1:14INDIANAPOLIS -- A rookie quarterback and four backups on the offensive line didn't prevent the Colts from torching the Vikings defense in clutch situations at the end of each half in the Colts' 23-20 victory at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday.
On their final drives in the second and fourth quarters, the Colts moved with ease, going 64 yards in 1 minute, 4 seconds for a touchdown before halftime and 45 yards in 23 seconds to set up the game-winning 53-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri with eight seconds left.
The late-game collapse was particularly concerning for a team that believes it significantly upgraded its secondary this season with the return of Chris Cook and Antoine Winfield and the addition of rookies Harrison Smith and Josh Robinson.
"That's embarrassing," defensive end Jared Allen said of the Colts' final drive. "I don't know. You know, it's just, I got nothing to say. ... We got to find a way to get the ball down."
By the middle of the second quarter, Colts rookie quarterback Andrew Luck was working behind four backups when center Samson Satele went out because of a knee injury. Left guard Joe Reitz (knee) and right tackle Winston Justice (concussion) were inactive, replaced by former Vikings practice squad player Seth Olsen and Jeff Linkenbach, respectively. Right guard Mike McGlynn moved to center and newly signed Trai Essex to right guard when Satele left the game.
Yet the Vikings managed only two sacks and no takeaways as Luck posted a 107.5 passer rating in his second NFL game.
"[Luck] is elusive and has good pocket presence," Allen said. "Most quarterbacks we face, we'd have had six or seven sacks today."
In his last possession of each half, Luck completed six of eight passes (including one spike to stop the clock) for 93 yards to four different receivers. Reggie Wayne caught three of them for 59 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown on a perfectly thrown pass to beat the Vikings' two-deep coverage with seven seconds left in the first half.
