EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Indianapolis Colts weren’t going to have a hangover from last week’s defeat.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Indianapolis Colts weren’t going to have a hangover from last week’s defeat.
Andrew Luck wouldn’t allow it.
Luck threw for four touchdowns and the Colts defense kept Eli Manning and the Giants off balance Monday night in Indianapolis’ 40-24 romp.
With his franchise-record seventh consecutive 300-yard game, Luck led the Colts (6-3) to a lopsided win one week after a 51-34 loss to Pittsburgh. Unlike the way Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger toyed with their defense in that game, the Colts didn’t let Manning get going in handing New York (3-5) its third straight defeat.
“It was great to get back in the win column after a tough one last week,” Luck said.
Luck hit Coby Fleener for a 32-yard TD in the first half. He had scoring throws of 31 yards to T.Y. Hilton, 40 yards to Reggie Wayne and 2 yards to Dwayne Allen in the third period.
Adam Vinatieri added four field goals and is perfect on 20 tries this season.
It was the eighth time this season that Luck had thrown for more than 300 yards and the 17th time in his three pro seasons. He was 25 of 46 for 354 yards.
Wayne, who broke down in tears during the national anthem, surpassed James Lofton for career yards receiving and has 14,070 in his 14-season career.
“I’m just blessed to be out there,” Wayne said. “It’s an emotional game, man, and sometimes it comes out. It was a prime-time game, and an opportunity to turn things around a little bit.”
Giants first-round pick Odell Beckham Jr. had 156 yards on eight receptions, by far his best game. Manning threw for 359 yards and two TDs, but most of that came with the game decided.
Luck seemed to look for Fleener on every pass in the first half. That well-established combination — they played together at Stanford before joining the Colts in 2012 — paid off on consecutive passes for the game’s first touchdown.
But the Colts probably caught a break on one of those plays. Fleener was awarded a 21-yard gain to the New York 32, although video replays showed he dropped the ball. Giants coach Tom Coughlin threw the challenge flag too late, seconds before Fleener was uncovered down the right side for a 32-yard touchdown.