Well, that was a ride. But just like most of the game, that was too much to ask.
Advertisement
The Colts and Lions aren’t the marquee matchup of Week 1 and there are many unknowns about both teams entering the season, but this game should be a good measuring stick in terms of expectations.
Division games are always important, but the Colts also have to focus on a slate of multiple other big games that could be pivotal in determining their success. The Colts did exactly that, agreeing with Luck on a massive six-year, $140 million contract to lock up their man for the near future.
The Colts found themselves in a 21-3 deficit in the second quarter.
Detroit is intriguing coming into 2016, mostly because of how they finished last season.
No Colts displayed any sign of protest during the singing of the national anthem. With.05 second left in the second half he hit Donte Moncrief to pull the Colts in 21-10 before the half. The Lions played so well, they took the crowd out of the game – a huge factor on the road while playing indoors. Before Sunday, Indianapolis led the all-time series, 21-18-2. By the end of the game, the Colts were down to only five healthy defensive backs – three corners and two safeties – and only one of them was on the team during training camp! But in order to get to first and goal, Andrew Luck needed a big play.
Not when you have all three timeouts, and more critically, not when you have Matthew Stafford. But, Lions kicker Matt Prater hooked the extra point attempt which kept the lead at 34-28. An 11-yard Ameer Abdullah touchdown reception gave the Lions a ten-point lead in the third quarter, but the Colts scored ten unanswered points on a 40-yard Vinatieri field goal and 16-yard Jack Doyle touchdown reception to tie the game at 28 with 8:19 left in the fourth. They were handed their third consecutive opening loss – they’re 1-4 in Luck’s career – when Matt Prater knocked down a 43-yard field goal with 4 seconds to play.
The Colts trailed an elaborate hook-and-ladder play on the return, but wide receiver T.Y. Hilton was called for an illegal forward pass in the end zone resulting in a safety for the final margin.
The post Andrew Luck puts the Colts on his back; comes up short appeared first on Cover32. It really started to sway heavily towards the Colts to begin the second half, giving them the ball back down just three points.
The Colts will open the 2016 season on Sunday afternoon against the Detroit Lions.
The injury bug that has plagued the Colts for so many years reared its ugly head, once again. This was already an incredibly depleted secondary and these injuries make the team’s depth frighteningly shallow. “I feel good about (the offense), just the talent we have and us going after it every day, ” Jones said. Also, when Luck left the pocket, he avoided getting hit as he knew when to slide.
Luck played a near-perfect game and like Stafford, led what seemed to be multiple game-winning drives.
Advertisement
Things can turn around fast for a young quarterback-the 2015 season saw Luck wreck his shoulder, tear rib cartilage, lacerate a kidney, throw just 15 TDs to 12 interceptions, take 15 sacks in fewer than seven games and record a QBR of 47.57, good for 25th in the league, 14 points worse than his previous low. He made smart decisions and delivered some handsome deep passes. Our quarterback was exceptional, so this one is disappointing as heck.
