The Colts have scored a total of 62 points in their two preseason games, which is a league-high. The defense has only given up 29 points, and two of those scores were a 57-yard screen pass scramble and an Andrew Luck interception by the Steelers  that was returned for a touchdown.

Even after those two big-play scores, Luck and the Colts rebounded with two touchdown drives of their own, eventually taking the lead in the game. Last year in college, seven of Luck’s interceptions were follwed by a touchdown on his next drive. This young man has showed strength, mobility, and poise early in this preseason.

The re-vamped Colts defense totally shut down St. Louis, and held their ground against the Steelers for the most part. For a defense filled with new faces and familiar faces in new places, the defense looks much more fired-up and aggressive then they were at any time last season.

The most-anticipated preseason In Indianapolis history continues this Saturday in the nation’s capital, against Andrew Luck’s fellow rookie quarterback draft pick  Robert Griffin III, and the Washington Redskins.

The Colts held their ground after giving up two early touchdowns in Pittsburgh. The Steelers scored on a long offensive passing play, then widened the lead by returning Andrew Luck’s first career interception back the other way for a score. This young squad could have easily buckled after letting the start of this game get away from them, but they kept their cool, and even ended up taking the lead back by holding tight and getting their heads straight.

Luck’s first interception was the first big rookie mistake that he has made so far. Luck stared his receiver down the entire way, and floated the ball right into the waiting arms of the defense. Instead of showing his frustration or folding, Luck came back over the next few series, leading his team to three more scores. Luck even dove across the goal line for a touchdown, helping his team to bounce back and take the lead before halftime.

Even in a loss, the Colts showed poise in Pittsburgh. After a ugly start, both the offense and defense remained confident and fought back rather than folding in and letting the game become a blow out. With each passing week, it will be interesting to watch this team gel and bond and rally around each other. A new story is being written for this franchise, and the first few chapters have been quite interesting already.

Colts – 24, Steelers – 26

Wide receiver Reggie Wayne has played 11 seasons in the NFL, and he’s spent his entire career in Indianapolis.

And although he remains a Colt into his 12th year, everything is changing.

Wayne played 11 seasons catching in-the-belly passes from Peyton Manning. Now he’s receiving from a rookie in Andrew Luck (who’s proving he can throw a pretty accurate pass, too). Wayne spent 9 seasons running essentially the same offense, coached by Tony Dungy and his pupil-like successor Jim Caldwell. Now he’s learning an entirely new playbook under new defensive-minded coach Chuck Pagano. Wayne always lined up left. Now, he lines up just about anywhere. Most significantly, with Peyton Manning in Denver, Reggie Wayne is the Colts’ face of the franchise, the veteran and ultimate leader of the team.

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

After a disastrous first quarter for the Colts in their first of only two primetime games this season, Reggie Wayne led the team back from a 14-0 deficit to a 17-14 lead at halftime.

Things certainly weren’t pretty when the Colts kicked off against the Steelers at Heinz Field Sunday night. While the defense at first flourished, ending the Steelers’ first drive with an Antoine Bethea interception, the offense outright struggled. The Colts’ first drive was a three-and-out, and then, after a Steelers’ touchdown, the team again was forced to punt. The following drive, Andrew Luck’s pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown – his first pick-six (Better to get it out of the way now, before the games really count). On his next play, Luck was sacked. To make matters worse, the team lost Cory Redding, Robert Mathis, and Austin Collie to injuries. It was definitely a turnaround from the team’s first preseason romp against the Rams last week.

But Luck, calm as a cucumber, did not let his mistakes, nor the team’s misfortunes, affect him. He rebounded, and Wayne helped…a lot. Following his sack, Luck threw a nine-yard completion to Wayne, which got the quarterback back on track. Luck then threw three more completions for 51 yards. His drive would ultimately culminate with a rushing touchdown by Donald Brown, who gave Luck his first ever touchdown score last week.

Later in the 2nd quarter, Luck completed three successive passes to Wayne for a total of 48 yards, again en route to a rushing touchdown – this time by Luck himself. Wayne ultimately led the Colts in receiving with 6 catches for 74 yards. Although things are very new for Wayne, his veteran experience and leadership makes him an invaluable asset. It seems as if he has had no problems adjusting to a new playbook, although he may tell you otherwise.

The Colts went on to lose their second preseason contest, but when their starting quarterback ended his night, the team was leading by three points. Mission accomplished.

There was a time that many thought Reggie Wayne would be playing for a different team this year. After a 2-14 season with the Colts in 2011, Wayne’s contract was up, and it didn’t look like Jim Irsay would renew it.

Reggie Wayne says his “heart” wouldn’t let him leave Indianapolis. He ultimately took less money to remain with the team that drafted him. He will remain a Colt for at least the next three years.

For his career, Wayne has 862 receptions for 11,708 yards – good enough for second in Colts history behind only Marvin Harrison – yet he still spends hours catching footballs from a machine at practice to keep him on his toes. Many times he will practice catching with just one hand. He makes it look easy.

I’m certainly glad Reggie Wayne is staying around. For me, not only is he the Horseshoe Hero of the second week of the preseason, but he is also a Horseshoe Hero of the entire season. I fully expect him to be named to the Colts’ honorable Ring of Fire after his retirement…which I hope isn’t anytime soon.

Check back next week for the naming of the third preseason game’s Horseshoe Hero when the Colts travel again to take on the Washington Redskins. For more frequent Colts updates, news, and commentary, you can follow me: @catierae08.

Go Colts!