NFL: Colts stun Lions 35-33 | The Salt Lake Tribune

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Detroit • Andrew Luck was down to his last shot and his final option to lead the Indianapolis Colts to victory.

Luck dropped back, then moved up to avoid pressure and buy time for a teammate to get open, tossed a short pass to Donnie Avery, and the receiver did the rest — racing untouched for a 14-yard touchdown and giving the Colts a 35-33 comeback win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

"You always hesitate throwing the ball not in the end zone, for fear of the clock running out with a guy in bounds," Luck said. "Took the calculated risk that Donnie could get there in the end zone, and he did."

Luck made all the right moves when it mattered most, making his transition from Stanford to the NFL look relatively smooth to help Indy win a game in a way it hasn't since just after his 1st birthday.

The last time the Colts scored a game-winning TD with no time remaining on the clock was Sept. 30, 1990, according to STATS LLC, to beat Philadelphia 24-23.

Luck has won more games (eight) than any rookie quarterback drafted No. 1 overall in the Super Bowl era. He broke the mark by Sam Bradford, who helped St. Louis win seven games two years ago, and also surpassed Jim Plunkett in New England during the 1971 season.

The Colts (8-4) stayed in control of the AFC wild-card race by winning for the sixth time in seven games. Luck helped them move a step closer toward being in the playoffs for the 10th time in 11 seasons, only this time without Peyton Manning.

"Some teams find ways to win," Indy interim coach Bruce Arian said. "Others don't."

The Lions (4-8) lost for the fourth straight time, including three in a row at home after leading in the final quarter.

They're the first team to lose three straight games when leading with 2 minutes left in regulation since San Diego did it in 2000, according to STATS LLC, and the first since at least 1983 to blow leads that late in three home games in a row.

"This is a tough league for tough people, and we'll find out now who is tough," Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said. Colts 35, Lions 33

Indianapolis 7 7 7 14 — 35

Detroit 10 13 7 3 — 33

First Quarter

Det • FG Hanson 48, 8:49.

Ind • Avery 17 pass from Luck (Vinatieri kick), 6:29.

Det • Pettigrew 16 pass from Stafford (Hanson kick), 1:48.

Second Quarter

Det • Leshoure 6 run (Hanson kick), 11:27.

Ind • Fleener 26 pass from Luck (Vinatieri kick), 9:47.

Det • FG Hanson 33, 7:17.

Det • FG Hanson 52, 3:46.

Third Quarter

Ind • Ballard 11 run (Vinatieri kick), 12:05.

Det • Johnson 46 pass from Stafford (Hanson kick), :02.

FOURTH Quarter

Det • FG Hanson 31, 8:41.

Ind • Brazill 42 pass from Luck (Vinatieri kick), 2:39.

Ind • Avery 14 pass from Luck (Vinatieri kick), :00.

Attendance • 63,887.

Ind Det

First downs 23 21

Total Net Yards 459 451

Rushes-yards 18-87 29-138

Passing 372 313

Punt Returns 2-6 4-39

Kickoff Returns 0-0 2-43

Interceptions Ret. 1-1 3-80

Comp-Att-Int 24-54-3 27-46-1

Sacked-Yards Lost 2-19 0-0

Punts 8-50.0 7-42.6

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-0

Penalties-Yards 4-36 8-61

Time of Possession 22:22 37:38

Individual Statistics

Rushing • Indianapolis, Ballard 9-41, Luck 3-33, D.Brown 6-13. Detroit, Bell 7-81, Leshoure 21-57, Stafford 1-0.

Passing • Indianapolis, Luck 24-54-3-391. Detroit, Stafford 27-46-1-313.

Receiving • Indianapolis, Hilton 6-100, Avery 5-91, Wayne 4-51, Ballard 3-21, Allen 2-50, D.Brown 2-10, Brazill 1-42, Fleener 1-26. Detroit, Johnson 13-171, Scheffler 3-55, Pettigrew 3-43, Bell 3-21, Leshoure 2-16, Heller 1-5, Broyles 1-3, Thomas 1-(minus 1).