ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — With Andrew Luck getting a break, backup quarterbacks Scott Tolzien and Stephen Morris teamed up in leading the Indianapolis Colts to a 19-18 preseason-opening win over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night.
The game wasn’t without its late dramatics. Bills rookie third-stringer Cardale Jones nearly pulled out a comeback victory in the final seconds.
Jones, who led Ohio State to the 2015 national championship, threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jarrett Boykin as time expired.
But Jones failed to pull out the win by throwing an incompletion while attempting a 2-point conversion.
Tolzien, an offseason free-agent addition, shook off a slow start to produce two scoring drives in the first half. And then Morris, who was signed off Philadelphia’s practice squad in December, secured the win with a 57-yard touchdown pass to Chester Rogers with 10:42 remaining.
Backup tight end Chris Gragg put the Bills ahead 9-0 over a 4:20 span in the first quarter.
First he caused a safety by blocking Pat McAfee’s punt, which the punter swiped out of the end zone 6½ minutes in. On Buffalo’s ensuing possession, Gragg caught a perfectly placed 19-yard fade pass from E.J. Manuel. Kicker Dan Carpenter hit a 37-yard field goal, but also missed a 53-yard attempt wide left in the fourth quarter.
The Colts finally got an opportunity to open the preseason a week after they were supposed to face Green Bay in the Hall of Fame game. That game was canceled because of an unplayable field.
Indianapolis had several reasons to not take any risks starting Luck. The field was slick after a pregame downpour. And there was also the prospect of the Colts revamped offensive line facing Rex Ryan’s attacking defense.
Before the game, Colts owner Jim Irsay sent two tweets saying the team was holding out Luck until they returned to Indianapolis to play back-to-back home games. In the second post, he mentioned the rain, while also noting “my good friend Rex” isn’t known for letting up in the preseason.
The Colts are taking no chances after Luck missed the final seven games of last season with a lacerated kidney and a partially torn abdominal muscle. And Irsay invested heavily in Luck by signing him to a six-year $140 million contract extension last month.
After the Colts offense managed 46 yards on their first six possessions, Tolzien hit Jordan Todman on a screen pass for a 42-yard touchdown. Tolzien then produced a five-play, 55-yard drive that ended with Adam Vinatieri hitting a 24-yard field goal to tie the game at 9 as the first half expired.
INJURY UPDATE
Bills: DE IK Enemkpali was carted off late in the first half with what coach Rex Ryan called a “major knee injury.” Enemkpali hurt his right knee when his foot caught in the turf and he fell awkwardly while being blocked by Colts lineman Jonotthan Harrison.
Colts: LB Sio Moore did not return after hurting his hamstring in punt return coverage early in the second quarter. RG Denzelle Good, starting in place of injured starter Hugh Thornton, did not return after hurting his knee in the first half.
ROOKIE WATCH
Colts: First-round pick, C Ryan Kelly, struggled against the Bills pass rush up the middle. On the Colts’ second possession, Bills S Corey Graham and LB Preston Brown burst up the middle and forced Tolzien to rush a pass that was nearly intercepted.
Bills: Sixth-round pick, DB Kevon Seymour, broke up a 2-point conversion attempt by stripping the ball out of the hands of WR Quan Bray in the right corner of the end zone. On the Colts’ next possession, Seymour was in perfect position to break up a pass attempt to Tevaun Smith in the end zone. On the next play, Seymour drew a pass interference penalty when he stumbled and tripped up Smith at the Bills 6.
QB COMPARISON
Colts: Tolzien went 12 of 23 for 140 yards and a TD. Morris went 5 of 9 for 149 yards and a TD.
Bills: Starter Tyrod Taylor played one series and finished 2 of 3 for 7 yards. Manuel went 10 of 18 for 91 yards. Jones went 11 of 21 for 162 yards and a TD.