Denver Broncos lose first game of the season

By Michael Penkman, Reporter

Published: October 21 2013 | 05:15

Last updated: October 21 2013 | 11:07

Indianapolis Colts beat the Denver Broncos 39-33 to become the first team to defeat John Fox's men in the NFL this season.

Indianapolis Colts have inflicted the Denver Broncos' first defeat of the season at Lucas Oil Stadium, taking them 5-2 in the AFC South division.

Andrew Luck upstaged Peyton Manning in the battle of the quarterbacks as he found three touchdown passes and made a 10-yard rush to see Chuck Pagano's side triumph 39-33.

It was the 37-year-old veteran who drew first blood, locating Eric Decker to touch down midway through the first quarter.

Adam Vinatieri got the scoreboard ticking for the home side with a 27-yard field goal and Luck fired 11 yards to Darrius Heyward-Bey before the end of the first 15-minute period.

Manning replied with a 12-yard pass for Julius Thomas to restore the Broncos' lead, but the contest then swung dramatically in favour of the Colts.

Robert Mathis sacked Manning, allowing Ricky Jean Francois to recover the ball for a two-point safety, and Luck lasered 20 yards to Stanley Havili to turn the game completely on its head.

The 24-year-old completed his hat-trick by finding Coby Fleener to make it a 12-point ball game just before the break.

A tight game unfolded in the third quarter, but Luck piled more points after rushing with the aid of some good blocking from Reggie Wayne.

Matt Prater sent a kick over from 31 yards as the Broncos attempted to rouse themselves before the start of the final quarter.

Vinatieri restored his team's 12-point advantage early in the fourth, but the comeback was well and truly on when Manning came up trumps with his hat-trick pass for Demaryius Thomas.

The home fans were beginning to get twitchy after Knowshon Moreno burst over from a yard to make it 36-30 with just over eight minutes left on the clock.

Another field goal from Vinatieri - this time from 42 yards out - meant that Broncos needed a touchdown to have any chance of winning.

Prater kicked a 47-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining, but John Fox's men could not recover the ball from the onside kick, meaning that they are now 6-1 for their season and second best to Kansas City Chiefs (7-0) in the AFC West division.