clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Aqib Talib's dirty eye poke costs Broncos chance to win game vs. Colts

Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib poked Colts tight end Dwayne Allen in the eye late in Sunday's game, a dirty play that cost Denver any chance of a comeback.

By Josh Wilson
Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

The Indianapolis Colts outplayed the Denver Broncos today, winning 27-24.  Let's get that out of the way right away.  With that said, however, the Broncos' defense committed some key penalties today that hurt their cause, and none more so than a dirty play by cornerback Aqib Talib late in the game.

The Colts faced a 2nd down and 9 from the Broncos 15 yard line with two and a half minutes left to go in the game.  The Broncos had just used their third timeout of the game, and they then stuffed Frank Gore for a two-yard run.  The Colts, up three, would be able to run some of the clock off, but if Denver stopped them on third down, they were going to get the ball back down one score with Peyton Manning at quarterback.

Instead, cornerback Aqib Talib decided to make an incredibly dirty play that got him flagged 15 yards and will likely get him either fined or suspended (or both).  After the play, Talib ran up and blatantly poked Colts tight end Dwayne Allen in the eye, who was injured on the play.

That play really did cost the Broncos pretty much any chance of winning the game, as it gave the Colts a free first down.  The Broncos attempted to discipline him by putting him on the sidelines - until, of course, they needed him back on the field, in which case they put him back out there.  A little later in the drive, Talib was again called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, this time when he was upset at the officials.  Real classy player, huh?

Oh, and lest you think that was a isolated incident for the Broncos today, linebacker Von Miller was seen putting his knee into the neck of a Colts player as well.

The Colts pulled out the 27-24 victory over the previously undefeated Broncos and their top-ranked defense, and they played well for most of the game.  The Broncos clearly weren't happy about it, and that led to things getting chippy late in the game.  The Colts got their biggest win of the season, and they got help from the Broncos late in the game.  It worked out well for the Colts in the end, but I'm sure Dwayne Allen would have rather not been poked in the eye on a dirty play.

More From Stampede Blue