Luck outshines Griffin, but Redskins beat Colts 30-17
LANDOVER, Md. -- Andrew Luck outshined Robert Griffin III in the first pro matchup between this year's No. 1 and No. 2 draft picks, but it was veteran quarterback Rex Grossman who wound up being the biggest star of all, throwing two second half touchdowns to lead the Washington Redskins to a 30-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Luck, the No. 1 pick in the draft, completed 14 of 23 passes for 151 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown to rookie receiver T.Y. Hilton. Meanwhile, Griffin, the No. 2 pick in the draft, completed 11 of 17 passes for 74 yards, as well as a 4-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss.
Both rookie QBs played into the first series of the third quarter before yielding to their backups.
Grossman, meanwhile, had nothing short of a stellar fill-in appearance for a team that may or may not keep him for the regular season. But if that decision is based upon what Grossman did Saturday, his roster spot may have just been secured as he completed all 8 of his passes for 127 yards and a 13-yard TD pass to Josh Morgan and a 12-yard score to Dezmon Briscoe.
Washington also added a safety when linebacker Chris Wilson tackled Colts rookie Chandler Harris in the end zone for two more points.
Darren Evans scored on a two-yard run and Adam Vinatieri added a 29-yard field goal to round out the second half scoring for Indianapolis.
Luck threw for more yards, but Robert Griffin III had the edge where it counted at halftime of the much-ballyhooed matchup of the top two choices in the 2012 NFL draft: on the scoreboard.
Washington led Indianapolis 14-7 at damp FedEx Field where T-shirts depicting the rookie passers were on sale for $35.
The Redskins went for the jugular on their first snap as No. 2 overall pick Griffin threw deep for former Colts receiver Pierre Garcon. The ball sailed just long. Two plays later, Griffin scrambled and picked up the first down at the sticks. However, on the subsequent on third-and-1 at the Indianapolis 47, linebacker Jerrell Freeman blitzed up the middle untouched, forcing Griffin to throw the ball away.
Two plays after a punt to the Indianapolis 10, Luck and the Colts faced third-and-8, but the first overall selection found receiver Donnie Avery for nine yards. Donald Brown ran for two on the ensuing third-and-1, but a clipping penalty on center Samson Satele backed the Colts up 15 yards on the next play, effectively ending that series.
A screen to back Alfred Morris and the sixth-rounder's subsequent 3-yard run gave the Redskins a third-and-1, but Griffin again threw too deep for Garcon. Washington's defense asserted itself on the ensuing series with linebacker London Fletcher and end Stephen Bowen each sacking Luck.
Griffin and the Redskins' offense followed that defensive stand with their first good drive. Garcon and fellow receiver Josh Morgan made nice catches over the middle for first downs, but Morris was the star, running five times for 33 yards including the 2-yard burst that made it 7-0 just 1:56 into the second quarter.
Luck and the Colts responded with an 11-play, 80-yard touchdown march that he finished with a gorgeous 31-yard strike to fellow rookie T.Y. Hilton. In the tit for tat between the highly-touted rookie passers, Griffin answered with a 12-play, 80-yard drive that he concluded with a 4-yard scoring toss to receiver Santana Moss to put the Redskins back on top 14-7 with 1:09 left in the first half.
Griffin was 10 of 14 for 73 yards while Luck went 12 for 20 with 136 yards in the first two quarters.
