INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Chuck Pagano put about his dance shoes and boots and savored every point in time of Sunday's postgame celebration.
He went on his routine linebacker posture about the sideline, arms on bended knees. He signaled touchdowns once the Colts scored, patted Deji Karim for the headgear after a 101-yard kickoff gain intended for a new game-changing touchdown, as well as gestured intended for fees flags for being thrown.
And after Indianapolis beat AFC South champion Houston 28-16, Pagano possibly tossed apart your stodgy picture of an NFL trainer as well as began pouncing all-around together with players, helper coaches and in many cases crew user Jim Irsay just like this individual has been a baby again.
Why not?
''There was a great deal of high-fiving, considerably involving dancing, loads of cradling taking place including a lots of celebrating,'' an psychological Pagano said. ''There's a great deal to rejoice appropriate now.''
It going along with Pagano's return.
He took a great indefinite abandon Sept. twenty six to begin the initial connected with about three units connected with chemotherapy pertaining to leukemia Sept. 26 along with didn't make it back that will the sideline right until Sunday once the melanoma what food was in comprehensive remission.
When he still left the field, he hugged anyone inside view - helper coaches, Colts players, actually Texans people along with professional poker coaches - prior to switching the particular postgame blowout on the locker room, where by Irsay shown your pet having a video game tennis ball and they did a do-si-do together.
''What some sort of day, that of a day,'' they said.
For everyone on the Colts.
''Guys definitely wouldn't would like to shed within his first online game to come back and intending in the playoffs,'' first year quarterback Andrew Luck said. ''To find a win, I assume implies the entire world for you to him.''
Luck, as usual, have a major palm inside victory. He had been 14 regarding 28 regarding 191 yards with a couple far more touchdowns and no interceptions.
He had not been alone, though.
Karim swung the adventure while using kickoff come back simply just seconds following Texans took their only lead, then when Luck changed on third-and-23 with the 70-yard TD pass early inside fourth quarter, the particular guests was inside a frenzy.
The Colts (11-5) will have fun with at Baltimore in the wild-card circle following weekend. The slumping Texans (12-4) have missing three of these previous four and will particular the particular Cincinnati Bengals about Saturday.
''We acquired some sort of wonderful ability the final two weeks, nonetheless all of us would not think apologies for ourselves,'' Texans guru Gary Kubiak mentioned immediately after supplying Pagano some sort of massiv as well as whispering within his hearing after the game. ''We'll look into keeping your confidence up, whether or not we must play next week.''
Indy have everything them necessary to Sunday.
The Colts eliminated J.J. Watt from acquiring very approximately Luck - or even just about any nearer that will Michael Strahan's NFL carriers document (22 1/2). Watt done along with something like 20 1/2.
''We decided not to win, thus I might caution less about the record. It's about winning,'' Watt said.
Luck pennyless Peyton Manning's franchise file for completions by a first year nonetheless chop down 15 short connected with Sam Bradford's NFL mark. Luck additionally changed in to third all-time amongst rookies with 22 TD passes.
And Indy accomplished the next best turnaround in league track record - winning seven far more game titles as compared with this did in 2011.
''Man, this particular may be a great year, a storybook ending,'' Pro Bowl receiver Reggie Wayne said. ''Let's preserve the item going. Hopefully you can easlily still prepare this movie.''
It decided not to take long for any Colts for you to assert themselves with this psychological setting - or or convert the overall game if the Texans took their own merely lead. Shayne Graham designed a new 37-yard industry purpose with 5:22 left while in the 3 rd quarter, a lead which lasted every one of twelve seconds.
Karim fielded the ensuing kickoff a yard deeply ultimately zone, found your seam in the centre with the field rather than slowed right up until this individual arrived at the opposite end zone to create it 21-16. Pagano patted your pet within the helmet soon after the particular greatest kickoff returning considering that Colts moved to Indy throughout 1984.
Then, experiencing third-and-23 through the 30, Luck threw a new great strike via a narrow opening, smacking Hilton in stride to get a 70-yard TD to produce the idea 28-16.
On every day that Texans mainly over intended for discipline goals, that is definitely all the Colts needed.
Luck masterfully directed the Colts into a 14-6 halftime lead.
Houston made it 14-13 when Arian Foster out of cash by means of a new hole with regard to a 13-yard TD run and saluted Pagano simply by tapping the (hash)Chuckstrong warning dangling around the outlet guiding the completed zone as an alternative to doing their brand bow. Foster went 16 situations for 96 yards.
Graham's 37-yard domain intention gifted Houston the particular head together with 5:22 to visit in the 3 rd quarter, but Karim's long TD return trigger a celebration in which didn't ending until finally soon after Pagano have carried out his dance.
''It's like a wish take place legitimate again,'' Pagano said. ''It's the maximum emotion on the globe for being straight down there.''
Schaub completed 24 associated with 36 intended for 275 yards along with two interceptions plus not any touchdowns. Foster went sixteen situations regarding 96 yards.
NOTES: Andre Johnson found 12 goes over for 141 back yards and turned the 2nd gambler around little league background having several conditions involving 100 or maybe more draws in addition to 1,500 or a lot more yards. The other: Former Colt Marvin Harrison. . Manning acquired 326 completions, Luck finished the growing season together with 339. . Watt had a shared carrier taken away while in the initial 50 percent when the actual officials removed a sack-fumble of Luck because the Tuck Rule. . The Colts misplaced starting up keep Joe Reitz within the initial 50 percent having a head injury. . Houston linebacker Daryl Sharpton quit the actual adventure having a thigh injury. Linebacker Tim Dobbins remaining from the minute 50 percent by using just what Kubiak idea was a shoulder injury.
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