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.
Pro Sports
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
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Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
Indianapolis Colts second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has quickly earned a reputation as someone who isn’t afraid to shake things up a bit.
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Deacon Jones of famed Fearsome Foursome dead at 74
David “Deacon” Jones, the original sackmaster, has died.
The Hall of Fame defensive end, credited with coining the word “sack” for how he knocked down quarterbacks, was 74. -
Seeking elite status
Many stages are set in the long-running drama that is the Indianapolis 500.
The 97th running on the famed oval today has the potential to provide a new four-time champion in Helio Castroneves or Dario Franchitti.
A win for either driver would tie them for the all-time lead in the Indy 500 as A.J. Foyt (1961, ’64, ’67, ’77), Al Unser 1970-71, ’78, ’87) and Rick Mears (1979, ’84, 88, ’91) are atop that mountain with four wins a piece.
While Castroveneves starts in the middle of row three, he and his team won the pit stop competition on Carb Day. The last time Castroneves won the pit stop competition, he won his third Indy 500.
“The field is so close and we have at least 20 cars that are capable to win this race,” Castroneves said. “My previous win, it was actually won on that as well. We were able to execute in the right time and they were able to put me in a very good opportunity to execute.” -
Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. -
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. -
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. -
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 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. -
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' 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. -
Harbaugh brothers — Jim and John — to face off in Super Bowl
Get ready for the Brother Bowl.
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Pagano prepares Colts for tough crowd in Baltimore
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It's a job, not a reunion, Luck says
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He doesn’t regard Sunday’s game at Reliant Stadium with the Houston Texans as a chance to go back to his home town and talk about old times. -
Colts’ meeting comes on heels of Texans’ big loss
The Indianapolis Colts are quite aware of who, and what, they’re going to be facing Sunday at Reliant Stadium.
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Former Illinois star Meyers Leonard living the NBA dream
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At just 20 years of age, the former Robinson, Ill., standout who took his talents to Champaign for two years is getting his feet wet at the highest level of basketball.
Close to 300 fans, many of whom watched Leonard take the Maroons to the 2010 IHSA Class 2A state championship, rode on charter buses to watch him battle the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis last week. -
Update: Ravens dismiss former South standout Cam Cameron as offensive coordinator
Former Terre Haute South High School football and basketball standout Cam Cameron was fired Monday as offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, who have lost two straight and are still striving for consistency in the running and passing game.
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Leonard has moment for highlight reel, but Pacers come away with victory
One night after pulling even with the Chicago Bulls for first place in the NBA’s Central Division, the Indiana Pacers at least maintained that advantage thanks to another big game from Paul George.
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Titans to sport new look vs. Colts
Even though the Indianapolis Colts won the first meeting with the Tennessee Titans, interim coach/offensive coordinator Bruce Arians doesn’t think it will help his team Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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Lions present many challenges for Colts
Finding a way to stop, or at least slow down, the Detroit Lions’ fast-paced offense is the primary goal of Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Greg Manusky.
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Wild card looking mighty doable right now: Colts improve to 7-4 with win
Don't look now, but the upstart Indianapolis Colts have jumped to the front
of class when it comes to securing one of the two available wild-card berths
in the upcoming AFC playoffs. -
‘Resilient’ label fits Colts
If there is a word that best describes the 2012 Indianapolis Colts, it just might be “resilient.”
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Do-or-die Bills next for Colts
Indianapolis Colts interim coach/offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is quite aware that the Buffalo Bills are coming into Sunday’s game at Lucas Oil Stadium (1 p.m. kickoff, CBS Sports) facing a do-or-die situation in regard to the postseason.
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How will the Colts rebound vs. the Bills?
The big question for the Indianapolis Colts as they prepare for Sunday's home game with Buffalo is a pretty simple one.
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Colts healthy entering key road game
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Colts, Patriots renew rivalry for 10th straight year
Once again, Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., it’s the Indianapolis Colts playing the New England Patriots.
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Times have changed
A lot has changed for the Indianapolis Colts since a 22-17 home loss to Jacksonville on Sept. 23.
For starters, that’s the only game the 1-7 Jaguars have won this season. Indianapolis, meanwhile, has posted wins in four of its last five games and is rolling along with a 5-3 record.
Many Colts point to that loss in the third week of the season. Indianapolis led 14-3 at the half and were ahead 14-13 after three quarters of play.
In fact, the Colts led 17-16 with 0:45 remaining in the game. That’s when Jacksonville quarterback Blaine Gabbert connected with speedy wide receiver Cecil Shorts III on an 80-yard pass play that resulted in the final margin of victory.
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Colts not carried away with success
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Not pretty, but Colts take win
Strictly from an aesthetic point of view, the Indianapolis Colts’ 17-13 National Football League win over the Cleveland Browns wasn’t very attractive.
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Browns rusher has taken criticism from Hall of Famer to heart
Trent Richardson has a point to prove.
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Colts wish linebackers could play more at same time
If the Indianapolis Colts could get both of their starting outside linebackers — Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis — on the field together for more than four quarters this season, it would be interesting to see how quickly the team’s defensive unit could continue its development.
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