SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 7, 2012
Colts 30, Packers 27: Andrew Luck threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne with 35 seconds to play, lifting host Indianapolis to an emotional come-from-behind victory over Green Bay.
Luck, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, threw for a season-high 362 yards and guided a winning 13-play, 80-yard scoring drive in the Colts' first game without head coach Chuck Pagano, who was diagnosed with leukemia and will be hospitalized for six to eight weeks for treatment.
Wayne had a monster game with 13 receptions for 212 yards and the deciding TD, but the Colts (2-2) had to survive a missed 51-yard tying field goal attempt by Mason Crosby after reigning league MVP Aaron Rodgers moved the Packers (2-3) to Indianapolis' 33-yard line with eight seconds to play.
Luck, who finished 31-for-55 with two touchdowns and one interception, connected with Wayne five times for 64 yards on the decisive drive as the Colts completed a stunning rally from a 21-3 halftime deficit. Luck also ran for a 3-yard score.
Rodgers, who was sacked five times, put Green Bay back in front 27-22 when he threw his second touchdown pass to James Jones - an 8-yarder with 4:30 to play. Rodgers finished 21-of-33 for 243 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
Adam Vinatieri kicked field goals of 24, 50 and 28 yards for Indianapolis, the last one putting the Colts ahead 22-21 with 8:04 left.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Pagano sent an email to each of his players and also a message to the team's fans thanking them for their support. In the email to the players, the coach wrote: "I understand the condition but choose to focus on my position ... to stay positive and SERVE." ... Packers RB Cedric Benson was carted off the field after suffering a football injury early in the second quarter. TE Jermichael Finley (shoulder) and NT B.J. Raji (ankle) also were hurt. ... Wayne moved past Derrick Mason for 19th on the career yards list with 12,214 after the 40th 100-yard game of his career.