Sean Payton shouldered the blame for the game’s end, saying misalignment and a leveraged attempt by Dondrea Tillman led to a controversial 60-yard kick that sealed Denver’s fate. He drew a line to last year’s heartbreak vs Kansas City, stressing the play design was sound but execution faltered and the Broncos must tighten rush lanes and protection in crunch moments.

The late Colts march culminated in Shrader’s long try, first wide right and then made after a flag changed the line. Payton acknowledged the difference between a long field goal and a shorter “gimme” and noted that the responsibility starts with him and the approach to interior pressure going forward.

Colts escaped a dramatic gut-check in Denver after a controversial leverage penalty on Dondrea Tillman extended the late drive. Tillman’s leap onto Dalton Tucker and a push-off were ruled illegal, setting up Spencer Shrader’s 45-yard game-winner after an initial 60-yard miss. Denver squandered chances—Will Lutz’s miss and Bo Nix’s late turnover—while Indianapolis improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2009.