Colts vs. Falcons Live Updates: Atlanta Wins 29-10
The Indianapolis Colts face the Atlanta Falcons in a Christmas Eve holiday showdown.
Although the Falcons have fallen from the No. 1 spot in the NFC South, the team still has a lot to fight for this week. Backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke will be playing against the Colts' backup, Gardner Minshew, in a battle between two of the NFL's top backup quarterbacks.
Heinicke has had opportunities to start for Atlanta already this season but has gone winless in his two starts. Minshew, on the other hand, has won 60 percent of his games this season and led Indianapolis to an 8-6 record.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith will be hoping for a Christmas miracle to help keep his job and impress ownership with a win against the Indianapolis Colts.
ClutchPoints
This game, Falcons head coach Arthur Smith is fighting for his job security. Some fans are upset with the team's struggles late in the season and offensive inadequacies throughout his tenure.
If Atlanta wants to have a chance at winning this week, it will come down to star rookie running back Bijan Robinson having a stellar performance and outshining fellow NFL star rusher Jonathan Taylor, who is making his return from a thumb injury today.
All Atlanta wants for Christmas is a Falcons win.
WHAT: Indianapolis Colts (8-6, 5-2 Road) at Atlanta Falcons (6-8, 4-3 Home)
WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA (75,000)
WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, 1 p.m. ET
TELEVISION: FOX / FuboTV (try it free)
RADIO: WZGC-FM 92.9 The Game
Get your tickets at SI Tickets
Betting via SI SportsBook
SPREAD: Falcons -2.5
TOTAL: 45.5
MONEYLINE: Colts +120, Falcons -143
Check below for live updates after kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER:
Colts Ball- Incomplete pass.
Downs reception for a loss of one yard.
First down on a pass to Mallory 18 yards.
Sermon runs for four yards.
Pass to Pierce for seven yards.
Pass to Mallory for 12 yards.
Taylor run for six yards.
Taylor run for 13 yards.
Taylor run for two yards.
Incomplete pass.
Incomplete pass to piece, penalty on Terrell for pass interference.
Taylor runs for no gain at the one-yard line.
Taylor runs again for no gain at the one-yard line.
Taylor rush for a TOUCHDOWN!
PAT is good.
Colts lead 7-0 over Falcons, 9:24 remaining in the first quarter.
Falcons Ball- Robinson reception for four yards.
Incomplete pass to London.
Pass to Miller for 15 yards and a first down.
Robinson with a HUGE 32-yard rush.
Kyle Pitts with a 24-yard TOUCHDOWN!
Tied game 7-7, 7:42 remaining in the first quarter.
Colts Ball- Taylor rush for no gain.
Minshew run for five yards.
Downs picks up a first down up to the Colts 36-yard line.
Back to Downs for another first down.
Incomplete pass.
Pass for a 16-yard gain.
Taylor loses a yard on a rush.
Minshew sacked for a four-yard loss.
Minshew sacked for a two-yard loss.
Punt.
Falcons Ball- Pitts with a 19-yard reception.
Robinson run for six yards.
Robinson loss of two yards.
There was a neutral zone infraction on defense, five-yard penalty.
Run for no gain.
SECOND QUARTER
Falcons punt
Colts Ball- Taylor run for three yards.
Pass to Montgomery eight yards.
Taylor run for no gain.
Minshew incomplete pass.
Minshew four-yard scramble.
Punt.
Falcons Ball- Heinicke sacked.
Robinson one-yard rush.
False start offense.
Patterson 11-yard gain. Blackmon injury.
Punt.
Colts Ball- Incomplete pass.
Pass interference on defense.
Incomplete pass.
Incomplete pass.
Incomplete pass.
Punt.
Falcons Ball- Allgeier six-yard rush.
19-yard pass to Allgeier.
Smith reception for a loss of three yards.
Robinson 11-yard reception.
Robinson two-yard reception.
Incomplete pass to Smith.
Five-yard penalty false start.
Heinicke 10-yard scramble.
FALCONS USE FIRST TIMEOUT
Kick hits the upright, but the defense was offsides, so now it's fourth and inches.
Patterson picks up the first down.
London picks up 19 yards.
Robinson loses two yards on a pitch.
London with a four-yard reception.
Incomplete pass to Robinson, who failed to get his feet in bounds for a wide-open touchdown.
Kick is good.
Falcons up 10-7 with 3:23 left in the half.
Colts Ball- Incomplete pass to Taylor.
Taylor six-yard rush.
Minshew sacked for a loss of eight yards.
TWO MINUTE WARNING
Punt.
Falcons Ball- Smith 13-yard reception.
Incomplete pass.
Pass to Pitts for seven yards.
Push pass to Robinson for six yards.
FALCONS SECOND TIMEOUT
Robinson seven-yard reception.
Jefferson 13-yard reception.
Spike. 10 seconds remaining.
Poor clock management forces Koo to kick a 47-yard field goal with five seconds remaining.
Colts Ball- Kneel
Atlanta leads 13-7 as the game heads to HALFTIME.
Falcons Ball- Heinicke fumble.
Pass to Robinson for 14-yards.
Robinson five-yard rush.
Jonnu Smith six-yard reception.
Patterson 11-yard rush.
Patterson six-yard rush.
Patterson six-yard rush.
Allgeier 25-yard TOUCHDOWN reception.
Atlanta leads 20-7
Colts Ball- Taylor two-yard rush.
Downs three-yard reception.
Incomplete pass under review for potential fumble.
Call stands.
Taylor five-yard rush.
Taylor run for no gain.
Minshew 15 yard pass.
One-yard rush for Taylor.
Minshew 24-yard scramble.
Taylor four-yard rush.
Minshew 10 yard sack.
Pass to Downs for 11 yards.
Field goal is GOOD!
Colts cut lead, now trail 20-10.
Falcons Ball- Patterson four-yard loss on a reception.
Incomplete pass to Pitts.
Smith 15-yard reception.
Robinson five-yard rush.
Patterson three-yard rush.
Hodge five-yard reception.
London 16-yard reception.
Allgeier 11-yard rush.
FOURTH QUARTER
Allgeier one-yard rush.
Incomplete pass.
Incomplete pass.
Field goal is GOOD!
Atlanta leads 23-10 with 14:06 remaining
Colts Ball- Granson 12-yard reception.
Incomplete pass to Downs.
Granson eight-yard reception.
Taylor eight-yard rush.
Granson 11-yard reception.
Pierce seven-yard reception.
Taylor loss of one yard.
Sermon loss of one yard.
Incomplete pass on fourth and five. Turnover on downs.
Falcons Ball- Robinson six-yard reception.
Robinson one-yard rush.
Incomplete pass to Robinson.
Punt.
Colts Ball- Minshew sacked at the line.
Incomplete pass to Pierce.
Pass INTERCEPTED by Bates.
Falcons Ball- Allgeier four-yard rush.
Robinson 26-yard rush.
Patterson two-yard rush.
Allgeier four-yard rush.
INDY BURNS FIRST TIMEOUT
Robinson loses three yards.
INDY BURNS SECOND TIMEOUT
35-yard field goal attempt is GOOD!
Falcons extend lead 26-10 with 5:46 remaining in regulation.
Colts Ball- Incomplete pass.
Incomplete pass.
Sacked for a seven-yard loss.
Incomplete pass.
Falcons Ball- Allgeier four-yard rush.
Allgeier eight-yard rush.
INDY BURNS FINAL TIMEOUT
Robinson run for no gain. Robinson run for three yards.
Patterson loss of four yards.
TWO MINUTE WARNING
Field goal is GOOD!
Falcons extend lead 29-10
Colts Ball- Minshew 15-yard pass.
Downs six-yard reception.
Seven-yard pass.
Pierce 16-yard reception.
Incomplete pass.
Goodson 15-yard rush.
Final: Falcons Win 29-10
