Packers score 11 points in 35 seconds and defeat Colts

Mason Crosby’s 50 yard field goal won the game 24-21 in the last play of the game.

Epic victory for the Green Bay Packers on Friday night during their visit to the Indianapolis Colts, thanks to Mason Crosby’s 50 yard field goal with three seconds to go. When it seemed that the hosts where going to win their first game of the preseason, as they had an eight point lead with less than one minute left, the defending champions rallied with 11 points to win the game 24-21.

It was a thrilling game for the fans present at the Lucas Oil Stadium, venue of Super Bowl XLVI, where the first quarter was going to end 7-0 for the Packers, thanks to Jermicael Finley’s touchdown, who received an 18-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers. And Mason Crosby scored the extra point, which represented his first point out of 10 he got that night.

Early in the second quarter Crosby added three more points with a 26-yard field goal. Down by 10 the Colts needed to react, and that was when Curtis Painter got things under control with two TD passes to Reggie Wayne and Chris Brooks before going to halftime. Adam Vinatieri secured both kicks and Indianapolis was now up 14-10.

In the third quarter nothing but a 32-yard FG from Crosby was going to happen, saving the best for the end.

With less than four minutes to go Dan Orlovsky threw a 3-yard TD pass to David Gilreath, that along with Vinatieri’s kick gave the Colts an 8-point lead, which seemed good enough to win their first game of the preseason, after losing to the St. Louis Rams 33-10, and 16-3 against the Washington Redskins.

In the final seconds of the game Graham Harrell was going to arise as the hero of the game, pulling out two passes to tie the game 21 a piece. On both occasions he connected with Ryan Taylor: first with an 11-yard TD pass, and then on the 2-point conversion.

It sure was a great response from the former Texas Tech quarterback, who after throwing a late interception that resulted in Gilreath’s TD for the Colts, recovered to lead the team to victory.

With three seconds left Crosby scored a 50-yard FG and won the game for the Packers 24-21, that despite the victory had their loses too: Jordy Nelson’s bruised knee and Finley’s sprained ankle.

Packers won’t play again until Thursday against the Kansas City Chiefs, game with which their preseason comes to an end. One week after that, September 8, they will be disputing the 2011 NFL season kick off showdown against the New Orleans Saints at the Lambeau Field.

As for the Colts their next game will also be on Thursday, but against the Cincinnati Bengals on the road. And their first game of the regular season is scheduled for September 11 at Houston versus the Texans; with the bad news that starter QB Payton Manning will not be ready for it.