Indianapolis, IN
3 Keys to a Broncos Victory Over Colts
When the season started, few around the NFL expected the Denver Broncos to amount to much. A rookie quarterback, combined with a roster that was universally panned across the NFL media landscape led to very low expectations outside of Denver.
After an 0-2 start, all those doubts and misgivings seemed to be justified. But then something curious happened. The Broncos went on to win eight of their next 11 games, hitting their Week 14 bye at 8-5.
Riding a three-game winning streak and protecting a two-game lead for the AFC’s No. 7 playoff seed, the Broncos now emerge from the bye with something new to manage: expectations. Both Broncos Country and the NFL at large now expect this team to punctuate its impressive season with a convincing finish down the stretch.
With the playoff-desperate Indianapolis Colts coming to town, it’ll be interesting to see how Bo Nix and company shoulder those expectations. The Colts are no joke, so how do the Broncos emerge from Week 15 with another win and really load the deck for their first playoff berth since Super Bowl 50?
Let’s dive in.
The Colts defense isn’t very good, but it is opportunistic. Ranked 29th in yards, 22nd in points per game, 14th in rushing defense, and 26th against the pass, the Colts are both bendable and breakable.
However, Indy’s saving grace has been its penchant for taking the ball away. With nine interceptions and nine fumble recoveries, the Colts rank No. 8 in takeaways.
Nix has gone three straight games without a giveaway twice this season, so we know how hard it is to get him to cough it up. If he can bounce back in this respect from his two-interception game against the Cleveland Browns, I don’t see how the Colts could stop the Broncos’ rookie quarterback.
The Broncos have momentum, yes. But the Colts are desperate. That intensity will bleed into the game, and the Broncos have to be prepared to meet and exceed it.
But I like Nix’s outlook in this one. He’s kept his eye on the prize. It’s shaping up for another big passing day with multiple scores.
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The Broncos have been inconsistent this season in scoring early. It dove-tails with the above key, but Sean Payton’s got to cook up a great first-quarter script to put the Colts on their heels early.
Even an early touchdown will play into Denver’s hands. Colts second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson is very talented and presents a dual threat to the Broncos, but an early lead puts the onus on him to stand and deliver.
I like the Broncos’ odds of getting after Richardson with their first-ranked pass rush, especially if they’re protecting an early lead. This is also the type of opponent that the Broncos can’t afford to let hang around.
The Broncos have to step on Indy’s throat out of the gates and never let up. Easier said than done, because the Colts get paid, too (turns out), and you never know what the limits of that fighting-to-stay-alive desperation are.
Richardson is 5-4 as Indy’s starter this season, with 1,511 passing yards and seven touchdowns. But he’s been picked off nine times, and has fumbled nine times, losing three of them.
That plays well into Denver’s predatory defensive nature. The Broncos not only rank first in sacks, but they’re tied (with the Colts) at No. 8 in total takeaways. The big difference between the Broncos’ and Colts’ respective defenses, though?
Pressure.
The Broncos have 47 team sacks while the Colts rank No. 15 with 32. This is one of those games where Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph would be wise to call man coverage and throw some blitz numbers at Richardson.
Pressure, pressure, pressure.
Yes, starting cornerback Riley Moss is expected to miss Week 15, but the Broncos simply don’t play well in zone, regardless of the personnel. Playing zone coverage requires a certain level of communication honed through live-bullet experience, and this young Broncos secondary simply isn’t there yet.
Let Patrick Surtain II smother Michael Pittman Jr. or Alec Pierce, as well as nickel corner Ja’Quan McMillian. I’m hopeful that Denver will go with rookie fifth-rounder Kris Abrams-Draine on the boundary opposite Surtain, and if so, I like his outlook for playing physical, bump-and-run coverage.
Sticky man coverage can force Richardson to hold onto the ball a beat or two longer, which plays into the Broncos’ ferocious pass rush, led by Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper. The Broncos’ starting outside linebacker tandem has combined for 19 sacks this season, and that’s to say nothing of the three other players with five sacks of their own.
Joseph needs to atone for that abomination of a game plan against Cleveland, and specifically, the horrendous performance of the secondary, outside of Surtain and McMillian. Richardson has a big arm and explosive athleticism, but the game hasn’t slowed down for him yet.
Confound the Colts quarterback with sensory overload and watch him throw it to the other team and cough it up. Victory awaits.
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by:
Gregg Montgomery and Kelsie Gibbs
Posted: / Updated:
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indy Parks on Saturday will unveil the restoration of longstanding fountains, a project almost two years in the making.
The fountains were already shooting water among newly landscaped walking paths on Wednesday afternoon at the Garfield Park Sunken Garden.
City planner and landscape architect George Kessler designed the Sunken Garden and the adjacent Garfield Park Conservatory, which was built in 1916 at 2505 Conservatory Drive.
Funds for the $3 million restoration project were part of an $80 million Lilly Endowment grant issued to Indy Parks in late 2022 for projects at 42 Indianapolis parks.
The Friends of Garfield Park, a group devoted to the south-side park, oversaw the project to restore the concrete walls and plumbing, and add color-changing lights to enhance the look of the fountains.
The group hopes to raise an additional $1 million for the upkeep of the fountains.
A news release issued Wednesday said a recognition event and a ribbon-cutting, free and open to the public, were scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday. Due to storms in the forecast, the event could be delayed or canceled.
Indianapolis, IN
That trail you walk downtown? It’s generated $3 billion for Indianapolis, study finds
See the 10th Street Cultural Trail Expansion ribbon cutting ceremon
Highlights: Indiana Ave. and 10th Street Cultural Trail Expansion ribbon cutting on Indiana Ave. on Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Indianapolis.
Since its creation, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail in the heart of Circle City has drawn millions of residents and visitors to its distinctive paved path. But according to a new report, the trail isn’t just beneficial for those looking to get out on an urban stroll or bike ride — it’s a driver for the city’s economy and quality of life.
The report, “Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick at 20: Connecting People, Places, and Possibility,” was based on analysis by James Lima Planning + Development, a group of real estate, planning and economic development advisors. Here’s what to know about the report.
How has the Cultural Trail affected the city’s growth, development?
According to the report from 2026, the 10-mile trail has generated $3 billion in assessed property value around its path — money that supports the city and its governmental services.
The population along the trail has grown five times the city average and retail space near the trail has increased 39%, the report shows. Nearby food and beverage sales are almost twice the average per square foot in Indianapolis.
Additionally, the report shows, undeveloped land along the trail has the potential to add $1.4 billion of value in the near future. Since an initial study in 2015, the trail’s economic impact has grown from $1 billion to $3 billion.
“For nearly 20 years, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail has helped transform Downtown Indianapolis into a more vibrant, connected and economically competitive city,” Mayor Joe Hogsett said in a June 3 news release. “It is more than a trail. It is a nationally recognized public asset that drives investment, supports local businesses, connects neighborhoods and improves quality of life for the people who live, work, play and stay in our city.”
According to the report, over 1 million people use the trail each year, and almost half of downtown Indianapolis residents live within a three-minute walk of the path.
What other features does the Cultural Trail offer?
Users of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail aren’t limited to walking — the Pacers Bikeshare program, operated by the trail, has 57 bike stations throughout the city that are accessible 24/7.
The trail also features nearly six acres of plants and greenspace, offering locals and visitors an urban getaway. City planners from across the world have visited the trail to study its design, according to the report.
What is the future of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail?
Focus on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail has shifted from construction and maintenance to long-term operations and expanded resources for the public.
Kären Haley, executive director of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc. — the trail’s nonprofit — said it has grown into the “crown jewel” of the city with the growth and development it has created over two decades.
“The Cultural Trail is driving billions in investment and making surrounding neighborhoods thriving destinations,” she said in a June 3 news release. “As we enter the next phase for the Trail, we look forward to building upon our initial 20 years of impact.”
Mia Thurow is the breaking news and criminal justice reporting intern for the Indianapolis Star. She can be reached at mthurow@gannett.com.
ICYMI: Top 5 IndyStar business stories in May 2026
A busy month at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway reignited debates about hotels and the downtown heliport. Plus, Eli Lilly celebrated 150 years.
May came and went, and with it, we saw the closest Indianapolis 500 finish in history, the 150th anniversary of Eli Lilly and a contested primary election day.
There’s also been some movement in retail news ahead of the summer shopping season. On the north side, a new women’s clothing store opened while a piercing studio set up shop in Speedway. Meanwhile, an indoor children’s play place opened on the near north side.
Read on for four spots that recently opened and one in Broad Ripple that said farewell.
Openings
Monkee’s
8659 River Crossing Blvd., monkeesofindianapolis.com, opened in March
Monkee’s of Indianapolis, a high-end women’s clothing store, opened recently on the north side in the Shops at River Crossing near the Fashion Mall. The brand Monkee’s started in the South three decades ago and has since grown to nearly 70 locations. In Indianapolis, Missy Llewellyn and Whitney Schmitt started the franchise to bring the clothing brand to the Circle City.
The Nest Play Cafe
515 E 22nd St Suite 101, indynestplaycafe.com, opened early May
The Nest Play Cafe opened at the corner of Central Avenue and 22nd Street, offering an indoor space for parents and caregivers to bring their children to play. Caregivers can book 90-minute play sessions for $15 per child over the age of one. Tickets for additional siblings run $10. The cafe sells coffee and snacks, too.
Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to noon. Closed Tuesdays.
Forget Me Not Piercing Studio
5324 W. 16th St., jessflowerspiercings.square.site, opened May 27
A new piercing studio opened in Speedway at the end of May just days after the Indianapolis 500. Forget Me Not Piercing offers traditional lobe, helix and conch piercings along with nostril and septum piercings. Artist Jess Flowers opened the one-woman shop on 16th Street.
Open Sunday and Thursday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Black Orchid Barbers Fountain Square
1201 Prospect St. Suite 100, blackorchidbarbers.com, opened in May
Black Orchid, a local barbershop known for its sharp haircuts with a side of humor, opened its Fountain Square spot, marking the company’s seventh brick-and-mortar location. Walk-ins are welcome but Black Orchid recommends grabbing a time slot online for your preferred service.
Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closures
Vitality IV Bar
6302 Guilford Ave., vitalityivbar.com
An IV-wellness spot in Broad Ripple shut its doors last month. Vitality IV Bar was located next to the Thieves cocktail lounge, formerly the Broad Ripple Starbucks location, before it went out of business.
Vitality IV still operates an Indianapolis-area location on Mass Ave downtown at 749 Massachusetts Ave where customers can book a variety of infusions with vitamins.
See a store opening or closing near you? Contact IndyStar reporter Alysa Guffey at alysa.guffey@indystar.com.
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