INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts' success this season will lean heavily on how well Andrew Luck and the offense performs.
Yes, it was only the preseason. Yes, the Baltimore Ravens did not play pass-rush specialists Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil. But everything the Colts wanted to improve upon in the offseason couldn't have gone much better -- for the most part -- in their 19-18 loss at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Luck, playing his first game since Nov. 8, 2015, looked as if he were ready for the start of the regular season by going a perfect 8-of-8 for 69 yards in his two series. The Colts' offensive line problems are well-documented but the unit, now led by rookie center Ryan Kelly, didn't give up a sack.
Luck's first drive ended with a 24-yard field goal by veteran kicker Adam Vinatieri and the second one was cut short when tight end Dwayne Allen fumbled after taking a shovel pass from Luck on Baltimore's 23-yard line.
"We were efficient," coach Chuck Pagano said. "He ran the offense. He made great decisions, we moved the ball up and down the field, but then we shot ourselves in the foot with penalties. We should've had two touchdowns."
Luck had a tendency in the past of holding the ball too long while looking for deep throws down the field. That wasn't the case Saturday as he made quick, underneath throws to his receivers. Luck completed passes to five receivers.
That's exactly what the Colts want to see out of their offense.
But wait, it gets even better.
Luck had to tuck the ball and run on two plays where he couldn't find an open receiver. Rather than take an unnecessary hit to gain a few extra yards, Luck showed off his improved sliding skills on both of his runs, which totaled 12 yards.
"Every year you go back and say, 'Where can I get better?' " Luck said. "And obviously I needed to get better at making sure I'm in the game, so I'll try and make sure I'm sliding at the right times."
QB depth chart: Pagano opened the door to a potential quarterback controversy behind Luck last week when he said it's an open competition between Scott Tolzien and Stephen Morris. Tolzien answered any questions about where he belongs in the pecking order on the depth chart when he went 13-of-18 for 107 yards and a touchdown. Morris wasn't bad, either. He was 7-of-11 for 66 yards and a touchdown. Morris did make one bad decision when he was intercepted on a two-point scoring attempt. Ravens safety Anthony Levine ran the interception all the way back for two points to give Baltimore the 19-18 lead.
Maybe that player could start: There's a lot of uncertainty along the defensive line with Henry Anderson (physically unable to perform list), Art Jones (four-game suspension) and Kendall Langford (knee) out. Second-year player T.Y. McGill is ready to start if necessary. McGill arguably has been the Colts' best defensive lineman so far this season. He chased down Baltimore quarterback Josh Johnson on third down and then forced the quarterback into an intentional grounding on third down on the next series.
Who got hurt? The Colts took some hits at the backup positions along the offensive line. Kevin Graf was carted off the field because of an ankle injury. Joe Haeg, who has shown versatility by playing multiple positions up front, also suffered an ankle injury. Starting cornerback Patrick Robinson left the game because of a groin injury.
When it was starters vs. starters, the Colts looked ...: The Colts' starting offense wasn't the only unit to have some success. The starting defense forced a three-and-out on the first series, only to end up having to go back on the field after a penalty on a punt. The penalty didn't slow them down. They turned around and forced another three-and-out. However, the defense was on the field when Baltimore drove 84 yards -- with help from a 41-yard pass interference penalty -- to score a touchdown early in the second quarter.
Swoope ready to swoop in: Depth at tight end after Allen and Jack Doyle is an area of concern for the Colts after they decided not to re-sign Coby Fleener in the offseason. Basketball-turned-football player Erik Swoope is making his case to be the team's No. 3 tight end. Swoope, who had never played football before signing with the Colts in 2014 and has dealt with the case of the drops, had three receptions (on four targets) for 36 yards.
One reason to be concerned: There was a lot of hype behind undrafted rookie free agent running back Josh Ferguson during offseason workouts and at the start training camp. Ferguson hasn't lived up to that hype so far, leaving his spot as the front-runner to be back Frank Gore’s backup up in the air. Ferguson only rushed for six yards on five carries to bring his preseason total to nine yards on 13 carries. The rookie hurt his cause even more when he didn’t pick up a blitzing Matt Judon on a two-point conversion attempt in the third quarter. Morris led the Colts in rushing for the second straight week with 26 yards.
Key players sit out: Several key starters who weren't listed as being out by Pagano after Thursday's practice didn't play. Receiver T.Y. Hilton, cornerback Vontae Davis and linebacker Robert Mathis all didn't dress. The Aug. 27 preseason game against Philadelphia probably will be the final dress rehearsal for the Colts' key players because they're not expected to play in the preseason finale against Cincinnati on Sept. 1.
McAfee for the win: Or not. Punter Pat McAfee, who said he wanted to kick field goals after 43-year-old kicker Vinatieri retires, missed a 62-yard field as time expired. McAfee might have been drug-tested for the second straight week had he made the field goal. He was drug-tested after booming a 67-yard punt against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 13.