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Luck’s 4 TDs carry Colts past Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Quarterback Andrew Luck threw four touchdown passes, and the Indianapolis Colts dominated the hapless New York Giants 40-24 at MetLife Stadium.

The Colts (6-3) led 16-3 at the half, then started piling it on the Giants on their first drive of the third quarter.

Luck, who finished 25 of 46 for 354 yards, connected with receiver T.Y. Hilton on a 31-yard touchdown pass. Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie nearly intercepted the ball, only to have Hilton snatch it away from the defender to widen Indianapolis’ lead to 23-3.

The Giants’ offense, which continues to struggle to establish the run, finally started to string some big plays together, with two of the team’s 2014 draft picks getting things going.

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. showed his speed and elusiveness in weaving his way down the field on a 59-yard catch and run.

Then running back Andre Williams, who gained only 19 yards on nine first-half carries, ran for 24 yards to set up a first-and-goal. He punched the ball into the end zone on the ensuing play from 1 yard out to close the Colts’ lead to 23-10.

The Giants’ brief glimmer of sunshine was all too soon covered by clouds. Luck hit wide receiver Reggie Wayne for a 40-yard touchdown, restoring the Colts’ 20-point margin.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning subsequently was sacked and fumbled, and the ball was scooped up by safety Sergio Brown to set up a first-and-goal at the New York 4-yard line.

Two plays later, Luck found tight end Dwayne Allen uncovered in the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 37-10 with 4:31 left in the third quarter.

Indianapolis kicker Adam Vinatieri, who connected for three field goals in the first half, added another in the third quarter, this one going for 43 yards.

The Giants (3-5) picked up a couple of garbage-time touchdowns. The first came on a 5-yard pass from Manning to tight end Larry Donnell. The second was scored by wide receiver Corey Washington, whose first NFL career touchdown was a 1-yard reception.

Beckham finished with eight catches for 156 yards. Tight end Coby Fleener led the Colts with 77 receiving yards on four catches.

Luck connected with Fleener on consecutive second-quarter completions totaling 53 yards.

The first of those completions, for 21 yards, looked to be incomplete, but before Giants coach Tom Coughlin could make up his mind whether to challenge the play, Luck took advantage of the confusion on the New York side, got his team lined up, and found Fleener again for a 32-yard touchdown.

Fleener’s scoring reception was the Colts’ lone touchdown in the first half, but Vinatieri kicked three field goals, including two 48-yarders and one 31-yarder.

The Giants, who were challenged this week by Coughlin to play above the X’s and O’s, simply turned in more of the same lackluster play that has plagued them in their last three games.

New York completed just two of its 10 third-down attempts in the first half, with seven of those third-down attempts being nine or more yards.

The Giants also struggled to run the ball, rushing 13 times for 54 yards, while only managing 143 total yards of offense.

New York did try to get after Luck, blitzing him on 12 of his first 16 dropbacks. However, the Giants only managed to record one sack, on the final play of the second quarter, as Luck moved his offense down the field.

NOTES: Giants CB Prince Amukamara sustained a torn biceps, an injury that is believed to be season-ending. New York rookie LG Weston Richburg hurt his right ankle late in the third quarter and did not return. … Colts DT Ricky Jean-Francois hurt a finger, and LB Victor Butler sustained a hamstring injury … Giants QB Eli Manning made his 159th career start, tying Phil Simms’ franchise record. … The Colts won their fourth in a row against the Giants and are one of three teams that Manning has not defeated in his career. … New York turned the ball over in a 24th consecutive game.

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