Andrew Luck already has a blueprint for his month away from the Colts.INDIANAPOLIS – Dan Orlovsky hadn’t won a game he had started – or even attempted a pass in – since he was quarterbacking Connecticut to victory over Toledo in the Motor City Bowl of … 2004.
He endured seven years, 18 NFL appearances, nine starts, stints with Detroit, Houston and Indianapolis, and 367 NFL pass attempts before Sunday’s 27-13 victory over Tennessee at Lucas Oil Stadium.
That made for a lot of adversity for Orlovsky.
“Yeah, (Dec. 27) of 2004, it was a long time ago,” Orlovsky said, after the Colts improved to 1-13. “I’ll enjoy this one. It’s a real good feeling. It’s what I thought I would always be accustomed to. I’ve learned in my career not to take (winning) for granted.”
Orlovsky started seven games, including the final three, as Detroit became the only NFL team to go winless in a 16-game season in 2008.
Colts linebacker Ernie Sims was also on that Detroit team.
“I’m glad to see a lot of our guys, just the entire team really (win), because it’s been a tough stretch,” Colts coach Jim Caldwell said. “It’s not over yet, obviously, we’ve still got to battle and we have a couple more games ahead of us. It was good to see Dan play well, and it was good to see him get a win, obviously. But I was also, not only happy for him, but also happy for a lot of other guys on this team. I worry about my men, these guys that play for us. It’s important for them to get one as well.”
The Colts play host to division champion Houston (10-4) on Thursday, and play at Jacksonville (4-10) on Jan. 1.
Orlovsky completed 11 of 17 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown Sunday. He was one of many stories of redemption. Maligned cornerback Jacob Lacey returned an interception for a touchdown. And Donald Brown, considered a first-round bust, had a career-best 161 rushing yards, including an 80-yard fourth-quarter touchdown.
Orlovsky has been living rent-free at Brown’s house this season – Brown also played at UConn – and Orlovsky had a block that helped set up that touchdown, which tied Tom Matte’s 1964 franchise record for longest scoring run.
“I saw Donald go and kind of cut back,” Orlovsky said. “To be honest, it’s something you always think about doing, if you’re given the opportunity. But it’s pretty rare. I was just in the right place at the right time. Donald made the great run and a lot of credit goes to the guys up front. But it’s just kind of being a football player.”
Orlovsky, who was a fifth-round pick of Detroit, has completed 72 of 122 passes for 693 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
He is the third quarterback to start this season for Indianapolis, joining Kerry Collins and Curtis Painter, after four-time MVP Peyton Manning’s two offseason neck surgeries.
