INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts have been officially eliminated from playoff contention after the Giants stunned them 45-33 at MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
New York (3-13) won its first home game of the season to snap a 10-game losing streak.
The Colts started the game sluggish as quarterback Joe Flacco, who was filling in for an injured Anthony Richardson, threw an interception to defensive back Dane Belton on the team’s first possession. The Colts then settled for a 32-yard Matt Gay field goal on their second drive to take an early 3-0 lead.
The Giants responded with two touchdowns. The first score was set up by a 40-yard run by Indianapolis native and Decatur Central graduate Tyrone Tracy Jr. New York quarterback Drew Lock connected with rookie sensation Malik Nabers for a 31-yard touchdown on third-and-14 for a 7-3 advantage. Lock then found receiver Darius Slayton for a 32-yard score on another third down after a Gay missed field goal to make the game, 14-3.
Gay made a 29-yard field goal to cut into the New York lead, but Lock threw his third touchdown of the half, hitting receiver Wan’Dale Robinson for a five-yard score to extend the Giants lead to 21-6.
The Colts put together a much-need seven-play, 70-yard drive at the end of the half. Running back Jonathan Taylor scored from three yards out with 20 seconds left to make the score, 21-13 at halftime.
New York started the second half with some fireworks as Ihmir Smith-Marsette returned the kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. It was the first time the Giants returned the second half kickoff for a touchdown since 1949.
Taylor scored on a 26-yard run to get the Colts within one score again at 28-20 early in the third quarter.
The Colts appeared to be driving toward a potential game-tying score after a phenomenal catch by wideout Michael Pittman Jr., who adjusted back to the ball after Flacco just threw it up to avoid the rush. The team drove down to the New York 26-yard line, but the Giants defense stonewalled Taylor on a fourth-and-1.
New York would turn the ball over on downs, then the teams would swap punts before the Colts marched down the field again.
Flacco found deep threat Alec Pierce for a 13-yard touchdown to make it, 28-26. The Colts went for the two-point conversion to tie, but couldn’t execute a trick play as Pittman tried to lateral to Taylor, who couldn’t catch the pitch. Taylor would have been able to walk into the end zone had he caught the ball.
The Giants extended their lead back to two scores on Lock’s fourth touchdown pass of the game, a 59-yard strike to Nabers.
The Colts refused to go away. Pierce hauled in a 49-yard pass, then Pittman caught a 7-yard touchdown from Flacco to make it, 35-33 with just under seven minutes to play.
New York once again answered with a 9-play, 70-yard drive capped by a Lock five-yard TD run on third-and-goal. The Giants sealed the game with a Dru Phillips interception.
Richardson missed his third start of the season with an injury after missing practice this week with back and foot issues.
The Colts will wrap up the season hosting division rival Jacksonville on Sunday. The game time is still to be determined.