The Broncos defense was exposed in a heartbreaking loss at Indy

Denver's defense is supposed to be the strength of the team, but in a 29-28 loss to the Colts they were carved up by Daniel Jones and company

BY JAMES MERILATT

Sep 15, 2025, 4:00 AM Updated: Jun 30, 2026, 12:24 pm

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Jonathan Taylor is a great running back. Tyler Warren is a promising tight end. Daniel Jones is a former first-round bust who is now a journeyman quarterback. Together, they tore up the Broncos defense on Sunday. And in the process, they took a bit of the bloom of Denver’s rose.

Taylor rushed for 165 yards on 25 carries. Warren had 79 yards on four receptions. Jones was 23-of-34 for 316 yards.

Behind this trio, the Colts racked up 473 yards of offense on the Broncos. They didn’t punt in the entire game. And they scored 29 points, enough to best Denver by one.

Losing a game they had in the bag is disappointing for Denver. Falling to 1-1 with games against the Chargers, Bengals and Eagles on the horizon is concerning. But the biggest worry for Sean Payton and company is their defense.

Heading into this season, the Broncos were supposed to be powered by that side of the ball. Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen got big contracts before the opener. Patrick Surtain is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Denver’s defense is supposed to be the strength of their team.

On Sunday, they weren’t up to the task.

The Broncos scored 28 points. That should be enough to win most games. With a supposedly great defense, that should equate to a victory at nearly a 100 percent clip. But it didn’t in Indianapolis.

And that’s a worry. A big one.

Denver isn’t built to win shootouts. Their quarterback is only in his second year. Their top running backs are newcomers. And their wide receiver room is mostly filled with young players.

When that group scores four touchdowns, it has to equate to a win. If not, it’s going to be a long season for the Broncos.

It’s one thing to get carved up by Justin Herbert. It’s forgivable if Joe Burrow racks up a bunch of yards. It’s understandable if Patrick Mahomes puts 29 on the scoreboard.

But Daniel Jones? And the Colts?

That’s just not going to cut it. And the Broncos know it.

“We didn’t play our best today,” Bonitto said after the 29-28 loss at Indy. “I’m pretty sure we can say that across the board.”

The edge rusher is spot on. Denver’s defense wasn’t good against the Colts. But they better be in the next few weeks.

The Broncos are at the Chargers next week. Los Angeles might be the best team in the AFC West.

They host the Bengals two weeks from tonight. If Burrow is on the field, Cincinnati is one of the best offenses in the NFL.

In Week 5, Denver is at Philadelphia. The Eagles are the defending Super Bowl champs.

A 1-1 record can snowball into 1-4 in a hurry. In the process, the season can get away from the Broncos.

There were a lot of causes for concern on Sunday. Wil Lutz clanked a field goal that would’ve put Denver up by five off the upright. Payton’s use of timeouts late in the game made no sense. And Dondrea Tillman’s leverage penalty provided Indianapolis with a second chance to kick a winning field goal. But those pale in comparison to the biggest worry.

The Broncos are supposed to build upon last year’s 10-7 season because of their defense. That group is why so many people think Denver is a legitimate threat to win the AFC West. But if they play like they did on Sunday, that’s not going to happen.

In arguably their most-winnable road game on the schedule, the Broncos defense laid an egg. In the process, they suggested that they aren’t as good as advertised.

If that’s the case, it could be a long season in Denver.