EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Colts second-year quarterback Andrew Luck bounced back after a disappointing preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills. The New York Giants sputtered following two key injuries to wide receiver Victor Cruz and center David Baas.
Luck was 9-of-13 for 107 yards and two touchdowns for a QB rating of 133.7 in the Colts 20-12 victory over the Giants.
The 2012 number one overall draft pick proved to be the Colts’ catalyst on offense. After Colts owner Jim Irsay issued an apology to the fans via Twitter for his teams’ disappointing performance in the preseason opener, Luck threw touchdown passes of 28 yards to Reggie Wayne and 18 to T.Y. Hilton. He led the Colts to 17 points following Adam Vinatieri added a 52-yard field goal as Indianapolis scored on three consecutive series.
“It wasn’t perfect,” Luck said after the game. “There is still a whole bunch of room for improvement but it was good to get in a rhythm, it was good to put points on the board.”
Cruz, the Giant’s Pro Bowl slot receiver, was diagnosed with a bruised heel. Baas, their starting center, suffered a sprained left MCL, according to ESPN. X-rays were negative on both players, who will continue to undergo tests on Monday.
“[Cruz] jammed his heel and was sore,” coach Tom Coughlin said after the game. “He runs to make a living and he’s obviously got an issue with the heel. Hopefully it is not going to be a long thing.”
New York’s Josh Brown kicked field goals of 25, 27, and 45 yards in the first half. Brown added a 47-yard field goal with 8:43 to play to close out the scoring for the Giants.
Wayne tallied his first touchdown of the preseason on a 28-yard pass from Luck in the first quarter. After the pass was deflected by Giants cornerback Aaron Ross, Wayne tipped the ball to himself and made a diving catch in the end zone. The eight-play scoring drive totaled 81 yards in 3:52 and gave the Colts a 7-3 lead. Wayne finished the game with three receptions for 37 yards and a score.
“He saw me on the sideline and said ‘What happened, I just knew you had the pick,’ “ Ross said after the game. “It was one of those fluke plays.”
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 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 gained 34 and 36 yards respectively on eight carries apiece.
On a third-down pass for Manning the newly-acquired Colts’ cornerback Greg Toler retook possession 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.
GAME NOTES: Colts’ tight end Coby Fleener left the game with a mild knee strain … Giants WR Hakeem Nicks played for the first time in the preseason and had two catches for 21 yards … Darrius Heyward-Bey led Indianapolis with four catches for 42 yards … Former Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw made the trip with the Colts but was not active … Indianapolis had six sacks .. New York had 10 penalties for 96 yards.
