Broncos Lose 29-28 After Leverage Penalty Against Colts

In a dramatic NFL Week 2 game, the Indianapolis Colts defeated the Denver Broncos 29-28 after a crucial 15-yard leverage penalty was called on Broncos linebacker Dondrea Tillman during a 60-yard field goal attempt by Colts kicker Spencer Shrader. The penalty, which prohibits defenders from using an opponent or teammate to gain extra height when trying to block a kick, nullified Shrader's initial miss and granted the Colts a retry from 45 yards, which he converted to win the game. Referee Craig Wrolstad explained that Tillman pushed off the right guard to elevate himself, which is against the rules and resulted in the penalty and an untimed down. Tillman acknowledged the mistake and expressed a desire to learn from it, while Broncos coach Sean Payton lamented the team's late-game errors leading to the loss. The penalty sparked debate among fans and analysts due to its rare application and significant impact on the game's outcome. The Colts improved to 2-0, while the Broncos fell to 1-1 and will face the Los Angeles Chargers next.