Landover, MD (Sports Network) - Andrew Luck may have topped Robert Griffin III at the NFL Draft, but Griffin took the first showdown between the highly- touted rookies, leading the Washington Redskins to a 30-17 preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Griffin played into the third quarter and led Washington to a pair of scores. He finished 11-for-17 through the air for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Luck, also playing one series into the second half, completed 14-of-23 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown.
While both quarterbacks were solid, it was another rookie, running back Alfred Morris, who provided a significant advantage for Washington.
Morris ran for 107 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown, while Indianapolis finished with 53 rushing yards as a team.
Tim Hightower, playing in his first game following reconstructive ACL surgery last November, had five carries for 28 yards.
Rex Grossman, who started for the Redskins in 2011 and was greeted with an array of boos, completed all eight of his passes for 127 yards and two scores.
Griffin completed an 11-yard pass to Josh Morgan and a 19-yard strike to Pierre Garcon in the closing minutes of the first quarter to set up Morris, who broke off a 17-yard run to bring the Redskins to the 2-yard line. On the following play, Morris powered through the right side to put the Redskins up, 7-0, with 13:04 left in the second.
Luck and the Colts tied the game on the ensuing possession. After a 21-yard pass to Reggie Wayne, Luck stepped up in the pocket and delivered a 31-yard strike up the left sideline to T.Y. Hilton for a score.
Griffin then orchestrated a 12-play drive, capped off with a four-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss, to regain the lead before the end of the first half.
Washington expanded its lead when Luck left the game. Chris Wilson sacked Chandler Harnish on his first drive in relief of Luck for a nine-yard loss and a safety.
Later in the third quarter, Grossman capitalized on prime field position. Starting at the Redskins' 48-yard line, Grossman only needed five plays to find the end zone and put Washington up, 23-7 with a 13-yard Morgan touchdown.
After the Colts added a 29-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal, Grossman found Dezmon Briscoe for a 12-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to inflate Washington's lead to 30-10.
Harnish led a 79-yard scoring drive, which Darren Evans finished with a two- yard touchdown, to cap the scoring.
Game Notes
