BERLIN — For a moment, remove the whole transatlantic-travel, playing-in-a-legendary-stadium, German-national-anthem aspect from Sunday’s game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Atlanta Falcons. What you had on Sunday afternoon in Berlin’s Olympiastadion was a clash of two compelling yet confusing teams, one trying to capitalize on its early-season momentum, the other trying to run from its early-season woes. It wasn’t very pretty football, per se, but a game in doubt until the final seconds sure made for quite a show before the German crowds.
Indianapolis won in overtime, 31-25, but this didn’t do a whole lot to dispel the prevailing images of either team — the Falcons, a mysterious bunch whose offense and defense take turns sabotaging each other; the Colts, a team of spectacular individual assets who might not survive a serious postseason test.
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A test of who could fail less
Neither team was able to pull away in this game, largely because neither team could keep from making the kind of mistakes that kill both drives and momentum. Michael Penix Jr. vacillated between spectacular and utterly flailing. Daniel Jones fumbled the ball three times and threw an interception. His legs bailed Indy out of trouble, but his most effective move was a simple handoff, over and over again.
The game’s MVP was unquestionably Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor, who scored three touchdowns — including the game winner in overtime — and moved into solo first place all-time on the Indianapolis franchise touchdown list. His key play: a massive 83-yard run with just over six minutes remaining in the game that gave the Colts a 22-17 lead. As long as Taylor is coming out of the Indianapolis backfield, particularly with speed, the Colts have a chance to do some real damage.
In the final minutes of regulation, Atlanta did what Atlanta sometimes tends to do, and pulled off a final drive that makes one wonder why they can’t do that from week to week — or even quarter to quarter. Penix guided Atlanta 71 yards down the field in 4:18 after what could have been the backbreaker of Taylor’s run, with Tyler Allgeier bulldozing in for a touchdown with 1:44 remaining. A successful two-point conversion put Atlanta up 25-22.
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The fun wasn’t anywhere near done; Indy’s Ameer Abdullah returned the ensuing kickoff all the way to the Atlanta 48, and the Colts had just under 90 seconds to score, one way or another. After a chaotic drive that included a reviewed non-fumble, two sacks, a 19-yard Jones run, a crucial all-or-nothing fourth-down conversion, and a 44-yard Michael Badgley field goal that tied the game with 25 seconds remaining. Atlanta wasn’t able to do anything but move backwards in the final seconds of regulation, and the game went to overtime.
After an ineffective Atlanta drive in overtime, Jones found Tyler Warren for a 23-yard connection to put the Colts in field goal range. And then Jones did all he needed to do — keep feeding Taylor — and the Colts’ stud RB powered in for his third touchdown of the game, capping a magnificent 32-carry, 244-yard game.
Children play flag football on a mini flag football field, set up in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, during an event promoting the NFL game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Atlanta Falcons. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)The NFL’s German accent
This marked the third NFL International Series overtime game — after a 27-27 Washington-Cincinnati tie in 2016, and last year’s 20-17 Panthers victory over the Giants, also in Germany.
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The Berlin element added a new flavor to the game, as enthusiastic but not-quite-locked-in German fans cheered, whistled and occasionally sang right through entire plays. This was, allegedly, a home game for Indianapolis, which meant Olympiastadion was covered in Colt Blue and “For The Shoe” signage. The Colts-leaning public address announcer spoke primarily in English, but flashing signs exhorted the crowd to MACHT LARM (“Make noise”) and get LAUTER (you can probably guess that one).
The game, the first regular-season NFL game ever held in Berlin, represented the culmination of a week’s worth of NFL branding and activation efforts that ranged from pub takeovers to concerts to a mini-field constructed in front of legendary Brandenburg Gate. Germany also represents a key cog in the NFL’s ongoing effort to establish an international presence. Judging from the number and variety of jerseys on the streets of Berlin — all 32 teams were observed at one point or another this weekend — the NFL has taken root overseas.
Credit the NFL for managing to blend two separate sporting cultures — football (American) and football (everywhere else) — into a stew that featured highlights of the best of both. There were the requisite Van Halen and “Seven Nation Army” needle drops leading into plays, and glorious arm-in-arm soccer chanting during them. There was “Sweet Caroline” for the American fans, and “99 Luftbaloons” for the German ones, and everyone had themselves a fine, if slightly chilly, time singing along to it all.
Berlin is slated to get another NFL game in two years as the NFL continues to build a foundation in Germany. Atlanta and Indianapolis, meanwhile, have work to do to get through this season.