Broncos’ Emmanuel Sanders exits early with an ankle injury on Thursday

It’s not as if the Colts were facing Arizona’s Carson Palmer, Seattle’s Russell Wilson, Tennessee’s Marcus Mariota or Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, each of whom led a second-half comeback against Indianapolis. The NFL record is eight (1990 Broncos). He ran for the Broncos’ first touchdown, and he completed 12 of 17 passes for 194 yards and two more scores – both of which came on damn near ideal throws.

Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed 17 of 30 passes for 158 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

Indianapolis’ defense looked exhausted in the second half, playing just four days after a brutal loss in a blizzard at Buffalo.

Frank Gore totaled 31 yards on 10 carries and had three catches for 37 yards.

The talent of Denver’s secondary was on full display as T.Y. Hilton was the only Colts receiver to catch a pass all night. It was his fourth straight game with less than 200 passing yards.

Thomas, a 6-foot-2, 199-pound undrafted rookie out of MI, signed with the Broncos after the draft in May and competed with the team in training camp and preseason, when he impressed with a 58-yard pick-six in the team’s home win against the Cardinals. Many of the Broncos players remain from the Super Bowl championship team a few seasons ago, and those players are simply content to play out the schedule. It’s concerning at first glance that the Broncos have allowed 23.4 points per game, nearly five points higher than past year.

Defensive line – Thumbs down.

It marked the ninth time the Colts have had a halftime lead this season, and they have gone 2-7 in those games. Kerr signed with Denver in free agency and has had a solid season as he heads into his first game against his former team.

Denver finished with 213 yards on the ground, led by C.J. Anderson with 158 yards on 30 carries.

Denver entered Week 15 having averaged 3.9 yards per rush thus far this season. Inside linebacker Jermaine Grace had injury issues as well. Mingo had a sack in the game. He had a 147.7 passer rating. But the Osweiler-led Broncos came out of the break swinging, turning a dismal start into one of the most impressive showings by the offense – and by a Broncos quarterback – this season.

Joseph needs a strong finish to maintain his grip on the locker room, on the job, and simply because he can’t keep telling the players to “trust the process” if they don’t get a reward or two down the stretch.

Special teams – Thumbs up. He also had three touchbacks on kickoffs.

With 14:01 remaining in the second quarter, Colts tight end Brandon Williams was taken off the field on a backboard with his neck immobilized. He did have movement in his limbs. He was diagnosed with a concussion. No one from Denver’s seven-man 2013 draft class is on the roster anymore.

The wedding might end up being more entertaining than the game.

Next game – Indianapolis will take a 3-11 record into a December 23 game at Baltimore.

Thursday’s game did not mean much as both the Broncos (5-9) and Colts (3-11) have been eliminated from playoff contention.