INDIANAPOLIS – Andrew Luck, just like the legend Peyton Manning before him, threw a touchdown pass on his first play as an Indianapolis Colt. That's what they call a good start.
Luck hit a little dump pass to running back Donald Brown, and Brown turned on the afterburners to take it 63 yards for a touchdown in the Colts' first offensive play in a 38-3 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
It was the perfect start to a near-perfect day for Luck, who finished with 188 yards passing and two touchdowns.
In Manning's preseason debut in 1998, he threw a short slant pass to Marvin Harrison that went 48 yards for a touchdown. Manning has joked many times since that he thought it would always be that easy.
Luck found out quickly that it might not be so easy every time. Almost every time? That's open for debate.
On the Colts' second series, Luck was rushed quickly and hit after a short incompletion to Reggie Wayne and then had to scramble for a nine-yard game on third down. On the Colts' third offensive series, Luck was slammed by Chris Long as he released a pass attempt called back for holding. Luck held his hand up to Long for assistance getting up. Long looked at him and walked away. Welcome to the NFL, rookie.
Luck, unfazed, finished the series with a sideline pass to T.Y. Hilton, who made a great leaping catch for a first down. Luck later hit Austin Collie for a 23-yard touchdown pass to put the Colts up 14-0 early in the second quarter.
At that point, Luck was 5-for-6 passing for 113 yards and two touchdowns and a perfect 158.3 passer rating.
On his fourth series, Luck drove the Colts 80 yards in 4:08, with Delone Carter leaping for the score and a 21-3 lead. Despite three pass drops on the series, Luck hit Collie, LaVon Brazill twice and Hilton for big plays, the last one a 32-yarder to the Rams' 1-yard line. Luck's next pass -- intended for lineman Joe Reitz in the end zone -- went awry. Drew Stanton replaced Luck on the next series.
Luck was 10-of-16 passing for 188 yards, two touchdowns and a 142.7 passer rating. That's what they call a good start.
