Colts Face Atlanta Falcons in Berlin – NFL Week 10
Guten tag, football fans. How are you? Everything good I trust on this excellent morning kickoff to the tenth week coming directly from Deutschland. The Olympiastadion in Berlin to be exact where at 8.30am CST/9.30am EST and 2.30pm GMT the powerful Indianapolis Colts (seven wins and two losses) take on the Falcons (three wins and five losses). The fifth game played on German soil and the initial in the capital city.
Pre-match Highlights
As sparkly jackets go that is an absolute belter from Katarina Witt on the opening flip. A minor slip from the broadcast team there as we hear “which team got the coin flip?” from the commentator with an accidentally live microphone.
So, the Colts have won the toss and have chosen to get the ball first. The Colts' offense will be taking the field soon. Will the QB bounce back after a rough one in their last game?
In a similar vein the vocalist performing the US national anthem has some of the biggest shoulder embellishments you are ever likely to see. Loving the sartorial choices today. The game is about to start after a choir performance for the national anthem of Germany. Classy.
Opening Period Action
Scoreless at 13:30 in the first
Here we go! And we have an exciting start after Jonathan Taylor receives a short throw, gains 15 yards on the outside to the right side then fumbles … only for his offensive lineman to recover the fumble with the recovery. Colts are in Falcons territory already.
Colts 0-0 Falcons 10:51, 1st quarter
And the excitement continues as the Indianapolis attempts a fourth-down conversion. The gamble fails to pay off as Josh Downs cannot reel in a fastball from Jones. Prior to the failed attempt Jessie Bates put a huge hit on tight end Mo Alie-Cox. Atlanta's defense started strong as they attempt to end their three-game losing streak. Following that, Sauce Gardner makes his first appearance!
Score Updates
TOUCHDOWN! Colts 6-0 Falcons 8:36, 1st quarter
Did Kyle Pitts just drop a touchdown? The tight end drops a clanger, he was wide open but the ball just swishes through his hands. That moment reflects the high draft pick's professional journey to date.
A disappointing start but it only gets worse for the Falcons as they cough the ball back to the Colts on the 23-yard mark. Michael Penix Jr is hunted down and fumbles the football.
An agile 22-yard rush from Ashton Dulin sets Jonathan Taylor up to easily run for a touchdown on the next snap. Kicker Michael Badgley skews the extra point wide. Oops.
Falcons respond: 6-7 at 6:07
Penix Jr puts the fumble behind him by marching his Falcons down the field for a score of their own. Drake London makes some substantial catches to put them in the scoring area then the defense opens up for Tyler Allgeier to saunter on to the goal line through the middle of the defense for 13 yards. The running back finishes it off for a one-yard touchdown of his own. The Falcons take the lead.
Additional Week 10 Matchups
And for afters, the jumbo package starting at 1 PM EST and 6 PM GMT (home teams listed first) is as follows:
(5-4) Carolina Panthers v New Orleans Saints (1-8)
(5-3) Chicago Bears v Giants (2-7)
(3-5) Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3)
(2-7) Dolphins v Buffalo Bills (6-2)
(4-4) Minnesota Vikings v Baltimore Ravens (3-5)
(1-7) Jets v Browns (2-6)
(6-2) Buccaneers v Patriots (7-2)
What a feast. My pick for the best game is Minnesota and Baltimore playing out the top contest of the day.