Sauce Gardner’s debut with the Indianapolis Colts turned out to be a bit rocky, despite the team’s victory.
In a thrilling 31-25 overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons, Gardner encountered challenges, notably with Falcons receiver Drake London, who made a critical 2-point conversion late in the game.
With less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Atlanta running back Tyler Allgaier rushed for a touchdown, putting the Falcons ahead by one point. London, positioned on the left, outmaneuvered Gardner on an out route, securing the conversion right by the sideline.
Throughout the game, Gardner struggled against London, who racked up six catches for 104 yards, including a touchdown. It seemed as though London had the upper hand throughout, and even early in the game, Gardner found himself on the ground more than once.
Acquired in an unexpected trade that sent two first-round picks from the Jets to the Colts, Gardner managed to record six tackles (four solo) and deflected a pass in his first outing with the team. However, he did drop what could have been an interception, which might have further changed the game’s momentum.
Fortunately for Gardner, his new teammates had his back, preventing any lasting damage from the near two-point failure. NFL passing yards leader Daniel Jones engineered a last-minute drive, setting up a 44-yard field goal by Michael Badgley that tied the game and sent it to overtime.
In overtime, the Colts’ defense forced a punt on Atlanta’s first possession, allowing Jonathan Taylor to run in the game-winning touchdown. Taylor dazzled with a season-high 244 yards and three touchdowns, including an impressive 83-yard sprint, marking the longest run in the NFL this season.
With this victory, the Colts (8-2) are positioning themselves as serious contenders for the Super Bowl. They’ll have a bye week before heading to Kansas City to face the Chiefs on November 23rd.
