Vin+ 3,121 Posted December 7, 2012 (edited) A knack for late-game heroics and the ability to win the close ones have helped put the Indianapolis Colts in good position to return to the playoffs. The Colts needed overtime to win at Tennessee earlier this season, but hope for an easier time Sunday when they try for a fifth consecutive home victory over the reeling Titans. Paced by rookie Andrew Luck, Indianapolis (8-4) executed last-minute winning drives against Green Bay and Minnesota, and rallied from seven down in the fourth quarter for a 19-13 overtime win at Tennessee on Oct. 28. However, the Colts' 35-33 victory at Detroit last Sunday might have been the most improbable of all. Luck threw two touchdown passes in the final 2:39 to rally the Colts from a 12-point deficit and deliver their second straight victory and sixth in seven games to maintain the top wild-card spot in the AFC. Luck's 14-yard TD pass to Donnie Avery as time expired was Indianapolis' first winning score with no time left since 1990. "They don't know no better," said receiver Reggie Wayne, who is tied for third in the league with 88 receptions. "They just know to just keep playing. That's a credit just to the coaches. Just keeping the guys into it, keeping them to play toward the end, and guys just go out there and keep fighting and fighting till it's all over." Without Luck, it's uncertain if the Colts would be where they are one season removed from the 2-14 debacle. He's already broke Peyton Manning's record for 300-yard games (six) as a rookie and has won more in his first year than any quarterback selected No. 1 overall since the 1970 merger. After throwing for 391 yards with four TDs and three interceptions at Detroit, Luck improved to 7-1 in games decided by eight points or fewer. If the Colts can continue their recent home dominance over the Titans (4-8), they need only one more win and a conference loss by either Cincinnati or Pittsburgh to return to the playoffs. Two of Indianapolis' final three games are against 11-1 Houston, but sandwiched in the middle is 2-10 Kansas City. "There's some really good football teams behind us and we just have to take care of our own business," interim coach Bruce Arians said. Luck was 26 of 38 for 297 yards with an interception and connected with Vick Ballard for a 16-yard TD in overtime at Tennessee. Fellow rookie T.Y. Hilton caught five passes for 35 yards in that contest, but has recorded three 100-yard games in the last five. He matched a career high with six catches for 100 against the Lions. Indianapolis has outscored Tennessee 243-113 while winning eight of nine at home in the series. Donald Brown ran for 161 yards and a TD in the Colts' first win last season, 27-13 over the visiting Titans on Dec. 18. They could be in for another big offensive effort against the Titans, who rank 31st in scoring defense at 29.9 points per game. Tennessee looks to avoid a third consecutive defeat after totaling 29 points in its last two games following a 37-3 win at Miami on Nov. 11. The Titans will be forced to revamp an already makeshift offensive line after right tackle David Stewart suffered a season-ending broken leg and left guard Steve Hutchinson a knee injury in last Sunday's 24-10 loss to Houston. "It seems like this is one of those years where what can go wrong is going wrong, and we're getting challenged in a lot of different ways," coach Mike Munchak said. The problems up front likely don't bode well for Jake Locker, who was sacked six times against the Texans. Locker threw for 309 yards with a TD, but was intercepted three times and lost two fumbles. He's been responsible for all but one of the Titans' eight turnovers over the last two games. Chris Johnson was held to 51 yards on 13 carries last Sunday after averaging 122.0 in his previous six games. He rushed 21 times for 99 yards against the Colts this season but has been held to 94 on 35 attempts in his last two at Indianapolis. With Tennessee in position to miss the playoffs for a fourth straight season, Munchak hopes his team can still find a way to finish strong. "The goal is to be a lot better in four weeks than you are right now," he said. "I mean that's all you can work on." Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Edited December 14, 2012 by Vin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted December 8, 2012 The Titans are gonna rape the Colts this week, it won't be close and all the people slurping Luck will be like "Ok I guess he's not the MVP. :(" 20 31 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CampinWithaMissingPerson 2,025 Posted December 8, 2012 The Titans are gonna rape the Colts this week, it won't be close and all the people slurping Luck will be like "Ok I guess he's not the MVP. " 20 31 Gotcha. *checks off "Razor scared of Andrew Luck? Yes? or No?" to a definite YES* *moves on to tougher question of, "To be or not to be?" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted December 8, 2012 Scared of a 55% passer with a propensity for INT's? No. Scared of an undeserved hype train leading to undeserved MVP's and all pros... a little. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted December 9, 2012 I like the Colts in this one, but it wouldn't surprise me if the Titans managed to pull out the win. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted December 9, 2012 21-20 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradyFan81 404 Posted December 9, 2012 Titans suck 30 17 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted December 9, 2012 Titans declared WR Damian Williams, MLB Colin McCarthy, OG Mitch Petrus, OT Daniel Baldridge, WR Lavelle Hawkins, DT DaJohn Harris, and QB Rusty Smith inactive for Week 14 versus the Colts. Williams aggravated his hamstring injury last week against the Texans. McCarthy is still dealing with a concussion. Petrus and Baldridge were just signed this past week. Colts declared RB Donald Brown, SS Tom Zbikowski, WR Nathan Palmer, LB Mario Harvey, DT Kellen Heard, OT Bradley Sowell, and OL Joe Reitz inactive for Week 14 versus the Titans. Vick Ballard will get the start at running back, and he'll be a decent flex play as Rotoworld's No. 24 running back against the Titans' leaky defense. Joe Lefeged will start in Zbikowski's place. Seth Olsen, who was just activated, will start at left guard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted December 9, 2012 and despite the Colts farting this away in the first half, the Titans just farted it right back. Colts are up by one. Quick, give Andrew Luck rookie of the year now! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oochymp 2,393 Posted December 10, 2012 (edited) Locker handed this one to the Colts, both of those picks were awful, we definitely drafted a QB the wrong year Edited December 10, 2012 by oochymp Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
