NFL PRESEASON

Colts take gift, hold off Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Andrew Luck threw for 107 yards and two touchdowns and the Indianapolis Colts responded to criticism by owner Jim Irsay with a 20-12 exhibition victory over the New York Giants on Sunday night.

Irsay used Twitter to apologize to fans for the Colts’ abysmal showing in a 44-20 loss to Buffalo last week, and the Colts (1-1) improved markedly, with some help from the bubbling and suddenly injury-concerned Giants (1-1).

New York wide receiver Victor Cruz (bruised heel) and starting center David Baas (sprained knee) left the game and the Giants did little on offense.

Not seeing much pressure, Luck threw touchdown passes of 28 yards to Reggie Wayne and 18 to T.Y. Hilton in leading the Colts to 17 points. Adam Vinatieri added a 52-yard field goal as Indianapolis scored on three consecutive series.

Backup kicker Brandon McManus added a 50-yard field goal in the second half.

New York’s Josh Brown kicked field goals of 25, 27 and 45 yards in the first half. The last one came after Giants Coach Tom Coughlin was flagged for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the previous play for coming down the sideline and yelling at the side judge for a supposed non-call. Brown added a 47-yard field goal with 8:43 to play to close out the scoring.

Luck, who led the Colts to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth in his rookie season, completed 9 of 13 passes, but the one most will remember will be the gift touchdown courtesy of veteran Giants cornerback Aaron Ross, who was starting for the injured Corey Webster.

On a second-and-3 play from the 28, Luck underthrew Wayne on a pattern down the right sideline. A backpedalling Ross was in perfect position to intercept the ball, but he lost his balance, had the ball slip out of his hands and then hit his leg and pop up into the air. Wayne came down with it in the end zone for a 7-3 lead.

An interception by new cornerback Greg Toler on Eli Manning’s third-down pass on the ensuing series gave the ball to the Colts at the New York 41. Vinatieri made his 52-yarder with about 10 yards to spare after three plays moved the ball to the 34.

Luck finished off his night, leading the Colts on a seven-play, 60-yard drive that featured two third-down conversions on passes to Hilton and a 15-yard facemask penalty against Ross. Both passes to Hilton covered 18 yards, with the second one coming on a third-and-11 from the New York 18. Hilton beat Jayron Hosley to the right corner of the end zone and Luck floated a perfect pass over the outstretched hands of the cornerback. The play was reviewed and the touchdown ruling confirmed.

Without Cruz, the Giants showed flashes on offense. Manning finished 8 of 17 for 91 yards and halfbacks David Wilson and Andre Brown did OK, gaining 34 and 36, respectively on eight carries apiece.

Brown provided the offense with his kicking with most coming after New York failed to take advantage of scoring position.

SATURDAY’S LATE GAME SEAHAWKS 40, BRONCOS 10

SEATTLE - With Percy Harvin out after hip surgery, it seemed very likely wide receiver Jermaine Kearse would end up on the Seattle Seahawks final roster.

He likely cemented his spot Saturday night, showing off skills he last displayed in high school.

Kearse caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson and returned a kickoff 107 yards for a score and the Seahawks used big plays to rout the Denver Broncos 40-10 in an exhibition game.

Kearse last returned kicks at Lakes High School less than an hour south of Seattle. He was approached this week about giving it a shot, with the return game one of Seattle’s main question marks with Harvin out.

Sean McGrath (Henderson State) caught 2 passes for 26 yards, including a three-yard touchdown pass from Wilson that bounced off his facemask.

Denver ......................7 0 0 3 - 10 Seattle .....................17 16 7 0 - 40 First Quarter Sea-Kearse 12 pass from Wilson (Hauschka kick), 8:37.

Sea-FG Hauschka 42, 5:03.

Den-Welker 11 pass from Manning (Prater kick), 1:52.

Sea-Kearse 107 kickoff return (Hauschka kick), 1:40. Second Quarter Sea-Browner 106 fumble return (Hauschka kick), 8:54.

Sea-FG Hauschka 41, 6:42.

Sea-McGrath 3 pass from Wilson (kick failed), :32. Third Quarter Sea-S.Williams 38 pass from Jackson (Wiggs kick), 3:37.

Fourth Quarter Den-FG Prater 33, 10:39.

Attendance-67,635.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING-Denver, Hillman 13-34, M.Ball 6-28, Osweiler 2-12, L.Ball 7-2. Seattle, Ware 9-54, Turbin 9-35, Jackson 2-23, Wilson 1-10, Coleman 5-7, Lynch 2-1, Quinn 3-(minus 1).

PASSING-Denver, Manning 11-16-0-163, Osweiler 9-14-1-66. Seattle, Wilson 8-12-0-127, Jackson 4-7-0-93, Quinn 3-4-0-13.

RECEIVING-Denver, J.Thomas 4-70, D.Thomas 3-52, Welker 3-31, O’Connell 2-22, L.Ball 2-(minus 1), Green 1-18, Holliday 1-17, Decker 1-10, J.Hester 1-6, Robinson 1-5, M.Ball 1-(minus 1). Seattle, S.Williams 2-45, Tate 2-42, McGrath 2-26, Ware 2-26, Helfet 2-24, Swain 1-29, Baldwin 1-16, Kearse 1-12, Harper 1-8, Ashford 1-5.

MISSED FIELD GOALS-Seattle, Wiggs 43 (WR).

Sports, Pages 15 on 08/19/2013

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