The Colts and Falcons are trading touchdowns in Berlin.
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier each scored on one-yard runs early, and then Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce caught a 37-yard touchdown pass, followed by Drake London catching a 16-yard touchdown pass.
Indianapolis kicker Michael Badgley missed an extra point, and that’s the difference in the Falcons’ 14-13 lead.
Colts quarterback Daniel Jones and Falcons quarterback Michael Penix are both playing well, and the fans in Europe are getting treated to a good game of American football.
Bill Belichick and Frank Reich met again on Saturday, for the first time since both exited the NFL.
In their latest meeting, Belichick’s North Carolina team beat Reich and Stanford, 20-15.
It wasn’t pretty. UNC had 47 yards of total offense in the first half. The game was tied, 3-3, at intermission.
Belichick is now 3-1 against Reich, when both are working as head coaches. Reich still holds the Super Bowl bragging rights; he coordinated an offense that scored 41 points against Belichick’s Patriots to win the 2017 NFL title.
The victory moved the Tar Heels to 4-5 on the season. With two wins in their final three games, Belichick’s program will be bowl eligible.
“We’ve improved significantly over the course of the season,” Belichick told reporters after the game, via Justin Williams of TheAthletic.com. “It’s not just one guy or one thing. A collective effort.”
UNC has now won two in a row, after weathering an early-season storm that featured ugly games and off-field drama.
The Tar Heels finish the season with games against in-state rivals Wake Forest, Duke, and N.C. State.
The Colts scored first in Berlin today, but it didn’t take the Falcons long to answer.
Indianapolis got the ball in good field position when Cam Bynum strip-sacked Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix and Germaine Pratt recovered, and from there the Colts’ offense took over.
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor scored on a one-yard touchdown run, the 64th rushing touchdown of his career, which ties Edgerrin James’ franchise record.
Michael Badgley missed the extra point, so the Colts led 6-0.
But on the ensuing possession, the Falcons marched right down the field, going 81 yards in five plays and finishing with a Tyler Allgeier one-yard touchdown run. The Falcons made the extra point to take a 7-6 lead.
The Falcons will have right guard Chris Lindstrom in the lineup in Berlin on Sunday.
Lindstrom was listed as questionable to play due to a foot injury, but he avoided the inactive list for their matchup with the Colts. Cornerback Mike Hughes was also listed as questionable and he will miss the game with a neck injury.
Safety Jordan Fuller, edge rusher Leonard Floyd, left guard Andrew Bergeron, offensive lineman Andrew Stueber, offensive lineman Joshua Gray, and defensive lineman LaCale London are also inactive for the Falcons.
The Colts will play without defensive end Samson Ebukam, running back DJ Giddens, wide receiver Anthony Gould, defensive end Tyquan Lewis, safety Rueben Lowery, tight end Will Mallory, and tackle Luke Tenuta.
The Colts announced a handful of roster moves ahead of Sunday’s game against the Falcons in Berlin.
Wide receiver Laquon Treadwell has been signed to the 53-man roster. The Colts opened a roster spot by placing defensive tackle DeForest Buckner on injured reserve.
Treadwell has played in two games as a temporary elevation from the practice squad and seen all of his playing time on special teams. The 2016 Vikings first-round pick has 111 catches for 1,242 yards and five touchdowns in 85 career games with the Vikings, Falcons, Jaguars, Seahawks, Ravens, and Colts.
The Colts also announced that they have elevated defensive end Durell Nchami and defensive tackle Tim Smith. Wide receiver Anthony Gould (knee) was downgraded from questionable to out for Sunday.
