Defense Ignites Colts to 27-13 Victory Over Panthers

Veteran defensive tackle DeForest Buckner put the Indianapolis Colts defense on notice Thursday for the team's recent three-game losing streak. At least defensive back Kenny Moore appeared to be listening.

Moore recorded his second and third interception of the season against the Carolina Panthers during Week 9. He also returned both picks for touchdowns in the 27-13 victory to improve the Colts to 4-5 and move the team out of the basement of the AFC South.

Both of Moore picks came at critical junctions of the game. With under a minute and the Panthers driving during the two-minute drill of the second half, Moore intercepted Panthers quarterback Bryce Young for the first time. Moore returned the pick 49 yards for a touchdown.

Prior to the pick, the Panthers were about 15 yards away from a long field goal attempt just before halftime. A successful field goal would have moved Carolina within one score of the Colts.

Instead, with Moore's pick-six, Indianapolis led 20-3 at halftime.

Carolina faced a similar situation late in the third quarter. Young had driven the Panthers to the fringes of field-goal range when on second-and-8, Moore intercepted another one of his passes. 

Moore returned that interception 66 yards for a touchdown.

The 28-year-old defensive back had one interception returned for a touchdown in the first 95 games of his career. He had two in the 14-point victory in Week 9.

Behind Moore's pair of picks, the Colts won by double digits despite failing to reach 200 yards of offense. Running back Jonathan Taylor led the team with 69 yards from scrimmage and scored the team's lone offensive touchdown.

Michael Pittman Jr. led the Colts with 8 receptions and 64 receiving yards.

In addition to Moore's 2 interceptions, linebacker Segun Alibi recorded a pick late in the fourth quarter, which helped seal the double-digit victory. 

The Colts won the turnover margin 3-1. It was the first time Indianapolis won the turnover battle in a game since Week 5.

With the victory on Sunday, the Colts improved to 4-5. That moved Indianapolis out of a tie for last place of the AFC South with the Tennessee Titans, who sit 3-5 after their Thursday night loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Jacksonville Jaguars lead the AFC South with a 6-2 record. They had a bye in Week 9.

The Houston Texans also won on Sunday to improve to 4-4, which means the Colts sit in sole possession of third place of the AFC South.