INDIANAPOLIS — It did not seem possible. But with Andrew Luck at quarterback, perhaps anything is possible for the Colts.
The frenetic, euphoric Lucas Oil Stadium crowd was paid in full for resisting the temptation to scurry to the exits early when things looked bleakest. Luck led the Colts back from the abyss of a 28-point second-half deficit to an improbable 45-44 wild-card victory over the Chiefs.
It was the second greatest comeback in NFL playoff history, behind only Buffalo’s 41-38, overtime comeback victory from a 35-3 deficit against Houston in 1993.
“One for the ages. Never seen anything quite like it,’’ Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. “Incredible victory.’’
The Chiefs took a 38-10 lead early in the third after they turned the second of Luck’s three interceptions into an easy touchdown.
“Twenty-one [points] wasn’t enough at the half, so we thought we’d give them another seven to make it interesting,’’ Pagano said.
Luck and the Colts would not go away, though, which is why they will play on in these playoffs, advancing to the divisional round next weekend.
With a Chargers win on Sunday in Cincinnati, Luck & Co. head to Foxborough to battle Tom Brady and the Patriots. But a Bengals win in the AFC wild-card clash will set up the delicious matchup the world wants to see: Luck facing former Colts icon Peyton Manning and the Broncos in Denver next Sunday.
For so much of this game, the possibility of that clash did not seem possible — not with Luck throwing interceptions that looked like they were coming from the hands of Mark Sanchez or Geno Smith.
“I was disappointed with myself,’’ Luck said. “I really felt like I was letting the team down. I was angry. It seemed like I was trying to lose the game for us. But you’ve got to flush it, you’ve got to forget about it. Thankfully, the guys trusted me to go out there and right my wrongs.
“I’m so proud of the heart of this team. This is a fun team to play on. I’m thankful we could pull it out. This team has never panicked since I’ve been part of this club.’’
The game’s climax was a fitting end to the scintillating comeback. Luck connected with receiver T.Y. Hilton in stride on an electrifying 64-yard catch-and-run touchdown with 4:41 remaining for the 45-44 lead.
“Before we left the sideline and got into the huddle, Coach Pagano told me to go win the game for us,’’ Hilton said.
“T.Y. got some space, and he did everything,’’ Luck said. “When T.Y.’s running free, that’s fun.’’
It was not fun for the Chiefs, as they watched their 28-point lead bleed agonizingly away.
First came a 10-yard Donald Brown run. Chiefs 38, Colts 17.
Then came a 3-yard Brown scoring catch from Luck. Chiefs 38, Colts 24.
After a Kansas City field goal, there was a 12-yard Luck pass to tight end Coby Fleener. Chiefs 41, Colts 31.
Then it got freaky. Brown fumbled a goal-line handoff and the ball bounced right to Luck, who ran it in from five yards. Chiefs 41, Colts 38 — thanks to a little bit of luck for Luck.
When the Colts took possession with 5:36 remaining after the Chiefs had taken a 44-38 lead on a 44-yard Ryan Succop field goal, there were few in the building who did not envision — expect — Luck engineering the game-winning drive to put a bow on this instant classic.
For most of the game, it looked as if it would be Alex Smith’s most memorable day, with the maligned Chiefs quarterback, always labeled a “game manager,’’ playing the finest game of his career: 30-of-46 for 378 yards and four touchdowns.
In a cruel way, it seemed fitting that Smith, in his finest hour, would be overshadowed — just like he always seems to have been in his career.
For Luck, it was his first career playoff win, likely the first of many for the second-year quarterback.
“This probably just crossed off some things on the list that he has to talk about and questions he has to answer, which is a good thing, because [talking about it] can be kind of exhausting,’’ Colts veteran backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. “So he’s done with that and he can move on. He’s proven that he’s got all the intangibles, and that he’s really special.’’