ago.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) September 9, 2018
Well...the Bengals take the lead w help from 3 colts defensive penalties...24–23 w 11 minutes left. @WTHRcom
— dave calabro (@calabro13sports) September 9, 2018
3:22 p.m. - Vinateiri's attempt at a 54 yard field goal is no good. The Colts finish the third quarter in the lead 23-17.
Bengals defense jacked up and coming after Luck. Momentum is shifting.
— dave calabro (@calabro13sports) September 9, 2018
Vinatieri's 54 yard FG try is no good. Bengals ball with 12 seconds left in the quarter. Colts lead 23-17.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) September 9, 2018
3:10 p.m. - Bengals' Andy Dalton throws a 38 yard touchdown reception for AJ Green bringing the scoreboard to 23-17 with Colts remaining in the lead.
Dalton hits AJ Green for a beautiful 38 yard touchdown and it's Colts leading, 23-17, with 4:09 left in the third.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) September 9, 2018
.@andydalton14 ➡️ @ajgreen_18
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 9, 2018
A thing of beauty.
📺: CBS #SeizeTheDEY pic.twitter.com/i6j4qwt9XT
3:00 p.m. - The Colts increase their lead 23-10 in top of the third quarter after a 5 yard completion to Hilton.
👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻 pic.twitter.com/Nok0xdfEmy
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 9, 2018
Great drive by the Colts. luck is settling in and throwing on the money! TD to TY colts up 23–10 3rd q.
— dave calabro (@calabro13sports) September 9, 2018
Luck to Hilton on the short slant for the Colts' touchdown. Another efficient drive, lots of quick passes, death by a thousand paper cuts. Luck's got to love this offense.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) September 9, 2018
2:50 p.m. - Andrew Luck's first half was just about as good as it can get after throwing an interception on his first official pass.
The Colts quarterback finished the half 20 of 25 with 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
📊 #CINvsIND pic.twitter.com/YOLstmgQTD
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 9, 2018
#CINvsIND Injury Update: CB Chris Milton is being evaluated for a concussion. pic.twitter.com/47aAWD3zA3
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 9, 2018
2:23 p.m. - Colts call timeout with 0:14 left in the second quarter. Following the team's last timeout, Vinatieri finishes off the first half with a 52 yard field goal bringing the Colts to a 16-10 lead.
Colts up 16-10 at the half! @adamvinatieri w 3 field goals...Luck looks good! Keep it rolling! @WTHRcom
— dave calabro (@calabro13sports) September 9, 2018
52 yards? No problem for the 🐐. pic.twitter.com/xpvNvacbXC
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 9, 2018
2:15 p.m. - Bengals' John Ross scores his first NFL career touchdown bringing the team up with 1:38 left in the second quarter. Colts stay in the lead 13-10.
TOUCHDOWN for @WatchJRoss!#CINvsIND #SeizeTheDEY pic.twitter.com/ZwpQ6EJSj0
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 9, 2018
Bengals respond. Big run by Mixon, a pass interference on Quincy Wilson, 5 plays 75 yards for the touchdown on a Dalton pass to Ross. Colts lead, 13-10.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) September 9, 2018
2:05 p.m. - The Colts extend their lead to 13-3 on a 38 yard Adam Vinatieri field goal with 3 minutes left in the second quarter.
Vinny's 38-yard kick is GOOD. #Colts - 13#Bengals - 3 pic.twitter.com/gFcQjhD5Ok
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 9, 2018
Another efficient drive by the Colts. Vinatieri finishes it off with a 38 yarder. Colts up, 13-3.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) September 9, 2018
1:50 p.m. - Cincinnati's second turnover of the game led to a 26-yard Luck-to-Eric Ebron touchdown pass to give the Colts a 10-3 lead early in the second quarter.
1⃣2⃣ to 8⃣5⃣! pic.twitter.com/7q14gPv93o
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 9, 2018
Great drive...Luck throws his 1st TD pass in 616 days! 10-7 @Colts lead in the 2nd. #WTHR
— dave calabro (@calabro13sports) September 9, 2018
Coming into the game, I felt like Ebron would be a problem for Cincinnati, and there he was, catching a 26 yard TD pass from Luck. Colts with another good drive, lead 10-3.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) September 9, 2018
1:30 p.m. - The Colts tie the game on a 21 yard Adam Vinatieri field goal after initially lining up to run a play from scrimmage on 4th down and goal from the Bengals 4 yard line.
Reich smartly changes his mind and sends out Vinatieri for the chip shot.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) September 9, 2018
Cincinnati safety Shawn Williams was ejected before the score for an unsportsmanlike hit on Luck as the quarterback scrambled downfield.
Bengals safety Shawn Williams ejected from the game after a vicious helmet-first hit on Luck after a first-down scramble. Right call. Dangerous play.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) September 9, 2018
1:10 p.m. - The Colts' first possession ends with an interception of Andew Luck deep in Cincinnati territory. Cincinnati converted the Preston Brown pick into a 42 yard Randy Bullock field goal to take a 3-0 lead.
The Colts kicked off but took possession after picking off a Cincinnati pass deep in Bengals territory.Bengals drive 69 yards and finish the drive off with a Bullock field goal. Bengals, 3-0. Get used to the bend-and-don't-break stuff from this Indy defense.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) September 9, 2018
Colts pick!! @colts ball at the 7.
— dave calabro (@calabro13sports) September 9, 2018
12:45 p.m. - Rookie Jordan Wilkins gets the opening day start at running back for the Colts.
Rookie Jordan Wilkins will start at running back for the Colts. Haeg at left tackle, Webb at right tackle.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) September 9, 2018
12:05 p.m. - Eyewitness News has confirmed a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport that QB Andrew Luck sustained an injury to his throwing shoulder while snowboarding in early 2016. Luck told Rapoport just this week that he told the Colts about the injury when it occurred, and that it was a sprain that he worked through, unlike the labrum injury that sidelined him for all of 2017.
Luck enjoyed great success in 2016 and the Colts extended his contract after the snowboarding injury. Luck also said he's not gone snowboarding since the injury.
From @gmfb Weekend: More on my conversation with #Colts QB Andrew Luck and his previously undisclosed snowboarding accident https://t.co/NzDbOgBWV1 pic.twitter.com/mGJw1HX4RA
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 9, 2018
11:30 a.m. - Colts list inactive players for today's game.
Our #CINvsIND Inactives: https://t.co/JxOgFybri0 pic.twitter.com/7oBJXq8Wvm
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 9, 2018
Welcome back #NFL football!! @calabro13sports and @bkravitz are here with me at #CINvsIND. @TaylorTannebaum is hanging out at the old Brickyard. If you’re watching from home, just follow all of us. It’s the right thing to do. #Colts @WTHRcom pic.twitter.com/5TJcKaqu1B
— Ben Reiff (@BenReiff) September 9, 2018Suggested Links
10:30 a.m. - The Lucas Oil Stadium roof will be closed for the game with possible rain in today's forecast.
The roof will be CLOSED for today’s game. pic.twitter.com/myQbb4m2Ro
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) September 9, 2018