Colts dominate Bengals in final preseason game

CINCINNATI (WISH) — The Indianapolis Colts cruised to the win against the Cincinnati Bengals in their final preseason game, winning 41-14.

Quarterback Riley Leonard started the game for the Colts and threw for 189 yards and a touchdown.

“He’s a grinder type guy,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said about Leonard. “Loves ball. Always working, studying the game and obviously this was an opportunity to go out there in the first half and see what he can really do with those guys and I thought he did a great job with it.”

Leonard shared his emotions after the game.

“I had a lot of fun out there,” Leonard said. “I kind of had to remind myself before the game, this is why you play. You play to have fun. Just tried to go back to the little kid who’s playing in the backyard, because you get to this stage and there are a lot of things that can overwhelm you but luckily I’ve had a lot of big games that I’ve played in in my life. I’ve been in this situation before where there’s a lot of expectations. I always just go back to my roots, that little kid who loves the game.”

The touchdown Leonard threw was the first of his NFL career. He didn’t even think to keep the football, but one of the other Colts quarterbacks did.

“Got back to the locker room at halftime and Ant (Anthony Richardson) comes up to me and hands me the ball,” Leonard said. “I had no idea what he was doing. I was like, ‘yeah this is a nice football.’ He didn’t say anything. I was like, ‘nice.’ He just handed it back to me like three times and he was like, ‘alright,’ and then I realized what he was doing. But shoutout to him. That meant a lot to me.”

Leonard added that it’s his dad’s birthday, and he’s going to give his dad the football.

Nate Noel led the Colts in rushing with 7 carries for 63 yards. Ulysses Bentley IV added 32 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Laquon Treadwell led the Colts in receiving with 6 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. Leonard and Treadwell connected on a 59 yard touchdown with less than one minute left in the first half.

The Colts also got a touchdown from their defense, with Daniel Scott intercepting Desmond Ridder and running it back for a 35 yard pick six.

Up next for the Colts is their regular season opener against the Miami Dolphins. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 7.

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