DETROIT -- The legend of Andrew Luck continues to grow.
The Indianapolis Colts' rookie quarterback had another unimpressive showing for the first 57 minutes of Sunday's game at Ford Field. The Detroit Lions led by 12 points late in the fourth quarter, and their fans flocked to the exits, thinking the game was won.
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NFL Replay will re-air the
Indianapolis Colts' 35-33 win over the Detroit
Lions in Week 13 on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Then Luck flipped the switch.
Despite having thrown three interceptions, Luck didn't blink and carved out 14 points in the final 2 minutes, 39 seconds, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Donnie Avery as time expired to lift the Colts to a 35-33 win.
"I think he's already had a few (Peyton Manning moments)," Colts interim coach Bruce Arians said. "This was definitely a big, big feather in his cap to win a ballgame like this in this situation."
Defensive lineman Cory Redding, who lowered his head and prayed instead of watching the final play, added Luck is "truly doing some unbelievable things right now."
Luck finished with 391 passing yards, four touchdowns, the three interceptions and 33 rushing yards. He scrambled for 25 yards on two rushes during the final drive and completed a 26-yard pass to Reggie Wayne to move the Colts into Lions territory.
The Colts faced fourth-and-10 from the Lions' 14 with three seconds left when Luck took the final snap. The Lions dropped seven defenders behind the goal line, and the Colts sent everyone to the end zone except Avery, who ran a drag route underneath. No one followed Avery, who was the fifth option, and Luck hit him in the right flat for the touchdown.
"(It's) not all on yourself, then worse things start happening," Luck said. "There is somewhat of an onus when you throw two, three picks and miss open guys.
"You're thankful just to have a chance to go back out there to try to win the game."
Luck's 391 yards were the second-most of his young NFL career and his sixth 300-yard game. His performance in the comeback win keeps him in the Rookie of the Year discussion. The win also keeps the Colts in playoff contention.
That's the one thing about the 2012 Colts: They don't become timid in the face of adversity. They're 7-1 in one-possession games.
"Some teams find a way to win, others don't." Arians said. "Ours do."
Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.
