'Cardiac Colts' Return In Win Over Raiders

It’s a new season, but the Colts are using old tricks to get wins.

Channeling the comeback heroics of last season, Indianapolis put together a late fourth quarter drive to top Oakland, 21-17, in the season opener.

"I guess the ‘Cardiac Colts’ are still here," said defensive end Robert Mathis.

The hearts in Lucas Oil Stadium were definitely pumping a little harder after the home team blew a double-digit lead. But, as second-year quarterback Andrew Luck pointed out, the Colts faithful knows better than to count its team out until the clock strikes zero.

"I guess the fans shouldn’t leave early.  I don’t think any Colts fans ever do," said Luck.  "A win is a win is a win. We know it’s tough to get wins in the National Football League.  Obviously you don’t want to have to go down to the wire every game."

Luck scored the go ahead touchdown on a 19-yard scramble with 5:20 to play. 

"When it just opens up like that, you can’t help but go," he said.  "They doubled Reggie (Wayne) which takes one extra body out of there and then the O line did a good job pass protecting and it just opened up in the middle."

The lane to the end zone was so open because former-Raider Darrius Heyward-Bey laid a block on cornerback DJ Hayden that gave Luck just enough room to find pay dirt.

"I was still trying to finish my route and when I saw Andrew come my way, he becomes the runner, I become the blocker," said Heyward-Bey.  "I just tried to make a play for him and he just went off my block and scored."

Based on the start of the game, you never would have guessed the Colts would have had to put together a comeback effort.

On the Raiders first possession, Colts cornerback Greg Toler intercepted a Terrelle Pryor pass in the end zone.

"Hats off to the D-line and linebackers for getting that pressure on Terrelle," said Toler.  "He kind of just threw it up and I was just fortunate to find it and make that play for my guys."

Using a balanced ground and air attack, Indianapolis then marched 89 yards in ten plays capping the drive off with a 12-yard touchdown from Luck to Wayne.

On their next possession, the Colts went 69 yards in eight plays and Luck found tight end Dwayne Allen - who later left the game with hip injury - on a 20-yard pass to put Indianapolis up 14-0.

"(Luck) did a good job of finding guys and guys were catching the balls and the rest was history," said Wayne, who finished with eight catches and 96 yards.

Luck completed his first eleven passes and finished the day 18-23 for 178 yards and 2 TDs.  He also ran six times for 38 yards.

Vick Ballard provided balance out of the backfield running 13 times for 63 yards.

The Raiders cut the deficit in half by halftime courtesy of a one-yard touchdown run by Darren McFadden.

The only score in the third quarter was a 38-yard Sebastian Janikowski field goal to bring Oakland within four, 14-10.

The Raiders took control of momentum when the defense sacked Luck on a fourth-and-one near midfield. Then with 11:09 to play, Pryor found Denarius Moore on a five-yard touchdown to give Oakland its first lead, 17-14.

As the Raiders began to gel, the Colts offense went silent.  After scoring on its first two possessions, Indianapolis punted three straight times and gave the ball up on downs in consecutive possessions.

"We wanted to start out fast, but now we have to try to figure out how to take that same intensity in the second half and just throughout the game," said Wayne.  "We know it’s not going to be perfect.  It’s going to be tough, but some kind of way we have to continue to move the ball, continue to keep that balance, continue to make plays."

Pryor made the Colts pay for their futility.  He was electric going 19-29 for 217 yards and touchdown and added 112 yards rushing.

"Pryor is a stud," said Luck.  "He makes some unbelievable plays."

But, as they did all of last season, the Colts made big plays when they were needed most.  Luck, Wayne, and the offense responded to the Raiders go-ahead score with another fourth quarter comeback drive.

"Our guys, they played their tails off," said Colts head coach Chuck Pagano.  "As you saw last year, seven fourth quarter comebacks. When you’ve got a quarterback like Andrew and you’ve got playmakers around him, you feel good about playing aggressive."

"If there is a minute left on the clock and we need a score, there is no one I would rather have under center than (Luck)."

The Raiders threatened to score with about :30 to play, but Colts safety Antoine Bethea intercepted Pryor to seal the game for Indianapolis.

"That’s what its all about.  It’s about making a play," said Pagano.  "When (the defense) had to make a play, they made them."

The Colts (1-0) host Miami (1-0) next Sunday.

Don’t forget your defibrillator.