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Live updates: Depleted, battered Colts beat Cardinals

Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star
·11 min read
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The Indianapolis Colts are suddenly way shorthanded as they take on the Arizona Cardinals in NFL Week 16 action.

Quenton Nelson and Darius Leonard, who were just named to the Pro Bowl, are among the additions to the COVID-19 list in recent days. The Colts are also missing offensive linemen Mark Glowinski (COVID) and Ryan Kelly (personal), and more.

The Colts (8-6) have been on a roll and healthy recently, last week beating the New England Patriots. Jonathan Taylor, the NFL's leading rusher, has scored a rushing touchdown in 11 straight games.

The Cardinals (10-4) have lost two in a row, including last week to the Detroit Lions.

Keep up with the Colts by following Nate Atkins, Joel A. Erickson and Gregg Doyel. Also, please refresh this file for live updates.

That's a MASH unit: Colts down to six healthy offensive linemen if Reed (back) can't return

11:20 p.m. — Colts beat Cardinals 22-16

A COVID-depleted team loses more players in the first half — especially on the offensive line — and forces 0 turnovers. Yet the Indianapolis Colts win and move closer to an AFC playoff berth.

Carson Wentz finishes 18-of-28 for 225 yards and touchdowns to T.Y. Hilton and Dezmon Patmon. Michael Pittman Jr. has 8 catches for 82 yards, and Hilton 4 for 51.

Jonathan Taylor rushes for 43 yards on his first touch, but it gets tougher from there. He finishes with 108 yards on 27 carries and 0 touchdowns for the first time in 12 games. The Colts are 9-0 when Taylor tops 100 yards, 0-6 when he doesn't.

Kyler Murray goes 27-of-43 for 245 yards and a touchdown to Antoine Wesley. Chase Edmonds rushes for56 yards and a touchdown, and also has 71 receiving yards. Arizona reaches double digits in penalties, and also misses two field goals and a PAT.

The victory prevents Tennessee from clinching the AFC South. The Colts (9-6) host the Las Vegas Raiders a week from Sunday.

11:15 p.m. — Cardinals kick a field goal

The onside kick fails.

Matt Prater kicks a 28-yard field goal with 42 seconds left. The Colts make the Cardinals use 18 plays. Colts 22, Cardinals 16

11 p.m. — Colts pressure Kyler Murray

Colts bring the house on a fourth-down play, and Kyler Murray is short on his pass to an open A.J. Green. The Colts take over at Arizona's 43 with 5:19 to go.

10:50 p.m. — Carson Wentz throws another touchdown pass

He hits Dezmon Patmon from 14 yards with 6:37 to go. It's Patmon's second catch of the season. Wentz is 3-of-3 for 75 yards on the drive. Colts 22, Cardinals 13

10:40 p.m. — Cardinals kicker Matt Prater misses again

Doink off the right upright from 41 yards. That's two field goal misses and a PAT miss. Colts have it at their 31 with 11:07.

10:30 p.m. — Colts retake the lead

Michael Badgley hits a 37-yard field goal with 3 seconds left in the third quarter. Colts 15, Cardinals 13

The Colts are going to test a trend tonight. Jonathan Taylor is right at 100 yards again, and the Colts are 8-0 this year when he hits that mark, 0-6 when he doesn't.

10:15 p.m. — Colts fail on downs

The Colts get into Cardinals territory but fail at the Arizona 36 with 5:42 left in the third quarter. Jonathan Taylor is up to 94 rushing yards, but Carson Wentz is 1-of-6 passing in the third quarter.

The Colts own the time of possession battle and haven't made a ton of mistakes (4 penalties). They have 0 takeaways, one of the keys to

10:05 p.m. — Cardinals take the lead

Kyler Murray hits Antoine Wesley from 24 yards with 10:53 left in the third quarter. Cardinals 13, Colts 12

10 p.m. — Cardinals pull trick play on special teams

Arizona fakes out the Colts punt coverage unit and get a long return.

9:35 p.m. — Michael Badgley gives the Colts a 12-6 halftime lead

He hits from 41 yards with 1 second left in the first half.

Carson Wentz is 11-of-14 passing for 97 yards and a touchdown to T.Y. Hilton. Jonathan Taylor has 11 carries for 57 yards.

On the final drive, Wentz to Michael Pittman Jr. 4 plays in a row: 3 completions for 34 yards, followed by an Arizona pass interference call. Colts ball at the Cardinals 13.

The Colts got a fortunate spot on a Wentz run for a first down.

Kyler Murray has 79 passing yards and 59 rushing yards. Chase Edmonds has 35 rushing yards and a touchdown. Arizona has 7 penalties and surrendered a safety.

9:22 p.m. — ANOTHER offensive lineman goes down

Chris Reed is down. Will Fries is in.

9:20 p.m. — Colts will take a safety

The snap to Kyler Murray is low, and he ends up with intentional grounding in the end zone with 5:10 left in the second quarter. Arizona's starting center is out because of COVID-19. Colts 9, Cardinals 6

9:10 p.m. — Colts get one break, then suffer a bad one

Chandler Jones had strip-sacked Carson Wentz, but Arizona's illegal contact in the secondary gave the Colts a first down.

Left tackle Eric Fisher limps off the field. Julien Davenport is in.

The drive results in Rigoberto Sanchez's first punt of the night.

9:05 p.m. — Colts stop Cardinals on downs

Coach Frank Reich challenge flag helps the Colts. Zach Ertz made a nice catch, but he was out of bounds by the time he had control. Colts ball on their 34 with 10:38 left in the second quarter.

8:55 p.m. — Michael Badgley misses

A 53-yard field goal try falls just short with 14:10 left in the second quarter. Arizona has good field position trailing 7-6.

Badgley had a 59-yarder as a rookie for the Chargers in 2018. His long this year is 45 yards.

Jack Doyle is out.

8:40 p.m. — Cardinals strike back

Chase Edmonds scores from 2 yards with 3:11 to go in the first quarter. Kyler Murray's 57-yard carry got the ball to the Colts 2. The conversion kick is wide left. Colts 7, Cardinals 6

8:30 p.m. — T.Y. Hilton scores a touchdown

Carson Wentz hits Hilton from 1 yard with 6:11 left in the first quarter. Jonathan Taylor on the drive: 4 carries, 49 yards. Colts 7, Cardinals 0

8:26 p.m. — Jonathan Taylor adds to his rushing total

The Colts' first play from scrimmage goes for 47 yards. Tight end Jack Doyle walks off the field gingerly after the second play. Here's what he's done on his first carry of every game this season, via Nat Newell: 1-3-1-4-3-3-1-3-9-34-3-0-2-11-43

8:25 p.m. — Colts dodge a bullet

Matt Prater misses a 51-yard field goal wide left to end the game's opening drive. Christian Kirk dropped a 3rd-down pass that would have put Arizona into the red zone. The Cardinals used 12 plays to drive 52 yards.

Colts offensive line starters

It appears the Colts offensive line will consist of LT Eric Fisher, LG Chris Reed, C Danny Pinter, RG Matt Pryor, RT Braden Smith.

Colts inactives

C Ryan Kelly, RB Marlon Mack, S Andrew Zendejo, WR Mike Strachan. Those in include OL Julien Davenport and DL Ben Banogu.

Cardinals inactives

Arizona will be missing two key offensive weapons: RB James Conner, who has 14 rushing touchdowns this season, and receiver Rondale Moore, a rookie from Purdue. Also, QB Trace McSorley, CB Breon Borders, and DLs Zach Kerr and Jordan Phillips.

From Colts WR Zach Pascal

He has 36 catches for 369 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Colts elevate players to active roster

Here are your next men up: CB Anthony Chesley, WR Keke Coutee, OL Carter O'Donnell, CB Brian Poole, S Will Redmond and DT Chris Williams.

A lot of Colts will be in unfamiliar roles tonight.

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts vs. Cardinals COVID-19 list, score updates, highlights