Live Commentary: Indianapolis Colts 24-13 Denver Broncos - as it happened

Good evening! There's just one place left in next weekend's conference championship games, and the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts go head-to-head for that spot in just over 20 minutes. Let's take a look at the inactive players for tonight's game.

BRONCOS INACTIVES: Latimer, Carter, Thompson, Cornick, Schofield, Jones, Unrein

COLTS INACTIVES: Brown, Richardson, Price, Muamba, Nixon, Harrison, Kerr

The big news for the Colts is that running back Trent Richardson is inactive. He isn't injured, but was on the field for just one play in the win over the Bengals, so it appears he's just been left out. It's a bit of a comedown for a player who was one of the most promising young rushers in the NFL ahead an impressive rookie season in 2012.

For the Broncos, the main news is that Brandon Marshall plays. The linebacker, who leads the team in tackles, missed the last two games of the season with a sprained foot, but he's ready to go this evening.

A lot of the attention in the build up to this game has been on the two quarterbacks - Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck. Manning was the first Draft pick in 1998 for the Colts, and won a Super Bowl with the team, but was released after missing a season with a career-threatening neck injury, joining the Broncos in 2012. In that year, the Colts used the top pick in the Draft to secure the services of Luck, who after just three years in the league is already one of the most highly-rated passers.

Despite Luck having been in the NFL for just three years, this is already the third meeting between these two teams. The Colts came out on top when Manning returned to Indianapolis last season, but it was Denver who got the win when the teams faced off in the opening week this year.

Both quarterbacks have had impressive season, with Manning recording 4,727 passing yards and 39 touchdowns during the regular season. Luck's numbers are just slightly better, with 4,761 yards and 40 touchdowns. Luck is also a threat on the run though, notching up 273 rushing yards and three touchdown this season.

18 vs. 12? One storyline today. http://t.co/CCVFhxSzB5 #UnitedInOrange | #INDvsDEN — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 11, 2015

The winners this evening face a tricky game next week, as they will travel to Foxboro to face the AFC's top seeds, the New England Patriots, who beat the Baltimore Ravens last night. Both sides suffered 22-point defeats when they faced the Patriots in the regular season.

The players are on the field ready for kickoff. While we wait for the coin toss, here's a look at the Colts' defense warming up earlier:

Let's hear it, #ColtsNation! #BringTheNoise pic.twitter.com/90KHiIdYoi — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 11, 2015

KICKOFF! The Colts get the ball first so Brandon McManus takes the opening kickoff, which goes for a touchback.

Daniel Herron has an immediate impact, picking up eight. Luck tries to scramble for the first down, but is brought down by DeMarcus Ware a yard short, so it's a three and out to start for the visitors.

Manning hands the ball off to CJ Anderson for the first two plays of the drive, but the young running back appears to have picked up an injury while being brought down at the line of scrimmage. He's had a big impact in the second half, and would be a big loss so early in the game.

Arthur Jones hits Peyton Manning late after he connected with Emmanuel Sanders, giving the Broncos an automatic first down on a roughing the passer penalty. That's a costly error as Sanders didn't have enough for a first down, so the hosts would have had to punt if it hadn't been for the hit.

Anderson has quickly shaken off the knock he picked up a few plays ago, returning for a nine-yard rush before getting the first down on the next play.

Manning looks deep down field for tight end Julius Thomas, who hauls it in for a 32-yard gain, but he was forced out of bounds by LaRon Landry at the two-yard line. Manning looks for Thomas again on the next play, but the tight end was being held back.

The Broncos break the deadlock as Demaryius Thomas easily gets the better of LaRon Landry to pull down the high pass from Manning at the back of the end zone. That roughing the passer call on this down really proved costly for the Colts.

Andrew Luck turns to his tight ends to get the chains moving, finding Coby Fleener for three yards before Dwayne Allen first up the first down. Hakeem Nicks takes the AFC South side into Denver territory with a big leap up to bring in a nine-yard pass. This is certainly looking better from the Colts than their first drive.

Alas, the drive stalls as Luck fails to connect with Doyle and Tipton, while Herron is tackled behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of two, forcing Pat McAfee to punt it back to the Broncos.

The Broncos start their drive back at their own four-yard line, but they make quick progress as CJ Anderson burst through the middle before Vonta Davis forces him to the sideline. Incomplete passes to Sanders and Demaryius Thomas soon force the Broncos to punt as well though.

As well as being ahead in this game, the Broncos are winning at Twitter banter as well this evening:

.@Patriots We like the guys in #Orange.

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 11, 2015

The Colts come back on trying to get off the mark. TY Hilton makes his first catch of the day for a 20-yard gain, before Herron carries the ball over midfielder and Fleener makes a gain of 14.

Hilton hauls in another big catch, getting free for pick up another 23 yards, leaving the Colts just 15 yards from the end zone.

Herron gets another carry, powering through for six yards, but he can't quite shake off a tackle from Austin to get the touchdown.

The Colts tie up the scores at the start of the second quarter as Luck hands the ball off to Herron, and the running back bursts untouched into the end zone for the touchdown.

Sanders quickly picks up the first down when the Colts leave the middle of the field uncovered, allowing the receiver to spring into the centre to collect a 14-yard pass from Manning.

Ronnie Hillman comes into the running game, picking up a gain of 10, but he's forced out of bounds for a loss of two on the next play.

FUMBLE! Peyton Manning is sacked by Jonathan Newsome for a loss of nine, and the ball comes loose from the quarterback's hands, allowing Freeman to recover it for the Colts, who get the ball back at the Denver 38. That is a really uncharacteristic error from Manning.

Herron had appeared to knock his shoulder while scoring the touchdown earlier in the quarter, but it doesn't appear to be bothering him now as he collects a screen pass from Luck before running for 10.

Moncrief runs a route superbly to haul in a 22-yard catch from Luck, moving the Colts to the eight-yard line, despite being held by Knighton, who is flagged for the hold. The Colts have been looking increasingly dangerous in this second quarter.

Luck is forced to throw the ball away to avoid a hit from Wolfe, before another throw under pressure fails to find Hilton. However, there's another penalty against the Denver defense, this time against Talib, giving Indianapolis an automatic first down.

So the Broncos convert a Peyton Manning lost fumble into a touchdown, culminating in Andrew Luck finding Dwayne Allen with a three-yard pass. Talib was trying to cover the tight end, but Allen was too strong for the cornerback, holding him off to make sure he got the ball, putting Indianapolis in front for the first time in this game.

Dwayne Allen showing his strength on that drive. #INDvsDEN pic.twitter.com/Q5ZLGDXGVP

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 11, 2015

It's a quick three and out for the Broncos as they push to try and get back on level terms. Manning twice fails to find Sanders, while Anderson picks up just a yard on the run. The Broncos offense has struggled to connect since their impressive opening drive.

The Colts have the chance to build their lead before half time as they get the ball back just inside their own half. The quarterback keeps the ball himself, getting to the sideline before running for 20 yards for the first time.

Herron gets a couple of short runs, but a pass intended for Fleener fails to find its target, so the Colts will attempt a field goal.

MISSED FIELD GOAL! Adam Vinatieri missed just a single field goal attempt during the regular season, and kicking in the Mile High City generally favors kickers because of the altitude, but something has gone quite wrong there as the veteran pulls his 44-yard attempt well to the right. That leaves the door open for Denver to get back on level terms before the interval.

CJ Anderson gets 14 yards with a run to start the drive, but another couple of carries leaves the Broncos just short of moving the chains again. Manning tries a deep pass for Wes Welker, which is incomplete, but a penalty on Vonta Davis gives Denver the first down.

Denver can't make the most of the penalty as Demaryius Thomas drops two balls, before an overambitious pass for Sanders can't be hauled in by the wide receiver, so Colquitt comes on for the punt again. The home fans aren't happy, they weren't far off field goal range so maybe should have tried a shorter play to try and get some more points on the board.

Speaking of the Broncos fans, some of them have really gone to an effort to show their support for the AFC West side this season, particularly this guy:

eight hours of hair prep later, this Broncos fan was ready for gameday pic.twitter.com/rDbiNeKCJV

— Eric Kay (@ekaycbs) January 11, 2015

After adding three yards from a short Luck pass, Herron gets the ball again and squeezes past the first down marker before being forced out of bounds. There's still a long way for the Colts to go though, as they're at their own 14-yard line.

INTERCEPTION! Luck is left needing to find 12 yards on third down, but there's no-one open. He attempts to force a long pass to Moncrief, but Bradley Roby gets to it first to win the ball back for the Broncos. The Colts would have been punting on the next play anyway, but it does give Denver a decent starting position on the field.

The Broncos have a chance to get back on level terms, or at least cut the deficit, before the break. Thomas drops yet again, but Sanders hauls in a deep pass over the middle for a first down at the Indianapolis 17. Manning tries a long touchdown pass looking for Thomas, but Davis gets to it first, although the cornerback can't hold on for the interception. Davis appears to have picked up an injury with an awkward landing.

Barth comes on for his first field goal attempt of the evening, and his kick from 45 yards out goes right through the centre of the uprights to cut the Colts' lead to four.

So after falling behind early on, the Indianapolis Colts hit back to take a 14-10 lead into the break at Sports Authority Field in Denver thanks to touchdowns from Daniel Herron and Dwayne Allen.

Let's take a look at some of the numbers from the first half. Andrew Luck really hit his stride in the second quarter, completing 16 of his 24 attempts before the break for 137 yards and a touchdown, although he did throw an interception. Peyton Manning has struggled a bit, making just seven of 18 for 71 yards and a touchdown, although some of those incompletions can be attributed to some Demaryius Thomas drops.

CJ Anderson led the rushing game for the Broncos, adding 66 yards from 12 carries. Daniel Herron has had 11 rushes for the Colts for 43, although he also has 25 receiving yards and a touchdown. Luck has also shown willingness to run so far, keeping the ball twice for 21 yards.

TY Hilton is the Colts' leading receiver so far with 43 yards, but Luck has spread the ball around, with Coby Fleener, Hakeem Nicks and Donte Moncrief among those to have receptions so far. Reggie Wayne, who was one of Manning's favourite receivers in his time with the Colts, did not get a single touch though.

KICKOFF! The Colts take the second-half kickoff, with McAfee's kick going for a touchback.

The Broncos can't make the most of the first possession of the second half as Manning again struggles to find his receivers, while Anderson can't get through the Colts defensive line, so the Broncos have to punt.

Zurlon Tipton picks up the first down for the Colts with a quick burst to the right sideline. Herron tries to smash his way through the middle, and picks up four, before Moncrief makes a diving catch to move the chains again.

Hakeem Nicks can't hold onto the ball, but the Colts have to move back as Herron was caught with his hands in the facemask of Davis while blocking for the quarterback. Luck tried to find Hilton on the next play, but the receiver dropped the ball. Dropping has been a bit of an issue for both sides this evening.

Coby Fleener hauls in the biggest pass of the day for the Colts, rising above a couple of Broncos to pull down a 32-yard pass from Luck, leaving the visitors inside the Broncos 20.

Luck breaks free and sprints into the end zone, but a hold on the line of scrimmage by one of his linemen saw the run chalked off.

A well-built drive from the Colts ends in their third touchdown of the game, as Hakeem Nicks leaps high in the end zone to collect a 15-yard pass from Luck. Vinatieri's extra point leave the Colts 11 points up and the Broncos with plenty of work to do if they're to reach the AFC Championship game next weekend.

Here's Nicks celebrating moments after scoring the touchdown:

Nicks with the TD! Colts 21 Broncos 10 https://t.co/t3w527Pdta — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 11, 2015

The home fans are getting really restless as the Broncos are quickly forced to punt again, booing as Manning miscues a pass to Welker, bringing Colquitt on again.

The Broncos think that they have got the ball back as Cribbs appears to fumble the ball on the return, with Caldwell leaping on it for Denver. However, the replays show that he might have already been down before losing the ball, so the officials are reviewing the call.

OVERTURNED! The officials have ruled that Cribbs was down before the ball was out. It looks like Cribbs has been shaken up by the heavy hit which took him down and the resulting scramble to get the ball, but he's still on the sidelines at the minute. Also, the gameclock is reset to 7:04, the point at which Cribbs's knee hit the ground.

TY Hilton picks up a first down, collecting an 11-yard ball from Luck. However, Herron and Moncrief can't get the yardage on the next couple of plays, leaving Luck needing 13 on third down.

INTERCEPTION! Like in the first half, Luck is left with no open receiver while looking for a big conversion on third down. He tries a deep pass in the direction of Moncrief, but Raheem Moore beats the receiver to the ball. He can't return the interception though, so Denver get the ball back at their own 24-yard line.

CJ Anderson finally gets the Broncos their first first down of the third quarter, before back-to-back reception from Julius Thomas move the chains again. Finally the crowd seem to be getting behind their team, and they have more to cheer about as Demaryius Thomas picks up 10 on the next play.

Demaryius Thomas makes a run on third down to try and keen the drive going, but he comes up a yard short. The Broncos keep their offense on the field on fourth down, and CJ Anderson shakes of a string of tackles to pick up a gain on seven, having initially been hit five back from the line of scrimmage.

Manning can't find his receivers again, twice missing Sanders to force Barth to come out for another field goal attempt.

Barth splits the uprights for the second time in this game, booting the ball threw from 41 yards out. Despite the kick adding to the scoreboard, the crowd is almost silent as the kick goes through, as they know their team still needs a touchdown to take the lead, something they haven't managed since their first drive of the game.

Cribbs is back in for the kick return, and this time he avoids the hit to return the ball to the Indianapolis 24.

The Broncos defense hold firm to force a punt from the Colts as Harris breaks up a pass intended for Moncrief before Hilton is tied up by Talib, and Fleener can't find the space to bring in a catch over the middle, leaving McAfee to pun the ball away.

Could some big plays by the defense held inspire the offense? This is a big drive coming up for Denver.

HERE COME THE BRONCOS. pic.twitter.com/2Pzmw48Cau — NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) January 12, 2015

The offense can't match the defenses intensity as Manning targets Sanders with three straight plays, but Landry and Davis make sure that the receiver can't get a hand to the ball, with the third almost being picked off by Davis. Colquitt comes on to punt, but he gets just 30 yards on the ball, so the Colts take on just inside their own territory.

Hilton manages to completely lose Talib with a quick burst, leaving him open to haul in an 18-yard pass at the Denver 47.

Tipton gets a couple of carries to pick up another first down before Herron moves the chains again. The Colts are now well inside Vinatieri's field goal range. Even the three points would leave Denver needing a huge comeback.

Another couple of Herron runs gives Indianapolis another first down, leaving them just 13 yards from the end zone. Luck connects with Doyle again for a short gain, but he also stays in bounds, which allows the Colts to keep the clock ticking down.

Herron is tackled behind the line of scrimmage so the Colts have to settle for a field goal attempt, which Vinatieri easily makes from 30 yards out to leave the Broncos needing a touchdown, two-point conversion and a field goal with just over four minutes remaining.

Wes Welker picks up his first catch of the game, getting free in the middle to collect a 20-yard effort from Manning. Davis had a chance to intercept the ball two plays later though, but he dropped the ball, which had been intended for Caldwell. Andrew Luck can barely watch from the sideline, throwing his coat over his head as the ball hit the turf.

CJ Anderson powers towards the first down marker trying to keep the Broncos' slim hopes alive, but he's tackled a yard short. If the Colts get the ball back now it will be all but over, but John Fox has challenged the call.

After the review, the call on the field is confirmed, so the Colts get eh ball back on their own 47-yard line, and you have to assume the Colts are going to be trying to take as much time off the clock as possible rather than looking deep down field for touchdowns.

Luck turns to Herron twice to run the ball. The running back gets four yards on his first carry before he's brought down by Von Miller for no gain on the next play.

The Broncos get the ball back again as the Colts can't get the first down. Manning find Thomas for a 16-yard gain, but the home side are still well inside their own half.

Vontae Davis has had a huge game for the Colts, and he's still pushing now, even though the win is surely in the bag for the visitors. He charges to stop CJ Anderson picking up yards, before dragging down Julius Thomas at the Denver 40.

SACK! That really sums up Manning's day! He pauses to look for an open receiver, but instead gets dropped by Erik Walden for a loss of three.

So the Indianapolis Colts stun the Denver Broncos to set up a meeting with the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game next weekend. The Colts are the only team to have won away from in this weekend's divisional games, while Andrew Luck will be the only starting quarterback in next weekend's games not to have already won a Super Bowl.

That's all from this game, but stick around to read out game report, and join us again next weekend to find out which two teams will contest the Super Bowl. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening, goodbye.

Luck and Manning #INDvsDEN pic.twitter.com/5SuewH6Sru — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 12, 2015