ANDERSON, Ind. —
Sure, much of it was accomplished in garbage time, but there’s been plenty of garbage time for the Indianapolis Colts this season.
And it’s never been as much fun as this.
Dan Orlovsky, who was installed as the starting quarterback just five days ago, finished 30-of-37 for 353 yards and two touchdowns during a closer-than-expected 31-24 loss at New England.
Orlovsky also threw his first interception of the season, but his overall numbers were by far the best by a Colts quarterback this year. They even were better than Patriots legend Tom Brady’s on Sunday.
In fact, Orlovsky’s yardage total was Indianapolis’ most since Peyton Manning threw for 365 against the Dallas Cowboys almost exactly a year ago.
Yes, both touchdowns came late in the fourth quarter after Indianapolis had fallen behind 31-3.
But we saw no such late-game rally by Kerry Collins during a 34-7 loss at Houston or by Curtis Painter in a 62-7 loss at New Orleans earlier this season.
Many expected a similar embarrassment Sunday.
The Colts entered the game as just the 10th team in NFL history to be installed as underdogs of 20 points or more by the bookmakers in Las Vegas.
When the Patriots scored 28 unanswered points during the second and third quarters to break an early 3-3 tie, it appeared as though the bookies had aimed too low.
But Orlovsky never surrendered. He played the game’s final two minutes as if a playoff berth depended on it and took full advantage of a New England defense that ranks last in yards allowed.
And why not?
There’s a lot riding on these final few weeks for Orlovsky.
He made seven starts for the 0-16 Detroit Lions in 2008, and he spent much of last week answering questions about how badly he hopes to avoid repeating that infamy in Indianapolis.
He said he’s moved on. And it’s easy to believe him.
Orlovsky said he loves football, and he works as hard at the game as possible. But he doesn’t let the sport define who he is.
He was a high school star in Connecticut, and he owns almost all of the important passing records at the University of Connecticut.
But he doesn’t believe those roles describe the man he is any more than his struggles in the NFL have.
The job title that seems to excite him most is father.
He and his wife, Tiffany, are expecting triplets next month. And, although Orlovsky has made good money in his career, there’s no guarantee he’ll have a job next season.
The Colts took a step closer to the No. 1 pick in April’s draft with the loss in New England. They’re expected to select Stanford’s Andrew Luck with that pick.
If Manning also is healthy and able to return, it’s entirely possible Indianapolis will revert to its long-held practice of retaining just two quarterbacks on the active roster.
That means Orlovsky is auditioning as much for the 31 other teams in the NFL as he is for the Colts over the next four weeks.
We in the media can become obsessed with asking questions about the “pressure” of avoiding an 0-16 regular season.
But true pressure comes during the quest to do right by your young family.
In either case, it’s hard not to pull for Orlovsky.
Contact George Bremer: 640-4831, george.bremer@heraldbulletin.com
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Contact George Bremer: 640-4831, george.bremer@heraldbulletin.com
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George Bremer: Orlovsky makes things interesting for Colts
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