Todman sets tone as Colts upset Packers in Green Bay

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Jordan Todman set the tone early for the Indianapolis Colts on special teams and Andrew Luck made the clutch throws late.

In between, the defense made just enough plays to hold off Green Bay despite the Packers’ frantic fourth quarter.

The Colts survived for a 31-26 win on Sunday after letting an 18-point lead with 9:35 left nearly disappear.

Todman had a 99-yard return for a touchdown on the opening kickoff, Frank Gore rushed for two touchdowns and Luck shook off two interceptions in the first quarter to finish with 281 yards passing and a touchdown.

“Not an ideal start offensively … from my game, the two interceptions. Like anything, you’ve got to move on,” Luck said. “The defense built up strong early, which was huge. Then made enough plays at the end to win.”

Indianapolis (4-5) heads into a bye week with a confidence-building victory after withstanding Aaron Rodgers’ comeback attempt.

“Everybody knew exactly where we were and what the stakes were. It’s a whole different world today, right now,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said.

Rodgers’ 3-yard touchdown pass to Randall Cobb with 3:29 left got Green Bay (4-4) within five, capping a 14-point spurt in four-plus minutes. Rodgers finished 26 of 43 for 297 yards with three scores and an interception.

Luck responded on the Colts’ next drive with what Pagano called “two unbelievable plays.”

The quarterback dodged a potential sack by blitzing safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to throw a 20-yard pass on third-and-10 with 3:07 left to tight end Jack Doyle.

Luck also found T.Y. Hilton for a 27-yard completion on third-and-2 with 2 minutes left to put the game away. He finished 23 of 36, throwing both interceptions to safety Clinton-Dix.

“We didn’t play good enough, I’m disappointed, I’m irritated, the fact that we were not sharp as a football team,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.