That shot ended when Von Miller burst around the corner and in a virtual replay of his historic sack of Cam Newton ripped the ball from Luck’s hands.
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Only, this isn’t a deja vu defense to Denver cornerback Chris Harris Jr. “We’ve been in that situation all year last year”.
“I know Andrew would love to have it back”, said Chuck Pagano, referring to Luck’s interception, returned for a score by Denver corner Aqib Talib.
The Broncos sent Luck to the hospital past year with a lacerated kidney and torn abdominal muscle but still left the Lucas Oil Stadium 27-24 losers on that November night. His moves secured a first down, and a score for the Broncos. Tripucka’s sign included a mention of Peyton Manning.
They still had Miller & Co., didn’t they?
That Del Rio is a defensive specialist and his “D” can’t even be categorized as uninspiring is the bigger issue today in Oakland for a unit that invested $83.5 million and a first-rounder who can barely get on the field this offseason. “I just hope I’m not fined”. They put away their diamond-encrusted rings and pledged to go out this season and be even nastier and carry new QB Trevor Siemian if they had to.
Time after time, the Colts ripped the Broncos’ hearts from their chests.
After failing to sack Luck in four previous meetings, Miller brought the quarterback down three times Sunday.
“He’s like a shark when there’s blood in the water”, defensive end Derek Wolfe said. “He just gets going faster and faster”.
Miller burst past right tackle Joe Reitz and swiped the ball from Luck’s grasp. Shane Ray then scooped it up and ran 15 yards for a touchdown. With the San Diego Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars being the next opponents on the Colts’ schedule, earning victories in each of the two contests is critical if they wish to make the playoffs.
Miller has delivered so far with four sacks.
Andrew Luck got the ball with 1:51 remaining, needing 75 yards for a touchdown that would erase all of the afternoon’s previous sins.
Talib stepped in front of wide receiver Phillip Dorsett to snag Luck’s pass, which he returned through traffic down Denver’s jubilant sideline. His ninth career pick-6 was his fifth for Denver, a franchise record.
“The mistake [Siemian] made looked a lot like the same one he made against Carolina, so we have to help him correct that”, Head Coach Gary Kubiak said.
“It’s a shame the only play everyone’s probably going to remember is that [strip-sack] at the end”, Luck said. “When I get an interception in practice, I go score on it. Practice makes flawless”.
Plus, he used to play receiver, Demaryius Thomas noted, “so it’s nothing new”.
After posting stellar numbers in week one (the top fantasy performance in the league actually), Andrew Luck stumbled in the Mile High City in week two in the Colts 34-20 loss to the Broncos.
The one that keeps getting dismissed.
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“We stuck to our game plan and did what we do today against Luck, we didn’t change anything up”, explained Talib.
