INDIANAPOLIS —
Perfect Luck. Well, almost.
With rookie quarterback Andrew Luck setting the stage early with a 63-yard touchdown, the Indianapolis Colts got the 2012 National Football League preseason underway with an impressive 38-3 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
In a game that featured two of the league’s No. 1 draft picks (Rams quarterback Sam Bradford went first in 2010), Luck completed 10-of-16 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns in little more than a quarter and a half of work.
His first pass of the day, covered only a few yards in the air, but ended up in the end zone 63 yards away. Running back Donald Brown caught the short toss and outran the St. Louis defense for a touchdown with 9:22 remaining in the first quarter.
Luck’s opening touchdown salvo was reminiscent of another heralded Colts rookie quarterback 14 years ago. Peyton Manning’s first preseason pass against Seattle in 1998 went for 48 yards to wide receiver Marvin Harrison for a TD. In that game, Manning completed eight-of-15 passes for 113 yards, one touchdown, an interception and had a fumble in his preseason debut.
“Great start for [Luck]. Phenomenal start for him,” Colts first-year coach Chuck Pagano said afterward.
“It’s great,” Pagano said. “He’d be the first one to tell you that. But to see him perform and do the things that he did under the pressure [pass rush], you know they hadn’t shown that in the preseason before. They [St. Louis] got after him a little bit. I thought he handled it well.”
That’s putting it mildly.
On Indianapolis’ second possession of the day, Luck guided the offense on a seven-play, 53-yard drive that culminated in a 23-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Austin Collie. On his third and final drive, he led the Colts on a 13-play, 80-yard drive that ended up in the end zone as running back Delone Carter bulled over from a yard out.
Of his six incompletions, three passes were dropped and two were thrown away because of defensive pressure. Luck’s final missed pass came when he overthrow offensive guard Joe Reitz in the back of the end zone.
Reitz had lined up as an eligible receiver at tight end when Indianapolis had a first-and-goal at the Rams’ one-yard line. Rookie tight end Coby Fleener was open on the play to the outside, but his former Stanford teammate didn’t see him.
Included among his six incompletions were three consecutive dropped passes on the Colts’ second possession of the game. Still, he went to the sidelines with a lofty 142.7 passer rating. A rating of 158.3 is considered a perfect game. Not a bad way to start an NFL career.
Closing out the scoring for Indianapolis was a one-yard scamper by running back Darren Evans with 0:07 left in the third quarter, a 33-yard pass from rookie quarterback Chandler Harnish to wide receiver Jeremy Ross with 11:14 left in the game, and a 31-yard field goal by punter/placekicker Pat McAfee with 4:44 remaining.
The firsts were many. First win for Pagano and first-year general manager Ryan Grigson. First preseason win at home since a 23-15 decision over Philadelphia in 2009.
It was also the most points scored in a preseason game since a 37-10 win over Detroit in 2007. The last time Indianapolis scored 38 or more points in a preseason game before Sunday came in a 38-34 victory over Denver in 1989. It was also the largest margin of victory for the Colts in a preseason game since a 35-0 victory over Washington in 1966.
“Obviously, a great start. I couldn’t be more proud of this team. Couldn’t be more proud of the coaches. The support that we get from the top down, [team owner] Mr. [Jim] Irsay, Ryan Grigson, everybody in that [Colts headquarters]. Our hats are off to everybody. It was a great team victory,” Pagano said afterward.
“That’s what we’ve talked about since we’ve been here. It’s that it’s about the team, the team, the team. We talked about coming out and starting, establishing an identity. What we’re going to be and what we’re going to be about. And how we’re going to play this game.”
As much as the Colts new coach was pleased with the performance and effort of the first offensive and defensive units, he was especially happy with how the second and third stringers played.
“I told the young guys, ‘Hey, we’re going to set you up. We’re going to get a lead and you guys have to get in there and you’ve got to finish.’ We want to be a great finishing team. And I felt like for four quarters, these guys played their tails off,” Pagano said.
Overall, it was a good first start. “It was a pretty clean game across the board. Pleased with the numbers that we were able to put up. Obviously, the quarterback [Luck] did one heck of a job. The offensive line did a fantastic job. We’ve got playmakers on offense. And then defensively, keeping [the Rams] out of the end zone and holding them to three points is a credit to [defensive coordinator] Greg Manusky and the rest of the defensive staff and those defensive players.”
Besides Luck’s strong start, there were a couple of other performances worth mentioning. Both backup quarterbacks guided the Colts to touchdowns. Drew Stanton completed eight-of-11 passes for 83 yards, and Harnish was 3-of-3 for 52 yards and a TD.
Jerry Hughes, who has struggled the last two seasons as a pass-rushing defensive end, had a pair of sacks from his outside linebacking position.
About the only bad news coming out of Sunday’s win concerned injuries to inside linebacker Pat Angerer, inside linebacker Scott Luttrus, offensive guard Mike McGlynn and running back Carter.
Angerer suffered a foot injury in the first quarter and was slated to get an MRI after the game. He was wearing a walking boot afterward. Luttrus had a knee injury while McGlynn incurred a sprained ankle. Carter incurred a rib injury.
Pagano is expected to offer updates to the team’s injury list during a teleconference today. The Colts resume training camp workouts Tuesday in Anderson.
Indianapolis will play at Pittsburgh in its second preseason game Sunday night in a nationally televised meeting (NBC).
Colts 38, Rams 3
At Lucas Oil Stadium
St. Louis 0 3 0 0 — 3
Indianapolis 7 14 7 10 — 38
Ind—D.Brown 63 pass from Luck (Vinatieri kick)
Ind—Collie 23 pass from Luck (Vinatieri kick)
StL—FG Zuerlein 37
Ind—Carter 1 run (Vinatieri kick)
Ind—Evans 1 run (Vinatieri kick)
Ind—Ross 33 pass from Harnish (McAfee kick)
Ind—FG McAfee 31
StL Ind
First downs 15 23
Total Net Yards 215 430
Rushes-yards 24-68 32-116
Passing 147 314
Punt Returns 0-0 1-6
Kickoff Returns 5-117 1-21
Interceptions Ret. 0-0 1-31
Comp-Att-Int 23-33-1 21-30-0
Sacked-Yards Lost 2-12 1-9
Punts 4-45.8 2-43.5
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 1-0
Penalties-Yards 4-20 3-69
Time of Possession 30:06 29:54
RUSHING—St. Louis, Pead 10-33, Jackson 4-17, Middleton 3-10, D.Richardson 4-4, Davis 1-2, Mughelli 1-2, Bradford 1-0. Indianapolis, Ballard 6-28, Evans 8-25, Carter 5-17, Karim 4-14, Hilton 1-9, Luck 1-9, Stanton 1-6, Moore 2-4, Jones 1-3, D.Brown 2-2, Harnish 1-(minus 1).
PASSING—St. Louis, Davis 12-18-1-84, Bradford 7-9-0-57, Clemens 4-6-0-18. Indianapolis, Luck 10-16-0-188, Stanton 8-11-0-83, Harnish 3-3-0-52.
RECEIVING—St. Louis, Pettis 3-25, Pead 3-9, Campbell 2-18, Kendricks 2-18, St.Smith 2-14, N.Johnson 2-12, D.Richardson 2-8, Givens 1-13, Middleton 1-12, Quick 1-9, Peterson 1-8, Amendola 1-6, Jackson 1-6, Salas 1-1. Indianapolis, Collie 3-45, Cosby 3-44, Brazill 3-38, Hilton 3-25, D.Brown 1-63, Ross 1-33, Jones 1-22, Ballard 1-11, Karim 1-10, Adams 1-9, Miller 1-9, Moore 1-9, Fleener 1-5.
Colts
Related Photos
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza First play, first score: Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck calls the first offensive play of the Colts’ game against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday in Indianapolis. At right is an AP photo showing Luck celebrate after that first play went for a touchdown.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Fan favorite: Indianapolis wide receiver Reggie Wayne low fives a fan as he runs onto the field at the start of the Colts’ game against St. Louis Sunday in Indianapolis.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Grid iron ball handler: Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck hands the ball off to tight end Dominique Jones during the Colts' game against St. Louis Sunday in Indianapolis.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Gotcha: Indianapolis nose tackle Brandon McKinney pushes St. Louis quarterback Kellen Ciemens off of his feet during the Colts' game against the Rams Sunday in Indianapolis.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza On the one: Indianapolis wide receiver Quan Crosby catches a pass from Andrew Luck on the one yard line as he is covered by St. Louis's Jo-Lonn Dunbar in the first half of action Sunday in Indianapolis.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza He's gone: Indianapolis running back Donald Brown (31) outruns the St. Louis defense to score the Colts' first touchdown on the team's first offensive play Sunday in Indianapolis.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Spin and score: Indianapolis wide receiver Austin Collie avoids the tackle by St. Louis' Craig Dahl to score the Colts' second touchdown Sunday in Indianapolis.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Through the gap: Indianapolis running back Donald Brown runs through the St. Louis defense on his way to scoring on the Colts' first offensive play Sunday in Indianapolis.
Discussion
Beginner’s Luck
Andrew Luck tosses 63-yard touchdown with first pass of his career
- Colts
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Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
While the Indianapolis Colts put their rookies and a handful of second-year players through workouts this weekend at the team’s Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, a pair of first-year coordinators are getting a chance to do some valuable on-field work as well.
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Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
The Indianapolis Colts welcomed 37 players to the start of the team’s rookie mini camp Friday at the West 56th Street headquarters.
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts received high marks for the impact players the team added through the NFL draft.
Of the 10 players selected, five ended up either starting or seeing extensive playing time (quarterback Andrew Luck, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and running back Vick Ballard) during the Colts’ 11-5 season.
While this year’s class may not rival that group in terms of name recognition and flash, it may produce just as many major contributors once the 2013 season gets underway. -
Werner at top of game
Bjoern Werner was a late comer to football. But after being selected in the first round of the 2013 National Football League draft by the Indianapolis Colts, Werner realizes that he has reached the pinnacle of the sport in a relatively short amount of time.
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Colts select pass rusher Werner in first round
The Indianapolis Colts selected Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner. The 6-foot-3, 266-pound defensive lineman can also play left outside linebacker.
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Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
As the 2013 NFL draft gets underway tonight at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the Indianapolis Colts are continuing their wait-and-see stance in regard to the first-round pick.
The draft begins at 8 p.m. — televised by the NFL Network and ESPN — with the Kansas City Chiefs making the night’s first selection. Teams will have 10 minutes to make their decisions during the first round. Indianapolis will have the 24th overall pick in the first round.
There will be only one round tonight. The second and third rounds are scheduled for Friday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with seven minutes allotted per pick in the second round and five minutes allowed in the third. The final four rounds are slated to begin at noon Saturday with four minutes between selections.
As it stands now, Indianapolis does not have a second-round pick. It was traded to Miami last fall in exchange for veteran cornerback Vontae Davis. But second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has nut ruled out the possibility of trading down from the first round if the Colts aren’t satisfied with the players available. -
Direction clear for Colts in 2013 draft
The Indianapolis Colts head into the 2013 NFL Draft with some definite plans.
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Colts veteran among those excited to see Luck's growth in 2013-14
Veteran defensive end Cory Redding is a big fan — literally and figuratively — of Indianapolis Colts second-year quarterback Andrew Luck.
Redding, who has become one of the Colts’ lockerroom leaders after just one season with the team, thinks he has some reasonable expectations of Indianapolis’ former No. 1 draft pick. -
Heyward-Bey feeling fortunate to hook up with Luck
Add one more player to the list of veteran free agents signed by the Indianapolis Colts this offseason.
Former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey agreed to a a deal with the Colts late Monday evening. Bey, who played collegiately at Maryland, was the seventh player selected in the first round of the 2009 National Football League draft. -
Colts sign nose tackle
Another day, more player signings for the Indianapolis Colts.
Nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin agreed to terms with the Colts on Tuesday evening and officially signed with the team Wednesday. Franklin (6-1, 315) is a 10-year NFL veteran with stops in Baltimore (2003-06), San Francisco (2007-10), New Orleans (2011) and San Diego (2012). -
Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
The Indianapolis Colts’ roster moves just keep coming.
While the Colts haven’t yet added that big-name wide receiver that team owner Jim Irsay hinted at in tweets over the weekend, Indianapolis has addressed one area on offense.
Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had agreed Monday night to be the Colts’ primary back-up to second-year starter Andrew Luck. He officially signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the team Tuesday morning.
“We are very pleased to announce the signing of Matt Hasselbeck,” general manager Ryan Grigson said in a prepared statement. “His body of work, intangibles, and extensive league experience speak for themselves. Those factors, plus his familiarity with our offensive scheme, will make him a great asset to our team and its vision as we move forward.” -
Colts likely done signing free agents, for now
With the possible exception of adding a few lesser-priced players, the Indianapolis Colts’ big-time foray into the veteran free-agent marketplace is pretty much done.
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Landry, Jean Francois join Colts defensive unit
After adding five veteran free agent players to the Indianapolis Colts roster on Tuesday, general manager Ryan Grigson plucked two more plums late Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon.
New York Jets safety LaRon Landry and San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois both signed contracts with the Colts. Landry, a strong safety who appears to be a bigger version of former Indianapolis Pro Bowler Bob Sanders, and the versatile Jean-Francois are expected to make immediate impacts on the Colts’ defensive unit. -
Colts introduce free-agent signees
What the Indianapolis Colts accomplished last season — posting an 11-5 record and earning an AFC wild-card berth with a young team plus having that kind of success without its head coach on the sidelines for 12 games — didn’t go unnoticed by players around the NFL.
That was especially true for the five veteran free agents who were added to the Colts’ roster Tuesday. Offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus (Detroit), cornerback Greg Toler (Arizona), outside linebacker Erik Walden (Green Bay), offensive guard Donald Thomas (New England) and linebacker Lawrence Sidbury (Atlanta) admitted as much Wednesday.
“I felt like this would be the best fit for me at this point in my career. I really liked what I saw was happening with the program here and the way things have taken shape. I feel like we have a really great team here and it’s on the rise. I really wanted to be a part of that,” Thomas said during a teleconference interview with the Colts’ media. -
Colts sign five free agents, filling needs at offensive line, cornerback
The Indianapolis Colts were a busy team on the opening day of the National Football League’s veteran free agent market, which got underway at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
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Jeff Saturday retires as a Colt
An Indianapolis Colt for life. Pencil in Jeff Saturday for that honor.
The 14-year veteran center in the NFL put an official stamp on a career Thursday that began in Baltimore in 1998 and ended in Green Bay in 2012. But it was those 13 seasons in between — from 1999 to 2011 in which he played for Indianapolis — when Saturday earned his greatest rewards. -
Saturday thrilled to retire as a Colt
The 14-year veteran center in the National Football League put an official stamp on a career Thursday that began in Baltimore in 1998 and ended in Green Bay in 2012. But it was those 13 seasons in-between — from 1999 to 2011 in which he played for Indianapolis — that Saturday earned his greatest rewards.
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Saturday to retire as Colt on Thursday
Former Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday will make his retirement from the National Football League official on Thursday.
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Indianapolis franchises punter McAfee
A week ago, Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano said it was a priority that the team retain the services of punter Pat McAfee.
McAfee, an unrestricted free agent who’s contract is due to expire March 12, was designated as the Colts’ franchise player Friday. The move allows Indianapolis extra time to work out a long-term deal for the team’s special-teams ace.
“He’s huge. He’s a major priority in free agency. Obviously, we’ve reached out and are working to get Pat re-signed,” Pagano said during the National Football Scouting Combine. “We saw what he did for us last year. He’s a great weapon, not only kickoffs and touchbacks. -
Colts GM enjoying time at combine
Indianapolis Colts second-year general manager Ryan Grigson makes no bones about it. He enjoys watching prospective football players strut their stuff.
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Colts keeping eye on large crop of talented linemen in NFL Draft
According to most National Football League draft observers, this year’s crop of prospects is deep with quality offensive and defensive linemen.
Among the offensive line candidates who have been showcasing their talents at the National Football Scouting Combine, which began in earnest Thursday and wraps up on Tuesday, the spotlight has been on the offensive tackles. Offensive left tackles in particular. -
Colts' Pagano back to full work schedule at combine
Back and ready to go.
That’s the attitude Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano is taking during the National Football Scouting Combine, which completed its second day of operations Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium. During a wide-ranging press conference at the combine, Pagano confirmed that he is back to a full work regimen after missing 12 games last fall as he battled a rare form of leukemia.
After undergoing cancer treatments that featured heavy doses of chemotherapy, the second-year head coach was able to return to the sidelines for Indianapolis’ final regular-season home game against Houston and for the team’s AFC wild-card matchup with eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore. -
Colts looking forward to different approach to draft in 2013
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts had the first overall pick in the 2012 National Football League draft.
It was a foregone conclusion that the Colts would select former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the selection. While Indianapolis front office and player personnel officials certainly had to do their due diligence in preparing for the draft, the Colts find themselves this year in a bit different situation.
The team will have the 24th overall pick in the first round, which is a double-edged sword. Indianapolis picks lower in the round due to a successful season. But the pool of available can’t-miss talent isn’t quite as plentiful as drafting earlier in the round. -
Former Pro Bowl selection Freeney won't return to Colts
The news coming out of the Indianapolis Colts headquarters Friday afternoon was not totally unexpected. Team officials have confirmed that two veteran players – former Pro Bowl defensive end/outside linebacker Dwight Freeney and wide receiver Austin Collie — will not be returning for the 2013 season.
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Colts’ new offensive coordinator will offer variety
Quarterback Andrew Luck running the Pistol offense? Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton lining up in the Wildcat?
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Colts moving on to the off season
Moving on. That’s the immediate plans for the Indianapolis Colts as they head into the off season.
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Baltimore ends Indy’s playoff run early
The Baltimore Ravens want one long final ride for Ray Lewis. Having disposed of Andrew Luck and the Colts, they now face a more imposing challenge.
Next up, Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. -
Switching sides: Colts-Ravens matchup includes old friends on new teams
Just as Baltimore Ravens players and coaches will be seeing some old friends returning to M&T Bank Stadium today, several Indianapolis Colts veterans will also have an opportunity to renew acquaintances with a familiar face.
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Pagano prepares Colts for tough crowd in Baltimore
As a former resident of Baltimore, Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano knows all about the hard feelings that still run strong about the move of the Colts franchise to Indianapolis in 1984.
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Pagano marvels at Colt’s progress
In the minutes after last Sunday’s win over AFC South champion Houston, Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano marveled at how the 2012 season has progressed for his team.
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