In a tightly contested matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Indianapolis Colts managed to hold off the Miami Dolphins, claiming a narrow 16-10 victory. The game showcased the resilience of Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, who made a triumphant return from injury, steering his team to victory with two late scoring drives.
After missing nearly three full games due to a right hip injury, Richardson stepped back into the starting role and faced a challenging Dolphins defense. He completed just 10 of 24 passes for 129 yards, adding 56 rushing yards on 14 attempts. Despite his struggles with accuracy and timing, Richardson displayed poise under pressure, especially in the crucial fourth quarter.
The first half was a defensive slugfest, with both teams managing only one touchdown in the first 29 minutes of play. Miami drew first blood midway through the opening quarter when Tyler Huntley connected with Jonnu Smith for a 10-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal. Huntley, who had been performing admirably in place of the injured Tua Tagovailoa, completed 7 of 13 passes for 87 yards, also contributing 20 rushing yards before leaving the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury.
The Dolphins added a 33-yard field goal from Jason Sanders just before halftime, giving them a 10-3 lead. However, Colts kicker Matt Gay responded with a booming 52-yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter, bringing Indianapolis within striking distance at 10-6.
The second half began with a pivotal moment for the Colts as rookie running back Tyler Goodson scored his first NFL touchdown with a 7-yard run, leveling the score at 10-10 early in the third quarter. With momentum on their side, the Colts took control, marching down the field to set up a pair of field goals by Gay, who converted from 22 and 38 yards out, giving Indianapolis a 16-10 lead.
Miami’s offense, struggling to find its rhythm, faced setbacks as key playmakers were held in check. Star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle were kept quiet throughout the game, with Hill finishing with just one catch for 8 yards and Waddle tallying only one catch for 11 yards. The Dolphins‘ ground game provided some spark, with Devon Achane carrying the ball 15 times for 77 yards.
With the game on the line, Miami had a chance to tie the score with a 54-yard field goal attempt by Jason Sanders late in the fourth quarter. However, the kick clanked off the upright, preserving the Colts’ slim lead.
Ultimately, the Dolphins’ miscues proved costly, as they fell to 2-4 on the season. The defeat underscored the need for Miami to re-engage its star receivers and solidify its quarterback situation, especially with Huntley leaving the game and Tim Boyle stepping in to finish. Boyle ended the game with 8 completions on 13 attempts for 74 yards, but could not produce the game-tying score.
For the Colts (4-3), the victory marked their fourth win in five weeks, solidifying their position in the competitive AFC South race, now just one game behind the division-leading Houston Texans (5-2). With Richardson back under center and the team on a three-game home winning streak, the Colts will look to build on this momentum as they head deeper into the season.
