Andrew Luck hopes the Indianapolis Colts’ offensive line fares better this week when it goes up against Robert Quinn, Aaron Donald and the formidable St. Louis Rams’ front seven. (Getty)
Final Score
Colts 10-3-0-11 — 24
Rams 0-7-7-0 — 14
Game is in the 4th quarter
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Colts Open Scoring With a Field Goal
Pretty solid pass protection for Luck on the first drive. Vinatieri hits a 42 yarder, Colts 3-0. Clearly, Indy wants to pound it early.
After the Rams’ first drive was stalled by a questionable offensive pass interference call on Tavon Austin, the Colts took over and went 41 yards on 10 plays. The big play was a 23-yard connection between Andrew Luck and TY Hilton, but the drive ultimately stalled when Hilton caught another but was out of bounds.
Adam Vinatieri finished the drive with a 42-yard field goal.
Colts Recover Onside Kick
.@patmcafeeshow still ballin out! t.co/hJLOErnrq4
Preseason, schmree-season. Chuck Pagano and the Colts have never been afraid to surprise teams with onside kicks, and that goes for games that don’t count. Punter Pat McAfee had the terrific kick, and Clayton Geathers made the recovery.
The Rams followed that mistake up with another, as moments later blown coverage allowed Luck to find a wide-open Andre Johnson for a 32-yard touchdown:
Typically, if you leave Andre Johnson wide open for Andrew Luck, he’ll take advantage. Good for +6. #INDvsS… t.co/OQtCPbMMid
Nick Foles Finds Chris Givens for 44-Yard Touchdown
.@nfoles_9 throws a deep strike to @MBTR19 for a Rams TD. #INDvsSTL #STLRams #NFL #NickFoles t.co/tyPi9RH9TA
Well, that was easy. The Rams needed just one play on the drive to find the end zone, as Foles delivered a beautiful downfield throw to Chris Givens in the end zone for 44 yards.
It’s a picture-perfect start for the previously struggling Foles, who is 8-for-8 for 108 yards and a touchdown
Josh Robinson Fumble Leads to Rams Touchdown
After Trey Watts 3-yard TD run early in third, Rams have 14-13 lead _ their first since the opening series of Game 1 vs. Oakland.
On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, rookie Josh Robinson fumbled a handoff from Luck, giving the ball to the Rams at the Indy 17-yard line. It’s certainly not the last possession Luck was hoping for, as he ends the game 12-of-21 for 161 yards and a touchdown.
Three plays later, Trey Watts punched it in from the three-yard line to give St. Louis the 14-13 lead.
Jalil Brown’s Interception Sets Up Tyler Varga TD and Colts Lead
Tyler Varga is one tough hombre. Would be quite a story if he’s 4th RB. Might be a PS player.
It’s backups in the game at this point, so things have gotten a bit sloppy, but these are also a lot of the guys still fighting for roster spots.
Late in the third quarter, Jalil Brown made a big play, picking off Sean Mannion and returning it 24 yards into the red zone. Five plays later, Tyler Varga punched it in for the touchdown, and Matt Hasselbeck found Griff Whalen for the two-point conversion.
Game Preview
Robert Quinn and the Rams have the talent to do a lot of damage against the Colts’ struggling offensive line. (Getty)
The most important goal for the Indianapolis Colts in this one: Keep Andrew Luck upright.
During last week’s loss against the Chicago Bears, the team’s franchise quarterback and most important player was taken down three times on his first five dropbacks. That’s the epitome of “nightmare” during a meaningless preseason game. The biggest culprit was right tackle Jack Mewhert, who is making the transition from left guard and got abused by Bears’ offseason signing Pernell McPhee.
“(McPhee) is a really good pass rusher,” said head coach Chuck Pagano afterwords. “They paid him a lot of money. We know what a game-wrecker he can be.”
Unfortunately for Mewhert and the struggling Colts’ offensive line, it’s only going to get more difficult this week when the starters likely play at least a half. Robert Quinn, Chris Long, Aaron Donald and Nick Fairley make up one of the most feared defensive lines in the league, and if the Colts O-line looks like it did last week, the Rams are going to have a field day.
Luck and his array of offensive weapons can move the ball with ease when he has time in the pocket, but that’s far from guaranteed in this one.
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Colts vs. Rams: Score, Stats & Highlights