Luck leads 4th-quarter comeback
NASHVILLE — Staring at their first 0-3 start since 2011, the Indianapolis Colts desperately needed a victory. Andrew Luck led the way. The Colts’ quarterback made sure Tennessee rookie Marcus Mariota will have to wait for his turn at a big win in this AFC South rivalry.
Luck threw two touchdown passes 56 seconds apart in the fourth quarter as he rallied the Colts to their first win this season, beating the Titans 35-33 Sunday.
“This win was big,” Luck said. “That’s a good Tennessee team. It’s in the division. It’s on the road. If this can jump-start a hot streak, then that’s what we need.”
The Colts (1-2) trailed 27-14 before Luck got going, and he improved to 7-0 against Tennessee with another stunning comeback.
He drove the Colts 98 yards before hitting Phillip Dorsett on a 35-yard TD with 6:49 left to cut their deficit to 27-21.
Dwight Lowery became the first defender to intercept Mariota with a 69-yard return for a touchdown in the second quarter. He picked off Mariota again to give the ball back to Luck.
Luck found Donte Moncrief for an 11-yard TD for a 28-27 lead just 56 seconds later.
The Titans (1-2) have lost 13 of 14 against their AFC South foe.
“This one hurts, because we had it,” Tennessee linebacker Brian Orakpo said. “This was the defending AFC South champs, and we definitely had this game.”
Trailing 35-27, Mariota drove the Titans for a TD to make it 35-33 and give Tennessee the chance to tie the game inside the final minute.
Defensive pass interference put the ball at the 1 for a closer chance at the two-point conversion, but rookie fullback Jalston Fowler was stopped for a big loss.
Tennessee’s onside kick went out of bounds, allowing the Colts to kneel down for their first win after a rocky start for a team that was in the AFC Championship Game last season.