Falcons – Colts preseason instant recap: Atlanta dominates the day

WESTFIELD, IN - AUGUST 20: Atlanta Falcons helmets sits on the field during the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons joint training camp practice on August 20, 2026 at the Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Well, that went better.

Atlanta's backups dominated Indy's backups in the first half of this one, with Cooper Rush and Jack Strand dicing them up through the air, Tyler Goodson and Nate Carter running them over for a pair of rushing touchdowns, and the defense frequently slowing Riley Leonard and company. Paired with another strong day from special teams, this was actually quite fun to watch from wire-to-wire, with the Falcons utterly destroying Indy's preseason hopes and dreams.

This game also gives the Falcons' coaches plenty to evaluate, with the need to figure out how much of this success was owing to the Colts' gameplan and talent and how much of it was owing to what the Falcons did, but plenty of encouraging performances to consider. Jack Strand and Cooper Rush threw the ball well and operated the offense effectively, Tyler Goodson, Nate Carter, and Cash Jones all ran well, Chris Blair, Vinny Anthony, and Jack Velling stood out as pass catchers, the offensive line did better, and the defense completely shut down Indianapolis with strong performances more or less across the board. It was the kind of effort that you definitely want to see from players hoping to make the roster, and if it makes evaluating battles and making decisions a little tougher, that's fantastic.

Here's a full drive-by-drive recap of the game you just watched.

1st Quarter

Nick Folk kicked us off, and Deon Burks slipped free to get across the 50 before the flag brought it back. A quick handoff up the middle for Seth McGowan picked up four yards. Riley Leonard looked for Laquon Treadwell, who was tied up as the pass fell incomplete. The blitz didn't get home on third down and Leonard ran for a first down, but a holding call on the Colts backed it up to 3rd and 16. McGowan picked up about six yards on third down, but the Colts had to punt. Zachariah Branch brought it back a few yards.

Cooper Rush threw a bullet to Branch for 15 yards on first down. Branch then got a handoff that went for maybe a yard, followed by Tyler Goodson picking up three yards. Rush then hit tight end Jack Velling for a first down over the middle. Goodson then evaded a tackle for four yards. Goodson then ran outside to the right, but the blocking wasn't there and he was limited to a yard. Rush then whipped one into the dirt trying to get Branch, setting up a 51 yarder that Nick Folk easily hit. Falcons 3, Colts 0.

Kendal Daniels delivered the nice hit on the return, and the Colts backed up again thanks to a holding call. McGowan picked up five yards on first down. Leonard then found a wide open receiver on the sideline for 39 yards. McGowan evaded one hit but DeMarcco Hellams got him after six yards. Pressure got to Leonard from JD Bertrand and he threw it short to Pharaoh Brown, with a big hit from Hellams for a small loss. A quick run for Burks went for a couple of yards to set up a field goal. Spencer Shrader juuuuuust hit the 48 yarder to make it 3-3.

Goodson brought the kick return across the 40, continuing to strengthen his hold on a roster spot. Nate Carter took the handoff a yard. Then Rush hit Nick Muse for nine yards, thanks to Muse fighting through multiple tackle attempts. Carter then took it up the middle again and got the needed yard. Shane Steichen challenged the spot for no apparent reason but the ruling was upheld. Then Goodson got loose and took it 49 yards for a touchdown on the single most impressive play of the preseason to this point. 10-3 Falcons, but there was a 15 yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct call after the play that made Folk work a little harder for the extra point.

The return went back to about the 30. McGowan picked up two yards. The throw to Raymond Sharp was knocked away by CJ Henderson, but Henderson was called for pass interference and it was a first down. McGowan was stonewalled on first down, but Sydney Brown was called for unsportsmanslike conduct. Leonard then led his receiver too much and Darnay Holmes ensured it wasn't complete by getting some contact at the very end of the play. The Falcons then sniffed out the screen to Burks, with Kendal Daniels getting the tackle for no real gain. The Falcons got pressure and almost took Leonard down, and he dirted his pass. Shrader hit the 53 yarder, though, to make it 10-6 Falcons.

Vinny Anthony took it past the 30. Jack Velling reeled in the short catch and picked up four yards, fighting for yards. Then Nate Carter did a nice job of running it up the middle for a first down. Then Rush hit a diving Chris Blair over the middle for 18 yards, cancelling out two penalties on the Colts. Carter then got maybe a yard to end the quarter.

2nd Quarter

Carter then stumbled his way for four yards, and looked sharper as a runner in this one than he did in the first preseason game. Then Rush hit Anthony over the middle and he kept running for 17 yards. Goodson was stopped after just a yard on first down. Rush then hit Goodson for six yards. Goodson then got the handoff and maybe got a yard despite evading a tackle attempt. The Falcons went for it on fourth down with a pass to Blair, but a flag on the Colts put the ball on the one yard line. Carter then tried to plunge it in from a yard out and didn't quite get there. Rush's sneak went nowhere on second down. Carter was almost stuffed, but fought through contact impressively to get into the end zone. Falcons 17, Colts 6.

The Colts returned it to the 30. McGowan was swallowed up immediately by Natrone Brooks and company for a loss of two, with offsetting penalties. The blitz got home for Leonard and he threw it a little low and incomplete, with a hit from Cam Sample on the play. Leonard then hit the 3rd and 12 pass, but an illegal hands to the face on the offense backed them up 10 yards. The third down screen pass was low and fell incomplete. Punt, and a solid return of nine yards by Anthony.

A flip to Goodson picked up six yards, but a holding call on Andrew Stueber brought it back. A quick pass to Anthony picked up a few yards, and then Rush hit Velling for a first down, but holding brought it back again. Stueber again, too. A draw to Nate Carter got about seven yards. Jake Bailey's punt was downed at the three yard line by Darren Hall.

A one yard run and then a three yard run paired up. Then Leonard missed on third down. Punt.

Carter then picked up three yards, and Jack Strand was in at quarterback, but Carter was tackled for a loss on the next play. Strand then hit Velling for a first down. Strand then rolled out and hit Muse for another first down. Strand then fired one in to Blair for about 20 yards and another gain. Strand then scrambled for about six yards. Cash Jones then took the handoff for a couple of yards. A quick pass unde pressure from Strand to Jones went for six. 24-6 Falcons.

Josh Woods then made the big tackle. A first down pass and then a seven yard pass ensued for the Colts. A long pass from Leonard was called back by an offensive pass interference. A quick dumpoff went for eight yards. Then Leonard was tipped on the next play. Punt, and that's the half.

3rd Quarter

Atlanta ball. Strand rolled out and found Josh Simon for a first down, with Simon picking up plenty of yards after the catch. Carter then picked up maybe a yard. Strand then threw one a little off balance but connected with Antwane Wells Jr. deep. Then he ran it in himself from 20 yards, showing off the wheels, and putting the Falcons up 31-6.

Anthony Richardson connected on a first down ball, but a penalty brought it back. Richardson then missed on 1st and 20. Anderson Castle took it four yards on second down. Richardson then found a receiver for about 10 yards, but it wasn't enough. Punt.

Nate Carter picked up four yards on first down after the Falcons kicked things off around the 30 yard line. Strand then found Anthony over the middle for another first down. Beaux Collins then made a leaping sideline grab for on a deepl ball for another first down. Carter then picked up about seven yards, and then picked up two yards. Strand then plunged for a first down. Carter then picked up a yard or so. Cash Jones then picked up six more yards. Strand then tried to run it in and was tackled after no gain. Strand then ran around forever, couldn't find an open man, and threw a pass that was tipped out of bounds. Turnover on downs.

A short plunge for Castle got a couple yards. Richardson threw one under pressure that was tipped by Christian Harris and knocked down. On third down, Richardson again found pressure and was sacked by Cam Sample. Punt.

Strand couldn't connect with Keelan Marion on first down, but then Jones took the handoff nine yards. Strand then tried a pair of sneaks, with one falling short and the fourth down attempt picking it up. Strand then threw it away under pressure, but a holding call on the Falcons backed them up. On play action, Strand found Cash Jones again for about six yards. Strand then threw it high downfield and it fell incomplete despite a leaping effort from Marion. Jones then took the draw for another six yards.

4th Quarter

Nick Folk hit a 49 yard field goal to make it 34-6.

Full disclosure: I missed a play to get a beer. The Colts were on second and ten and then picked up a false start, and ultimately were forced to punt. A quick Carter run for a yard or two was followed by a Strand run for three yards. Strand then tried a pass over the middle that was swatted down. Punt.

A quick run for the Colts netted five yards. A quick pass picked up four yards. Then Richardson ran for a first down. A quick pass got seven yards. Castle then plowed ahead for a first down. Richardson was almost brought down, but escaped and picked up five yards on a scramble. Castle then picked up a first down on the ground. A quick run to Castle then picked up nine yards. Richardson again escaped pressure and dove for a first down, but his next pass was knocked down by Jammie Robinson. Castle was then tackled after a yard or two. Richardson then missed on his next throw and Blake Grupe came on and missed a field goal.

Strand tried a downfield shot and it was knocked down. Cash Jones then took the handoff as Strand faked the other way and picked up nine yards. Then Jones caught a swing pass and took it about 15 yards, but was blown up in the backfield on the next play. They picked up another first down and then Jones rolled for eight yards again. Then the Falcons kneeled it out.