Rookie Luck puts Colts in playoffs

Monday, December 24, 2012

— The expectations placed upon Andrew Luck almost seemed unfair.

Being the heir to Peyton Manning in Indianapolis is heady stuff for a rookie taking the reins of a franchise that won two games last season.

Now, after guiding the Colts back to the playoffs - and breaking Cam Newton’s single-season passing record for a first-year player - it’s safe to say Luck exceeded just about all of them.

Luck threw for 205 yards Sunday, and his 7-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne on third-and-goal late in the fourth quarter gave the Colts a 20-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. That put them into the playoffs without worrying about anybody else.

“Would we have done it without him?” Colts interim Coach Bruce Arians asked. “No.”

Luck broke Newton’s record of 4,051 yards passing in the second quarter. But it was extending his own rookie record for fourth-quarter comebacks to seven was more important.

The Chiefs had rallied behind Jamaal Charles’ 226 yards rushing to tie the game 13-13 heading into the fourth quarter. The Colts’ defense stuffed quarterback Brady Quinn on fourth-and-inches to give Luck a chance.

That’s all he needed.

After a miserable stretch in which he connected on 1 of 13 passes, Luck led Indianapolis (10-5) downfield. He completed a key pass to T.Y. Hilton on third down and made twopasses to Wayne before hitting the veteran again in the back of the end zone.

Darius Butler returned an interception 32 yards for the Colts’ other touchdown, helping them join the 2008 Miami Dolphins as the only teams to win at least 10 games after losing 14 or more the previous season.

Most of those victories have come under Arians, who has filled in while Chuck Pagano underwent treatment for leukemia. Pagano is expected to rejoin the Colts this week.

“Mission accomplished. That’s all I can say,” Arians said. “Without getting emotional again, knowing that [Pagano] is going to be back Monday [today], the work week shouldn’t be as stressful.”

Charles’ big day included an 86-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second half. It was his second 200-yard game of the season, andcame one week after he managed 10 yards on nine carries against Oakland.

Charles joined the Titans’ Chris Johnson and former Lions great Barry Sanders as the only players with three runs of 80 or more yards in a season. His third career 200-yard game also set a franchise record, which he had shared with Larry Johnson.

Peyton Hillis (Conway, Arkansas Razorbacks) added 101 rushing yards for the Chiefs (2-13), who had 352 yards rushing in a losing effort - the first time that’s happened in NFL history.

BENGALS 13, STEELERS 10 Josh Brown kicked a 43-yard field goal with 4 seconds remaining to put Cincinnati in the playoffs and eliminate Pittsburgh from postseason contention. Brownmissed a 56-yarder earlier in the quarter, but earned a second chance when Reggie Nelson picked off Ben Roethlisberger and returned it to the Pittsburgh 46 with 14 seconds remaining. Andy Dalton hit A.J. Green for 21 yards on the next play, setting up Brown’s gamewinner to put the Bengals in the playoffs for consecutive years for the first time since 1981-1982. Dalton completed 24 of 41 passes for 278 yards and two interceptions for the Bengals (9-6), who snapped a five-game losing streak to Pittsburgh (7-8).

VIKINGS 23, TEXANS 6 Houston slowed down Adrian Peterson. The same couldn’t be said for how it handled the rest of Minnesota. Peterson rushed for 86 yards, falling far short of the 2,000-yard mark, yet helping the Vikings (9-6) keep their playoff hopes alive with an upset of the Texans. Christian Ponder threw a touchdown pass, Toby Gerhart added a score and Blair Walsh kicked three field goals. The loss kept the Texans (12-3) from clinching home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.Peterson had his lowest rushing total since getting 79 yards on Oct. 14 in a loss at Washington, breaking a streak of eight 100-yard games. He has 1,898 this season and needs 208 yards to break the NFL single-season rushing record held by Eric Dickerson.

PACKERS 55, TITANS 7 Aaron Rodgers threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, Ryan Grant scored twice and Randall Cobb set a singleseason franchise record for net yardage. The victory ensured the Packers (11-4) will at least be the NFC’s No. 3 seed. It was the first time the Packers have scored more than 50 points since 2005. Jake Locker was sacked seven times and picked off twice, and Tennessee (5-10) scored with 1:39 left to avoid the shutout.

PATRTIOTS 23, JAGUARS 16 Tom Brady overcame a rough start by throwing two touchdown passes for playoffbound New England. Brady threw two interceptions in the first quarter, the second helping the Jaguars (2-13) build a 10-0 lead. But the Jaguars faded in the third quarter for the fourth consecutive week, lost for the 11th time in the last 12 games and set a franchise record for losses in a season. Brady found Wes Welker for a 2-yard score on the secondplay of the fourth quarter, putting the Patriots (11-4) ahead 23-13.

BRONCOS 34, BROWNS 12 Denver won its 10th consecutive game as Peyton Manning threw three touchdown passes for the 72nd time of his career in a victory over Cleveland. Denver (12-3) pulled into a tie for first place in the AFC with Houston, which fell 23-6 to Minnesota. Manning completed 30 of 43 passes for 339 yards. Von Miller was in on two sacks for the Broncos, the second of which knocked Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden out of the game with a right shoulder injury. Miller has 17 1/2 sacks on the season, breaking Elvis Dumervil’s franchise record. If Denver defeats Kansas City at home next week and Houston loses at Indianapolis, the Broncos would be the AFC’s top seed.

BEARS 28, CARDINALS 13 Chicago’s defense scored two touchdowns and the Bears beat Arizona to keep their playoff hopes alive. Charles Tillman returned an interception 10 yards for a score, the third one he’s brought back for a touchdown this season and the eighth overall by Chicago, one shy of the NFL record. Zack Bowman returned a fumble 1 yard for another Bears score. Brandon Marshall caught 6 passes for 68 yards and 1 touchdown, breaking the Bears franchise record for yards receiving in a season in the process. Chicago (9-6) snapped a three-game losing streak and won for just the second time in seven tries. The Cardinals (5-10) lost for the 10th time in 11 games.

CHARGERS 27, JETS 17 San Diego sacked Greg McElroy 11 times, ruining the quarterback’s first NFL start, and Philip Rivers threw two touchdown passes for the Chargers.

PANTHERS 17, RAIDERS 6 Cam Newton threw for 171 yards and a touchdown and ran for 60 yards and another score as Carolina won for the fourth time in its last five games. The Panthers (6-9) held the Raiders to 189 total yards and 12 first downs.

RAMS 28, BUCCANEERS 13 Sam Bradford tossed two touchdown passes and rookie cornerback Janoris Jenkins scored his fourth score of the season.

DOLPHINS 24, BILLS 10 Reggie Bush caught two touchdown passes and scored on a short run for Miami.

Sports, Pages 17 on 12/24/2012