Jonathan Taylor ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns, Trey Sermon added a rushing TD and Jaylon Jones snagged two interceptions to boost the host Indianapolis Colts to a 21-16 victory against the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Indianapolis (1-2) overcame a pair of Anthony Richardson interceptions, succeeding with its ground game while shoring up what had been a suspect run defense.
The Colts had 151 rushing yards compared to 63 for the Bears (1-2).
Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the April draft, was 33-of-52 passing for a career-high 363 yards and his first two career TD passes to go with two interceptions. Williams also lost a fumble on a strip-sack that set up Taylor’s 1-yard scoring run with 5:22 left that put the Colts ahead 21-9.
Sermon put the Colts ahead 14-3 on a 1-yard TD run in the final minute of the third quarter. Chicago forced a punt earlier in the possession but a neutral zone infraction against Daniel Hardy sustained the drive.
Chicago drew to within 14-9 when Williams found Rome Odunze for a 1-yard score with 8:21 left. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
Odunze had six catches for 112 yards and a score while Cole Kmet had 10 catches for 97 yards and a TD.
Richardson was 10-for-20 for 167 yards and two touchdowns.
Indianapolis opened the scoring on Taylor’s 29-yard touchdown run with 8:19 to go in the second quarter. The Colts took over after an interception and traveled 70 yards in four plays and 1:16.
Williams passed for 213 yards in the first half while going 16 of 27 through the air.
Chicago had separate first-half possessions of 12 and 18 plays that both resulted in zero points. The Bears attempted a 56-yard field goal on the opening drive but Cairo Santos’ kick was short.
Later, the Bears had a first-and-goal from the Colts’ 4 but ended with a turnover on downs. D’Andre Swift lost 12 yards on an option carry on 4th-and-goal from the Indianapolis 1 to end an 18-play drive.
Santos gave the Bears their first points with a 53-yard field goal with 12:51 remaining in the third quarter, as Chicago capitalized on a Richardson interception on the first play after halftime.