Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos FREE live stream (10/6/22): How to watch Thursday Night Football, time, betting odds

Russell Wilson

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct 2, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)AP

So you have two teams – the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos – who entered 2022 rebuilding their offensive systems around a new quarterback. The Colts stumbled through the very abbreviated Carson Wentz era before jettisoning him while the Broncos spent another season looking for someone to finally replace Peyton Manning.

Manning left in 2015, and 11 quarterbacks (from Paxton Lynch to Case Keenum to Joe Flacco) have stood behind center since then, none with significant or certainly long-lasting success. Now, it’s Russell Wilson’s turn, facing off at 8:15 tonight against Matt Ryan for the Colts: a pair of veterans with Super Bowl experience acquired with the expectation that each could lead the franchise to a title.

So one of the story lines for tonight’s encounter inside Empower Field at Mile High – airing on Amazon Prime Video (30-day free trial) beginning at 7 p.m. – is whether either quarterback can give their team momentum after a fairly rocky start to the season.

The Colts did upset the Kansas City Chiefs, but that has been overshadowed by losses to Tennessee and Jacksonville and a tie vs. winless Houston. While Ryan is averaging almost 300 yards passing and has thrown for five TDs, he also has been intercepted five times (tied for second in the NFL) and fumbled nine times (leads the league).

Adding to the Colts’ woes is the absence of Jonathan Taylor, one of the league’s top backs, who rolled his ankle during last week’s game and has been ruled out for tonight. Pass-catching back Nyheim Hines will take his place.

The Broncos are facing a similar situation, having lost starting running back Javonte Williams last week. Williams is out for the season with a torn ACL. Veteran Melvin Gordon and Mike Boone will try to lessen the blow, although they will be facing a defense that has allowed just 77 rushing yards a game so far.

That could force Wilson to throw more often to a pretty good corps of wide receivers: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and Kendall Hinton.

Neither team figures to run away with this one: the Colts rank 32nd and dead last in points per game (14.3) and the Broncos are barely better (16.5).

For those looking for a chance to wager, DraftKings is offering a Bet $5, Win $200 bonus for new users while BetMGM is offering a similarly sweet promotion for tonight’s NFL game and any other played through Monday.

AT A GLANCE

MATCHUP: Indianapolis Colts (1-2-1) at Denver Broncos (2-2)

WHEN: Thursday at 8:15 p.m. ET

SITE: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver

LIVE STREAM: Amazon Prime Video (30-day free trial)

ODDS: Broncos -3.5; over/under is 42

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