Week 2, 2025
Leverage foul gives Colts a second chance to win Week 2 game
Colts win the game with no time on the clock after a 15-yard penalty.
The Indianapolis Colts got a second chance to win the game after an unsuccessful field goal as time expired.
With the Broncos leading 28-26, the Colts sent Spencer Shrader on to kick a 60-yard field goal. the field goal was no good and there were zeroes on the clock.
But a flag was down. Umpire Brandon Cruse and side judge Frank Steratore came in to talk to referee Craig Wrolstad. We don’t know if Cruse or Steratore dropped the flag. A blocker cannot use an opponent or a teammate to gain elevation to attempt to block the kick. Linebacker Dondrea Tillman is seen gaining an advantage in the block attempt, which is a 15-yard personal foul.
This is a dangerous tactic, that can injure the players the leaper lands on. Or, the leaper could get upended and land on their head and injure the head or neck.
Wrolstad spoke to a pool reporter after the game and spoke about the foul.
For leverage, as a defender, you’re not allowed to place your hand on an opponent or a teammate and push off to propel yourself into the air to block a kick. In this case, number 92 came across the line to the right guard and he put his hands on the right guard and pushed off him to elevate himself in the air in order to try to block the kick. You’re not allowed to do that. It is a personal foul and a 15-yard penalty. In this case, since it was the last play of the game and it was a foul on the defense, we extended the game for one untimed down. We assessed the 15-yard penalty, and they were able to run another play.
After the officials walked off 15 yards, by rule the Colts got the chance to run an untimed down with no time on the clock.
Shrader walked out and drained a 45-yard field goal and the Colts walked off a 29-28 winner.
