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Andrew Luck has the rookie passing record.
More importantly, he got the surprising Colts into the playoffs.
The rookie quarterback completed a 7-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne on third-and-goal late in the fourth quarter yesterday in Kansas City, allowing the Colts to squeeze out a 20-13 victory over the Chiefs (2-13).
Luck finished with 205 yards passing to break Cam Newton’s year-old rookie record of 4,051 yards in a season.
The fabulous freshman also extended his own rookie record for fourth-quarter comebacks to seven by leading his team downfield in the closing minutes.
Darius Butler returned an interception 32 yards for their other touchdown, helping the Colts (10-5) join the Dolphins of 2008 as the only teams in NFL history to win at least 10 games after losing 14 or more the previous season.
Most of those wins have come under interim coach Bruce Arians, who has filled in admirably while Chuck Pagano underwent treatment for leukemia. Pagano could rejoin the Colts today and coach for the first time since September in their regular-season finale against Houston.
Seahawks 42, 49ers 13
In Seattle, Russell Wilson threw four touchdown passes to move into second place for TD passes by a rookie, Marshawn Lynch scored twice, and led by their rocking crowd, the Seahawks (10-5) clinched a spot in the NFC playoffs with a rout of the 49ers (10-4-1).
Wilson threw TDs to Lynch, Anthony McCoy and two in the second half to Doug Baldwin to give him 25 for the season, one shy of Peyton Manning’s record of 26. Lynch added 111 yards rushing and a 24-yard TD run on Seattle’s opening drive that set the tone.
Bengals 13, Steelers 10
In Pittsburgh, Andy Dalton hit A.J. Green for a 21-yard pass in the final moments, setting up Josh Brown’s 43-yard field goal with 4 seconds remaining that lifted the Bengals (9-6) over the Steelers (7-8), sending Cincinnati into the playoffs for a second straight season and dashing the Steelers’ postseason hopes.
Reggie Nelson picked off Ben Roethlisberger and returned it to the Pittsburgh 46 with 14 seconds left. From there, Dalton found Green down the right sideline, setting up Brown’s winner.
Broncos 34, Browns 12
In Denver, Peyton Manning threw for 339 yards and three touchdowns and Von Miller was in on two sacks, the second of which ended Brandon Weeden’s day, leading the Broncos (12-3) to a win over the Browns (5-10) that pulled them into a tie with the Texans for the best record in the AFC.
Vikings 23, Texans 6
In Houston, Adrian Peterson rushed for 86 yards, falling far short of the 2,000-yard mark, yet helping the Vikings (9-6) keep their playoff hopes alive with an upset of the Texans (12-3).
Texans running back Arian Foster left the game with an irregular heartbeat, but said afterwards it was “a very minor situation,” and that he was OK.
Bears 28, Cardinals 13
In Glendale, Ariz., the Bears’ defense scored two touchdowns and Chicago (9-6) beat the Cardinals (5-10) to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Patriots 23, Jaguars 16
In Jacksonville, Tom Brady overcame a rough start by throwing two touchdown passes, and the playoff-bound Patriots (11-4) held on to beat the Jaguars (2-13), who built a 10-0 first-quarter lead after picking Brady off twice early.
Packers 55, Titans 7
In Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, Ryan Grant scored twice and Randall Cobb set a single-season franchise record for net yardage as the Packers (11-4) routed the (5-10) to ensure they will be at least the NFC’s No. 3 seed in the playoffs.
Panthers 17, Raiders 6
In Charlotte, Cam Newton threw for 171 yards and a touchdown and ran for 60 yards and another score, and the Panthers (6-9) held off the Raiders (4-11) in a game featuring several shoving matches, plenty of heated exchanges and six unnecessary roughness penalties — including one that sidelined Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer for the day.
Dolphins 24, Bills 10
In Miami, Reggie Bush caught two touchdown passes and scored on a short run to help the Dolphins (7-8) beat the hapless Bills (5-10), but his team was eliminated from playoff contention — for the 10th time in 11 years — when the Bengals beat the Steelers.
Rams 28, Buccaneers 13
In Tampa, Sam Bradford tossed a pair of touchdown passes and rookie cornerback Janoris Jenkins scored his fourth TD of the season, helping the Rams (7-7-1) keep their hopes for a winning record alive with the victory over the Buccaneers (6-9).