With QB a frisky Colt again, 9-game winning streak ends
The energy in the stadium had shifted. Deshaun Watson hit DeAndre Hopkins with a 7-yard strike and narrowed the gap between the Texans and Colts in Sunday’s fourth quarter at NRG Stadium.
The Texans have a knack for pulling out close wins, and few know that better than the Colts, who fell at home to them earlier this season in an overtime thriller.
But while the Texans seemed to be conjuring some of the magic that helped them compile a nine-game winning streak, the Colts turned to Andrew Luck.
Luck, who has had his
share of special moments on football fields in Houston, trotted back onto the field with 2:37 to play, his team holding a threepoint lead.
He took it from there.
In the next drive, Luck was the picture of poise and patience. He threw two passes for 18 yards. He also watched Jadeveon Clowney fall victim to one of his hard counts and jump offsides, which gave the Colts a first down that sealed their victory.
“I was very close to calling a timeout and thought, ‘I will give it one more go,’ ” Luck said.
His instinct was right, and his patience paid off. After that penalty, all the Texans could do was watch the clock tick away with their winning streak. ‘Having fun again’
After the 24-21 win that kept the 7-6 Colts alive in the playoff hunt, Luck reiterated one of the driving forces behind his success this season.
“I’m having fun again,” he said.
Luck, a top contender for the NFL’s comeback player of the year, sat last season with a lingering shoulder injury. It was a low point for the Stratford High School graduate.
Before this season, he told ESPN he considered retiring. He was playing through pain and didn’t feel like he would heal or be the same quarterback. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to play football at a high level again.
What a difference a season makes. In 2018, Luck has completed a career-best 68.8 percent of his throws for 3,579 yards and 34 touchdowns, with 13 interceptions. On Sunday, he completed 27 of 41 passes for 399 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception.
Luck has had plenty of success as a quarterback. From his days at Stratford and then Stanford and throughout his time in the NFL, he has excelled.
This year feels different for him, though. The 29-year old has a new appreciation for the game he has played for so long.
“My perspective is a little different now,” he said. “I am having a lot of fun. To come on the road in a great atmosphere against a division opponent is great. I am having a blast. I am thankful I can go out and play without pain. I really am. I’m having fun playing the game again.” His joy shows.
The Colts had a tough start Sunday. Their first four drives were three-and-outs. But once Indianapolis shifted to a nohuddle offense in the second quarter and Luck got going, it was hard to stop him.
With Indianapolis down 7-0, Luck hit T.Y. Hilton for 60 yards, and the floodgates opened. Marlon Mack had a 4-yard touchdown run on the next play, the first of 17 straight points for the Colts.
Hilton went on to catch eight more passes from Luck and finished the game with 199 receiving yards. Follow the leader
Luck hit a stride, and his teammates followed. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, it felt like he wouldn’t miss. Every time he set to pass, it seemed like he hit his target. His focus was unwavering. “He’s unbelievable like that,” Indianapolis coach Frank Reich said. “He’s a great leader. Even when we’ve been at our worst this year, he’s up on the sideline playing the next series. His approach is on what he can do next, and that’s key.”
This was Luck’s second excellent performance against the Texans this season. He has 863 passing yards and five touchdowns against his hometown team this year.
The Colts needed this one. At 7-6, they’re even with the Titans, Dolphins and Ravens in the race for the final AFC playoff berth.
And when Luck is playing the way he did Sunday, it’s easy to believe they could make a postseason appearance.