‘A Surreal Feeling’: Caleb Downs Seals Dallas Cowboys’ Win Over Brother Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts With First NFL Interception
INDIANAPOLIS — With 35 seconds left Sunday, Caleb Downs picked off Daniel Jones at the Indianapolis 37 for his first NFL interception. The play sealed the Dallas Cowboys’ 27-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts and receiver Josh Downs, Caleb’s older brother.
Caleb Downs also sacked Jones for a 10-yard loss on third down in the second quarter, forcing a punt. He finished with 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, and 2 passes defensed. Josh Downs caught 3 passes for 24 yards on 6 targets.
Caleb had been saying all year that the Dallas defense needed to finish a game. On the final series, Jones threw deep on third-and-22 with defensive tackle Kenny Clark in his face, one play after an intentional grounding penalty that carried a 10-second runoff.
“It was a surreal feeling, honestly, to have it, because I seen the play coming, and I seen their setup, and I was like, ‘Oh, it’s coming right here. I know it. I gotta make the play,’” Downs said. “And then I was about to get up, but then they kept pushing me back on the ground. So I’m like, ‘All right, well, it is what it is.’”
The brothers saw each other at a family function Saturday night and dapped up before kickoff. After that, Caleb said, it was all business, because Josh was trying to win just like he was.
“Honestly, we needed to win as a team. That’s the biggest thing, and it was a surreal feeling going out there and lining up in front of him,” Downs explained. “Like it’s me and him the whole game. So I was just thankful for the situation. He definitely got me on some of the plays that they missed him on, but I mean, I’m just thankful that he’s healthy, I’m healthy, and thankful that my family could be here.”
It was the first time the brothers had faced each other since their Georgia prep days, The Associated Press reported. Caleb said his sister told him she was praying the whole game.
“I’m sure my mom was feeling some type of way, and my sister was out there. She was like, ‘I was praying the whole game.’ But I mean, my dad, he kind of stayed out of it,” Downs said. “He stayed quiet, so I knew [what] he was trying to do. But it was just an honor to have [them] all here. It was like 50, 40, 50 people here. So it’s just great to see everybody. Got to see everybody last night and then see them today, this morning.”
Caleb Downs Clears Concussion Protocol Before First Meeting With Josh Downs
Downs suffered a head injury in the 33-30 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals and was still in the concussion protocol on Tuesday, the Cowboys’ team site reported. He said he knew he was fine once he got up off the field against Arizona, and he knew he would play once he heard how the protocol went.
Dallas traded up one spot to take Downs 11th overall out of Ohio State in April. He won the Jim Thorpe Award and the Lott Trophy and was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2025. Josh Downs entered the league as a third-round pick in 2023, and he requested a trade the week before Sunday’s game.
Josh got Caleb on some plays the Colts missed him on, Caleb said. The younger brother had a message for him anyway about what one game means.
“I was the first one. I was just like, ‘Oh, he here.’ The first one, I was like, ‘He seen me coming.’ But I mean, it happens,” Downs said. “He can’t really … He got to move past that. That’s what he got to do. But I mean, he’s the one. And I just told him that. At the end of the day, he’s a ball player, and he can’t think of himself any differently based off of one player not getting the ball thrown to him.”
Dak Prescott has noticed the intensity in the way Downs walks in and out of the Cowboys’ facility. Prescott said Downs’ focus, commitment, and intentionality show in everything he does.
“From day one, as I’ve told you guys, one of the most mature young guys I’ve been around. He prepares the right way. He has a unique intensity about him, the way that he walks in and out of the facility,” Prescott said. “He’s serious 95% of the time, and it’s hard to even break that. But that just shows you his focus, his commitment and intentionality, everything that he does.”
“And I can’t imagine getting an opportunity to play my brother. So I know, especially being the younger brother, I know this game meant maybe a little bit more to him than some of the others,” Prescott continued. “And he came out and had a hell of a game, and a game deserving of the way that he prepares and approaches this game.”
Brian Schottenheimer Credits Downs As Dallas Cowboys Defense Finishes
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Downs was making plays and the coverage was much better than it had been. Indianapolis went three-and-out on 5 of its 14 possessions and converted 3 of 13 third downs.
“I talked about the two interior guys. They were incredible. Caleb gets a sack. Caleb gets the game-ending interception. Great play,” Schottenheimer said. “We were very comfortable putting our defense out there, knowing that they were gonna protect the lead, and kudos to Christian, his staff, for the plan they had, but also for the players. The execution I thought was outstanding.”
Downs said he is just playing ball and fighting to be his best self, relying on the Lord’s strength. The Colts finished with 271 total yards, and defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s group forced two turnovers.
“I’ve been saying it all year, and I’m glad that we finally finished the game today. But at the end of the day, we got to play like it’s on us every play,” Downs said. “We got to play like our defense is the last stand. That there’s no offense. That it’s just us. We’re playing separate games, and that’s what we have to do. And people can say whatever they want, but when we play well, we’re a good football team.”
The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT. Dallas, now 4-5, hosts the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 3:25 p.m. CT, and the 2-7 Colts host the Miami Dolphins the same afternoon.
