INDIANAPOLIS: Jonathan Taylor ran for 2 scores, Gardner Minshew added one other and the Indianapolis Colts protection got here up with a late turnover Sunday to protect a 27-20 victory over Tampa Bay.
Indy (6-5) gained its third straight and climbed above .500 for the primary time because the finish of September with its second dwelling victory of the season.
The two-time defending NFC South champion Bucs (4-7) have misplaced 4 straight highway video games, this one in uncharacteristic trend.
Indy gashed the often stingy Tampa Bay run protection for 155 yards and 5.7 yards per carry — numbers that will have been even increased if Taylor had not slid down inbounds to maintain the clock working late earlier than the Colts began kneeling down.
Taylor had 15 carries for 91 yards and his first a number of rating sport of the season. Zack Moss ran eight occasions for 55 yards.
The Colts took management early and by no means allowed the Bucs to fully get better after Baker Mayfield injured his proper ankle on the sport’s opening sequence, an damage that pressured Tampa Bay to accept a area objective after having first-and-objective from the Indy 1-yard line.
Matt Gay tied the rating together with his first area objective and the Colts transformed Ronnie Harrison Jr.’s interception into Taylor’s highly effective 4-yard run to make it 10-3.
Minshew prolonged the margin to 17-3 with a nifty sidestep of Bucs linebacker Devin White en path to a 2-yard TD run early within the second quarter.
Tampa Bay lastly answered after Carlton Davis III’s interception led to a straightforward 1-yard TD lob from Mayfield to a large-open Mike Evans late within the first half.
The Bucs pulled inside 20-17 on Evans’ second rating, a 23-yard TD cross early within the fourth, however the Colts transformed a fourth-and-1 with a 30-yard completion and Taylor scored from 1 yard three performs later.
That made 27-17 with 7:30 to play and the Bucs didn’t get in the long run zone once more.
Mayfield was 20 of 30 with 199 yards, two TDs, one interception and a sport-sealing fumble that he misplaced.
Evans had six catches for 70 yards and Rachaad White ran 15 occasions for 100 yards.
INJURY REPORT
Buccaneers: Tampa Bay was down three defensive gamers to start out the sport — LB Lavonte David (groin), CB Jamal Dean (ankle and foot) and DL Mike Greene (calf). Mayfield missed the ultimate two performs of the Bucs’ first drive however returned on the following sequence.
Colts: C Ryan Kelly (concussion protocol), CB JuJu Brents (quad) and DT Grover Stewart (suspension), all starters, sat out. Brents and Stewart have missed 5 consecutive video games and Stewart can return to the staff after subsequent week’s sport.
BY THE NUMBERS
Buccaneers: The protection had allowed 4 TD runs in its first 10 video games earlier than giving up three to the Colts. … Backup QB Kyle Trask took two snaps within the sport, yet another than he had beforehand this season. … Tampa Bay gave up solely 20 sacks previous to this sport, however the Colts had six Sunday.
Colts: Receiver Michael Pittman Jr. had 10 receptions for 107 yards towards one in all his father’s former groups. … Indy has scored 20 or extra factors in all 10 video games it has performed on American soil this season. … Indy solely has two wins in its previous 12 dwelling video games.
LEONARD STILL AROUND
Three-time All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard now not has a roster spot in Indy after being waived Tuesday. He nonetheless couldn’t keep away from Sunday’s sport, watching it from one of many suites.
Outside the stadium, the poster of Indy’s former defensive chief stays on the entrance facade with a brand new message “thanks for the memories.” Inside the stadium, although, the Colts additionally remembered Leonard, enjoying a short spotlight bundle throughout a break within the first quarter as the gang roared.
RICHARDSON RETURNS
Indy quarterback Anthony Richardson has returned to the staff complicated and was again at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, too, after struggling a season-ending damage to his throwing shoulder.
Richardson, the fourth general draft decide in April, had surgical procedure to restore a sprained AC joint final month in Los Angeles. He initially stayed there to rehab however got here again to Indy. He had a sling defending his shoulder throughout pregame warmups and waved to the followers together with his left arm in his first look on the stadium since getting harm Oct. 8 towards Tennessee.
UP NEXT
Buccaneers: Host Carolina and prime general draft decide Bryce Young subsequent Sunday.
Colts: Visit the Titans subsequent Sunday, searching for a season sweep.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
