Luck, ground game gives Indianapolis horsepower to keep grinding out victories

Andrew Luck looked as relaxed and comfortable in the locker room Wednesday as he does in the pressure-packed huddle Sunday afternoons.

The Colts had hoped to lighten the load on their second-year quarterback with an offseason spending spree and a new philosophy. Yes, Indianapolis (1-0) is content to run the ball more often and more efficiently this season, both of which it did in Sunday's 21-17 victory over Oakland.

But the Sunday grind didn't change much.

When Luck got the ball back midway through the fourth quarter, he again led the Colts downfield and scored the go-ahead TD on a 19-yard scramble. Luck has now won 12 NFL games, eight of them courtesy of fourth-quarter comebacks.

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Online: AP NFL website www.pro32.ap.org