NFL Watch // Luck Victorious In Peyton's Return

words // Brandon Richard

Perhaps the most hyped up match of the NFL season took place Sunday night, when Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning returned to Indianapolis to take on Andrew Luck and the Colts for the first time since he was released by the team last year. The Colts moved on from the legendary quarterback to select Andrew Luck with the first overall pick in the 2012 Draft, after he was heralded as the best prospect at the position to come along since John Elway. Manning went on to sign a 5-year deal with the Broncos and both players have been great for their teams since.

In Sunday’s game, the Colts jumped out to a big first half lead, taking advantage of a Manning fumble for a safety to shift momentum. Luck threw three touchdown passes in the half to help lead the Colts to a 26-14 halftime advantage.

A 10-yard touchdown run by Luck stretched the lead to 33-14 midway through the fourth quarter. The Broncos would begin to rally behind a Demaryius Thomas touchdown reception and a 1-yard Knowshon Moreno touchdown run in the fourth quarter to make it 36-30. With the ball back and an opportunity to take a late-game lead, Manning threw an interception that would prove to be the difference in the game. A few questionable calls against the Broncos on the ensuing possessions closed the door on the team’s first loss of the season. For Luck, perhaps the statement he needed to make to prove to doubters that the Colts didn’t make a mistake in choosing him over Peyton.

In other Week 7 action, the Seattle Seahawks moved to 6-1 after rolling past the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday; Cincinnati increased its AFC North lead with a key victory over the Detroit Lions; a controversial call helped the New York Jets pull off an upset of the New England Patriots; Dallas topped division rival Philly in a surprising defensive battle; Robert Griffin III showed flashes of his old self as the Redskins rallied to beat the Bears 45-41; Kansas City became the first team to start 7-0 after having the worst record the previous season; another Steelers and Ravens game was decided in the final moments, Pittsburgh edging this one out 19-16; and the New York Giants picked up their first win of the season against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.

For a look at some of the football cleats that hit the field in these games and more, check out this week’s NFL Watch.

NFL Watch // Luck Victorious In Peyton's Return