Andrew Luck shook off a pair of early interceptions to put together three second-quarter scoring drives, giving the Indianapolis Colts a halftime lead before the Pittsburgh Steelers rallied for a 26-24 exhibition victory in Pittsburgh on Sunday night.
The top overall pick was 16-for-25 passing for 175 yards and added a 1-yard touchdown run for the Colts (1-1).
Ben Roethlisberger passed for 81 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Steelers (1-1), who took an early 14-0 lead when Ike Taylor picked off Luck’s pass and took it 50 yards for a score.
The pick hardly rattled Luck, who led the Colts to scores on three of their next four drives. By the time he left, Indianapolis held a 17-14 at halftime.
Rookie Danny Hrapmann kicked four second-half field goals for the Steelers, including the 22-yard winner with 23 seconds remaining.
Pittsburgh sent its first-string defense – minus injured stars James Harrison and Casey Hampton – after Luck from the start. The Colts managed just one first down on their first three possessions.
Colts receiver Austin Collie left in the first quarter with a possible concussion.
Collie, who missed seven games in 2010 after suffering a pair of concussions, took a blow to the head from Pittsburgh linebacker Larry Foote while trying to haul in a pass from Luck.
WAITING ON CURRY
Raiders linebacker Aaron Curry is running out of time to get back on the practice field from his injured knees in time to start the season opener next month, coach Dennis Allen said.
Curry, the No. 4 overall pick by Seattle in 2009, returned to the Raiders after spending last week getting his injured knees checked out.
Curry was traded by the Seahawks to Oakland in October for two draft picks.
“I don’t know what that date is, but we’re (fast) approaching that day where he’s either going to be out here ready to go or he’s not because it’s not a game where you just show up and play,” Allen said.
EXTRA POINTS
The Tennessee Titans have yet to decide whether Matt Hasselbeck or Jake Locker starts in their third exhibition game, and coach Mike Munchak said he could go all the way up to opening week before picking his starting quarterback for the season. Munchak said he will announce today who will start the third exhibition game. … A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam revealed that 49ers running back Brandon Jacobs did not sustain any significant structural damage to his left knee. … Titans linebacker Gerald McRath will have season-ending surgery to repair a partially torn patella tendon in his left knee. … Minnesota cornerback Chris Cook and tight end Kyle Rudolph are recovering from concussions suffered during Friday’s game against Buffalo. Minnesota tight end John Carlson, a former Seahawks player, has progressed with his sprained right knee but he hasn’t been cleared yet to return to practice. … San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh might be in trouble with the NFL after criticizing the replacement officials after the 20-9 loss to Houston. “A lot of them didn’t seem like they were in the ballpark,” he said.
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