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Colts follow Luck's lead past Miami 23-20 - Yahoo! Sports
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Chuck Pagano provided the inspiration, then Andrew Luck delivered a record-setting performance in yet another win for the surprising Indianapolis Colts.
After a 23-20 victory over Miami, the ailing coach offered even more encouragement.
Picked by many to be among the NFL's weakest team, the rebuilding Colts are now in the playoff conversation at 5-3.
''I mentioned before the game that you guys were living in a vision, and you weren't living in circumstances,'' Pagano said Sunday, surrounded by his players and with interim Bruce Arians at his side after the Colts' third straight win. ''You know where they had us in the beginning, every last one of them. But you refused to live in circumstances and you decided consciously as a team and as a family to live in a vision, and that's why you bring things home like what you bring home today. That's why you're already champions and well on your way.
Luck wasn't too concerned that he had just broken Cam Newton's year-old record for yards passing in a game by a rookie or even that his team had another victory. He just wanted to live up to the message from his coach, who has been receiving treatment for leukemia since being diagnosed on Sept. 26.
''His presence is felt every day in the facility,'' Luck said. ''But to see him in the flesh, in the locker room, to hear him speak I think gave all the guys a boost.''
It seemed to give Pagano a boost, too.
''I've got circumstances. You guys understand it, I understand it,'' Pagano told them. ''It's already beat. It's already beat. My vision that I'm living is to see two more daughters get married, dance at their weddings and then lift the Lombardi Trophy several times. I'm dancing at two more weddings and we're hoisting that trophy together, men. Congratulations, I love all of you.''
The Colts have now won more than twice as many games in half a season as they did in 16 games last year, and this week's discussion will again focus on Luck's astounding start, Pagano's inspiring message and talk of reaching the playoffs.
Luck threw for 433 yards and two touchdowns. He topped Newton's mark of 422 and tied another by becoming the NFLs' second rookie quarterback to produce four 300-yard games in a season. The other: Peyton Manning, the quarterback he replaced.
After a 23-20 victory over Miami, the ailing coach offered even more encouragement.
Picked by many to be among the NFL's weakest team, the rebuilding Colts are now in the playoff conversation at 5-3.
''I mentioned before the game that you guys were living in a vision, and you weren't living in circumstances,'' Pagano said Sunday, surrounded by his players and with interim Bruce Arians at his side after the Colts' third straight win. ''You know where they had us in the beginning, every last one of them. But you refused to live in circumstances and you decided consciously as a team and as a family to live in a vision, and that's why you bring things home like what you bring home today. That's why you're already champions and well on your way.
Luck wasn't too concerned that he had just broken Cam Newton's year-old record for yards passing in a game by a rookie or even that his team had another victory. He just wanted to live up to the message from his coach, who has been receiving treatment for leukemia since being diagnosed on Sept. 26.
''His presence is felt every day in the facility,'' Luck said. ''But to see him in the flesh, in the locker room, to hear him speak I think gave all the guys a boost.''
It seemed to give Pagano a boost, too.
''I've got circumstances. You guys understand it, I understand it,'' Pagano told them. ''It's already beat. It's already beat. My vision that I'm living is to see two more daughters get married, dance at their weddings and then lift the Lombardi Trophy several times. I'm dancing at two more weddings and we're hoisting that trophy together, men. Congratulations, I love all of you.''
The Colts have now won more than twice as many games in half a season as they did in 16 games last year, and this week's discussion will again focus on Luck's astounding start, Pagano's inspiring message and talk of reaching the playoffs.
Luck threw for 433 yards and two touchdowns. He topped Newton's mark of 422 and tied another by becoming the NFLs' second rookie quarterback to produce four 300-yard games in a season. The other: Peyton Manning, the quarterback he replaced.
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