Live Commentary: Cincinnati Bengals 10-26 Indianapolis Colts - as it happened

Good evening! There are still two places up for grabs in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. The final AFC spot will go to either the Cincinnati Bengals or Indianapolis Colts, who kickoff at the Lucas Oil Stadium in a little over half an hour. Let's take a looks at the inactive lists for both sides...

COLTS INACTIVES: Brown, Price, Muamba, Shipley, Thornton, Nixon Kerr

BENGALS INACTIVES: McCarron, Greem, Lewis-Harris, Hawkinson, Still, Gresham, Wright

So there are no real surprises on the Colts list, but there are some notable absentees for the Bengals. Leading receiver AJ Green is out after failing to complete the league's concussion protocol, while tight end Jermaine Gresham is also sidelined. That could mean it's a busy evening for running backs Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill.

With the sixth-seeded Baltimore Ravens having knocked out the Pittsburgh Steelers last night, we already know that whichever side wins this game will face the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium in the divisional round next weekend.

The Colts qualified for the playoffs as the AFC South champions, retaining the title that they won back from the Houston Texans last season. They clinched the division with a 11-5 record, making them the fourth seeds in their conference. The Bengals had to settle for a wildcard spot after losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in their final game of the regular season, but finished with a 10-5-1 record

WE CAN, WE WILL, WE MUST" #cinvsind https://t.co/Uy9MNeAqOW — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 4, 2015

Both quarterbacks have featured in three playoff games before, with Luck securing the only win between the duo so far. The third-year passer threw for 4,761 yards in 2014, including 40 touchdown passes. Dalton has had a more difficult season, passing for 3,398 yards and 19 touchdowns, and throwing 17 interceptions, one more than his opponent.

A big part of the Colts success against the Bengals in the regular season was the defense. Despite missing last season's sacks leader Robert Mathis, through injury all year, the Colts notched up 41 sacks, 21 fumbled and 16 interceptions throughout the regular season.

Here's a look at the stadium ahead of kickoff:

It's about that time. WHO DEY! #LetsRoar #CINvsIND #Playoffs pic.twitter.com/GOFgpfnesP — Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 4, 2015

Both sets of players have made their way out to the sidelines ready for kickoff in a few minutes.

In fact, here's veteran Colts receiver Reggie Wayne making his way onto the field a short time ago:

Take the field with Reggie! #CINvsIND #BringTheNoise https://t.co/uw10QRpD5o

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 4, 2015

Right then, the players are ready to get the game underway, with the Colts to receive the opening kickoff.

KICKOFF! Mike Nugent kicks the ball to Josh Cribbs to get the game underway.

Luck tries a short pass to Herron with the first play of the day, but the running back drops it. He makes amends from the next snap though, getting free to pick up a gain of 18 for the home side.

Luck decides to go big early, tossing the ball towards the end zone from midfield for TY Hilton. The receiver leaps up to bring it in, but can't hold on as he tumbles to the ground in the corner of the end zone.

Herron breaks free again for a gain of 27 yards, leaving the home side just 13 yards short of the end zone. As luck tries to find Hilton again though, Rey Maualuga almost intercepts the pass, batting it clear to prevent the touchdown.

Dwayne Allen moves the Colts to the two-yard yard, leaving Luck to hand the ball off the Herron again on the next play, and the running back smashed his way through the defensive line to find the end zone and open the scoring, with Adam Vinatieri adding the extra point.

So here comes Andy Dalton and the Bengals offense for the first time today. They make a strong start, with running back Rex Burkhead lining up as a slot receiver, catching the Colts defense out for a 23-yard burst down the sideline.

Jeremy Hill has a few short rushes to move the Bengals to the Indianapolis 48, but Giovani Bernard then takes over, and can't keep hold of a slant pass from Dalton.

Hill and Burkhead both come up short trying to force another first down for Cincinnati, so the punt team comes onto the field, with Kevin Huber kicking it back to the Indianapolis nine-yard line. After a bright start to that drive, the AFC North side will be disappointed to come away empty handed.

Luck tries back-to-back passes to Hilton, who has been the team's leading receiver this season, but both times the third-year player fails to hold on, resulting in a quick three-and-our for the hosts. It doesn't look like Hilton and Luck are quite on the same page yet this evening.

Mohammed Sanu gets his first reception of the day, picking up 10 yards for a first down, before hauling in another catch for nine a few plays later. The Bengals switch back to the running game to get another set of downs, with Hill breaking free to pick up 18 down the sideline.

Giovani Bernard takes over running duties, and gets the Bengals into field goal range, but the visitors will be hoping for more, as Burkhead takes them to the five-yard line with a 26-yard reception on the next play.

After coming up just short a moment earlier, Jeremy Hill manages to level the scores, powering over from just a yard out to ensure that the Bengals won't be shut out by the Colts for a second time. Mike Nugent comes on for the extra points, comfortable making the kick.

The Colts start their drive deep inside their own territory after a mix up on the kick return, but Herron picks up a few yards to move them out. Luck tries to find Hilton, but once again the wide receiver fails to bring it in. The quarterback keeps the ball himself on the next play, and scrambles for 18 yards to move the chains, but a deep pass to Coby Fleener off the next snap is incomplete.

So after 15 minutes of gametime, it's all square in Indianapolis, with Jeremy Hill cancelling out an early touchdown from Daniel Herron. Andrew Luck has struggled to connect with favourite receiver TY Hilton so far, but has plenty of options if he continues to struggle. Andy Dalton has coped well without AJ Green though, as third-string running back Rex Burkhead is proving to be a decent slot receiver, with 53 total yards from scrimmage so far.

TY Hilton finally picks up some yards, outstretching Adam Jones to haul in a 17-yard catch on the sideline, just keeping his feet in rounds. He's on the move again on the next play, collecting a short pass before sprinting down the opposite flank to take the ball to the Cincinnati 20.

Herron get the ball again, picking up another five yards to move Indianapolis closer to a second touchdown, but the next play will have to wait, as Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga is injured while making a tackle, and has to be helped off the field.

Maualuga has been carted off the field and into the Bengals locking room. It looked like he was grabbing his leg, and has recently been dealing with a hamstring injury, so he could have aggravated that. He would be a big miss for the visitors.

On third down, Luck tries to find Reggie Wayne, but receiver can't hold on. As a result, kicker Adam Vinatieri, the oldest player in the league, comes onto the field, kicking a 38-yard field goal to put the home side back in front.

Burkhead catches a four-yard pass, before Bernard has a short gain, but Dalton's pass over the middle for Little fails to find it's target, forcing the Bengals to punt again.

INJURY UPDATE: The Bengals have said that Rey Maualuga is doubtful to return after injuring his right hamstring while tackling TY Hilton earlier in the quarter.

Andrew Luck almost gets sacked while lining up a pass to Hakeem Nicks, but he just gets the ball away in time, and it was worth the wait as the wide receiver times his run the perfection to grab a 45-yard pass, moving the Colts to the Cincinnati 17.

Hilton has a chance to score the second touchdown of the game for the Colts, but Adam Jones just does enough to prevent him completing the catch, so the home side have to settle for a field goal again, but Vinatieri remains accurate, comfortable making the 29-yard kick.

Here's a shot of the spectacular Hakeem Nicks catch that set up the Vinatieri field goal:

Hakeem going up on a Sunday! #CINvsIND pic.twitter.com/7ilEqjA17C

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 4, 2015

The Bengals come back onto the field needing to cut the Colts' six-point advantage, and they get a first down when Bernard sprints to their 42-yard line, but Dalton loses a yard on the next play scrambling to the side line.

Hewitt gets a few yards on the board for Cincinnati, but they still need four yards on third down, and Sanu can't make the catch, forcing Cincinnati to punt again.

As they look to build on their lead, the Colts come back onto the field, with TY Hilton collected an eight-yard pass, before Nicks converts on third down to move the chains.

Luck is starting to find his receivers with some of his deep passes now, this time connecting with TY Hilton for a 25-yard gain, moving the Colts inside Cincinnati territory.

SACK! Luck tries to take his time again to give the receivers time to get down field, but he takes too long, and ends up going backwards while coming under pressure from Margus Hunt, before Geno Atkins helps his teammate take the quarterback down.

FUMBLE! Luck hands the ball off the Herron, but a heavy tackle from Darqueze Dennard forces the ball free from the running back's hands, and Nelson recovers it for the Bengals, giving the visitors a chance to get some more points on the board before the break.

Hewitt is left wide open, and the tight end gather a short pass from Dalton before dodging a tackle to get the first down inside Indianapolis territory. The Bengals will be optimistic of getting in field goal range, at least, on this drive.

Giovani Bernard breaks off several tackles to pick up a gain of seven, but the Bengals use their final time out, with just 19 seconds to play, so they'll have to manage to clock carefully if they're to get a field goal attempt.

Bernard gets out of bounds at the 39-yard line, go Mike Nugent will need a career-long 57-yard field goal for the Bengals.

Nugent's kick strikes the right post, but still goes through to cut the Colts' lead in half. The kicker came in for criticism after missing a field goal in overtime in a tie with the Panthers earlier in the season, but that kick, the second longest in NFL post-season history, should make amends.

So the Bengals head into half time just a field goal down after that long kick from Mike Nugent. Having failed to score at all in their regular season meeting, the visitors will be pleased to be in contention at the half-way mark.

It had looked like the Colts were starting to dominate, opening up a six-point lead and forcing consecutive punts from the Bengals, but the Daniel Herron fumble late in the second quarter let the AFC North side right back into contention.

Let's have a look at some of the stats from the first two quarter, starting with the quarterbacks. Andy Dalton has 11 completion from 16 attempts for 91 yards, while Andrew Luck has 16 from 27 for 219 yards. Dalton hasn't come under too much pressure in the pocket, but Luck has been hit several times and sacked once, with Margus Hunt and Geno Atkins jointly taking the credit.

With several of their receiving stars missing, the Bengals have leant heavily on their running game, splitting the workload. Jeremy Hill leads the way with nine carries for 37 yards, but Rex Burkhead had a big 23-yard gain, while Giovani Bernard has been to go-to guy on third down.

Daniel Herron has led the rushing charge for the Colts, with five carries for 34 yards including a touchdown. Trent Richardson didn't get a touch in the first half, but the Herron fumble could see the home side turn to the former first-round Draft pick after the break.

TY Hilton didn't get a touch in the first quarter, but the receiver made some big gains in the second, catching four reception for 80 yards. Hakeem Nicks has also shown promise, with 49 yards from just two receptions.

The Colts could find themselves falling behind for the first time at the start of the second half. The home side won the pre-game coin toss and chose to receive the opening kickoff, so Cincinnati will have the ball first in the third quarter.

INJURY UPDATE: After injuring his hamstring in the second quarter, Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga has been ruled out for the rest of the game.

KICKOFF! Colts punter Pat McAfee handles the kickoff duties for the Colts, pinning the Bengals back at their own 23-yard line.

Dalton almost gives the ball straight back to the Colts as a pass intended for Hewitt is almost intercepted by Walden, but the defensive end can't hold on. However, the visitors are soon heading back to the sideline after a quick three-and-out.

The Colts begin their first drive of the second half with a 12-yard reception from Dwayne Allen, while a 10-yard gain from Coby Fleener on the next play is called back for an illegal use of hands penalty. Herron tries to get the first down, but his run is just short, forcing Pat McAfee to punt it back to the Bengals.

Another big punt from McAfee leaves the Bengals starting deep in their own territory, and they can't get the first down yardage again, with Hill coming up short twice, before a Dalton pass fails to find its target. Vontae Davis was close to an interception, but the cornerback didn't quite reach it in time, but the visitors still have to punt.

The Colts finally get a first down in the second half, as Moncrief comes into the game, picking up 11 yards to move the ball into Cincinnati territory before Herron gathers a short pass before running for another 11-yard pickup.

Andrew Luck has proved himself to be a pretty special player since being drafted in 2012, and it's plays that this that earn him his status as one of the best young quarterbacks in the league. None of the receivers are open, but Luck moves around in the pocket to extend the play, and is hit as he throws the ball, but his pass still falls perfectly for Donte Moncrief to grab for a 36-yard touchdown at the back of the end zone.

The Bengals really could do with a touchdown, and Dalton tries to force the issue with a deep throw towards Tate, but Toler is there to deflect it away. Bernard gains 30 on the next play to get the Bengals briefly across midfield, but an offensive holding call reduces the gain, and Cincinnati end up having to punt again. The Bengals haven't found any kind of rhythm since the start of the second half.

Daniel Herron quickly gets the Colts back into Cincinnati territory as they look to extend their lead with back-to-back nine-yard carries, before TY Hilton takes the Colts to the four-year line.

NO TOUCHDOWN! Coby Fleener thinks that he has a touchdown with his first catch of the day, but the score is chalked off because of an illegal block by Moncrief in the build up.

Luck tries to get the ball to Reggie Wayne and and TY Hilton for the touchdown, but neither can haul the catch in. Herron is handed the ball to try and move the ball closer to the end zone, but he picks up just a yard.

Herron comes up short while trying to punch his way into the end zone again, leaving Adam Vinatieri to kick his third field goal of the game from just 22 yards out, easily extending their lead.

Here's a look at how Donte Moncrief made the touchdown catch earlier in the quarter:

#FeedMoncrief #CINvsIND #BringTheNoise pic.twitter.com/DMBUuAuVuA

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 4, 2015

SACK! Rickie Jean-Francois and Jerrell Freeman get to Andy Dalton as he takes too long looking for an open receiver on third down, sacking the Cincinnati quarterback for the first time this evening.

The Colts offense is back on the field at the start of the fourth quarter following the sack on Dalton. After a pair a short carries from Herron, Hilton gets free out wide to move the chains for the home side, taking the wide receiver past the 100-yard mark for the day.

FUMBLE! Herron loses the ball for the second time today, but it's recovered by Holmes this time. Tipton takes over at running back, but he can't get the first down.

Adam Vinatieri makes it four from four on the day as the 42-year-old splits the uprights from 53 yards out to increase the Colts' lead to 16 points.

SACK! Dalton is sacked for the second time as Redding drags the quarterback down for a loss of three yards.

Dalton tries to put the sack behind him with a pass for Sanu, but the wide receiver can't hold on. The quarterback keeps the ball himself on the next play, but he picks up just three yards, so the Bengals have to punt yet again.

Zurlon Tipton replaces Herron at running back following his second fumble of the day, and he breaks free for an 11-yard gain, before Reggie Wayne takes a 12-yard catch for another first down. Another touchdown on this drive would surely end any hopes of a Cincinnati comeback.

Tipton continues to get the carries, moving the Colts to the Cincinnati 47 before Herron comes back in and loses three to move the home side back to midfield. After a Bengals time out, Nicks gets another reception, hauling a short pass in before being pushed out of bounds at the 40-yard line. Even if the Colts can't add to their score on this drive, they're certainly taking plenty of time off the clock.

While the Bengals take another timeout, here are some of the more eye-catching fans at the Lucas Oil Stadium this evening:

NFL fans are the best. pic.twitter.com/fD9EuNOn8Q — NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) January 4, 2015

Luck is penalised for delay of game on this down, so the home side have to punt the ball back to the Bengals. Dalton goes for distance, but passes for Hewitt and Sanu lack accuracy, so the visitors are quickly facing another third down, but the quarterback picks up the necessary yards with a scramble.

FUMBLE! Well that should end any hopes of a Bengals comeback! Dalton is hit while lining up a pass, giving Freeman time to get in behind the offensive line, forcing the ball out of the quarterbacks hand, and it's recovered by Hughes to give possession back to the hosts.

Tipton continues to lead the running game in the closing stages of this playoff game with the Colts, and he takes the team across midfield prior to the two-minute warning timeout.

It's really just a case of running the clock down for the Colts now, with Tipton picking up another couple of yards with just over a minute before the home side confirm their place in the divisional round.

The Colts punt the ball back to Cincinnati, and Tate tries to break free for a big return, but he's forced out of bounds at the 217-yard line.

Dalton tries a deep pass intended for Brock to try and get a late consolation touchdown for the visitors, but the pass is well off-target, before the quarterback scrambles for 16 yards.

Dalton goes for a Hail Mary with what will be the final play of the game, but the ball is batted out the back of the end zone.

So the Colts progress to the divisional round of the playoffs at the expense of the Bengals. They'll face the Denver Broncos, including former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, next Sunday. Stick around as we'll have live coverage of the final wildcard playoff game in a few minutes. Thanks for joining me this evening, goodbye.