Colts Outlast Cardinals for 3rd Straight Win, 22–16

Colts Outlast Cardinals for 3rd Straight Win, 22–16
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (13) makes a touchdown catch against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, USA; Dec 25, 2021; (Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)
Field Level Media
12/26/2021
Updated:
12/26/2021

Carson Wentz passed for 225 yards with two touchdowns, and Jonathan Taylor rushed for 108 yards to give the Indianapolis Colts a 22–16 win over the reeling Arizona Cardinals on Saturday at Glendale, Ariz.

The Cardinals (10-5) have lost three consecutive games, failing to clinch a spot in the NFC playoffs with each loss.

The Colts (9–6) have won eight of their last 10 games.

Taylor eclipsed the 100-yard mark on 27 carries. Indianapolis is at 9–0 when Taylor rushes for more than 100 yards and 0–6 when he falls short of that mark.

Arizona’s Matt Prater missed field goals of 51 yards and 41 yards and an extra-point attempt with holder Andy Lee, the punter, out because of COVID-19 protocols. Backup quarterback Colt McCoy and punter Ryan Winslow, signed Thursday, shared holding duties.

Prater’s 28-yard field goal with 46 seconds left set up an onside kick attempt that was recovered by the Colts.

The Cardinals held Taylor to 14 yards on 10 carries in the first half after he rushed for 43 yards on his first touch of the game.

The run helped set up Indianapolis’ scoring drive culminating on Wentz’s 1-yard touchdown pass to T.Y. Hilton to put the Colts ahead 7–0.

Wentz completed 18 of 28 pass attempts with no interceptions, persevering through Arizona’s aggressive play up front that resulted in two sacks.

His 14-yard touchdown pass Dezmon Patmon with 6:45 left in the game put Indianapolis ahead 22–13.

Kyler Murray’s 57-yard run in the first quarter set up Chase Edmonds’ 2-yard touchdown run. The extra-point attempt by Prater was wide left and the Colts held on to the 7–6 lead with 3:03 remaining in the first quarter.

Murray completed 27 of 43 pass attempts for 245 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. He rushed for 74 yards on four carries.

With the Colts leading 12–6, Murray connected with Antoine Wesley for a 24-yard touchdown to give Arizona a 13–12 lead with 10:53 left in the third quarter.

A 37-yard field goal by Michael Badgley with 7 seconds left in the third quarter gave the Colts a 15–13 lead.