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INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts know that no single player can replace wide receiver Reggie Wayne. Still, Indy will need to be more effective and balanced in its passing game since Wayne is out for the season with a torn right ACL. The Colts continued their winning ways with a 27-24 comeback victory against the Houston Texans last Sunday night. But they got off to a slow start in their first game without their 13-year veteran receiver who stabilized the offence and provided a veteran presence for Andrew Luck. T.Y. Hilton caught seven passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns against Houston, but Indy still is looking for more from the rest of the receiving group heading into Sundays home game against the St. Louis Rams. The Colts say the passing game has the talent to step forward with receivers Darrius Heyward-Bey and Griff Whalen, running back Trent Richardson and tight end Coby Fleener. "This team has always bought into the mentality and the mindset of next man up," Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. "We havent wavered from that. They havent wavered from that. Fortunately, weve been successful and weve been able to overcome. So, from a confidence standpoint, thats why these guys dont flinch." Offensive co-ordinator Pep Hamilton said Luck trusts his receivers, so his approach wont change. "I think Andrew has done a pretty good job of distributing the ball to different guys, and thats a big part of our system and our approach," he said. "Defensively, they cant zero in on one guy and scheme up a way to take that one guy away. Those guys (other receivers), I think theyre up to the challenge." Luck was one of the leagues most efficient passers in the first half of the season, but he completed just 18 of 40 passes against Houston in his first game as a pro without his favourite target. Hilton noticed things were much different without Wayne early. "It wasnt the same not having him out there in that first half," Hilton said. "So we went back in there the second half, adjusted -- we had to man up. Since 87 wasnt there, somebody had to make a play." Hilton already was starting to garner attention. Now, as Lucks No. 1 target, hell be an even bigger focus of defensive game plans. He enters 12th in the AFC with 533 yards receiving. "His numbers will certainly change because of the loss of Reggie, which is very unfortunate," Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. "It appears that obviously hes able to do the same things. Theyre moving him around, asking a lot of different things of him. Hes got exceptional speed. He can make the tough catch. Hes got run-after-catch ability." There were bright spots on Sunday. Fleener had three catches for 64 yards, and he caught a 2-point conversion in the fourth quarter that gave Indianapolis a 27-24 lead with four minutes left. Richardson, the Colts running back, caught two passes for 33 yards against Houston after catching just two passes in the previous five games combined. The Colts are trying to find ways to get him more opportunities in the passing game. "We know hes got that ability," Pagano said. "I think as he gets more comfortable with the scheme and terminology and all those types of things and the game, the situation, the score, all those things kind of line up -- if the stars all line up wed love to get him in space more and get the ball in his hands more." Not all the connections went well on Sunday. The Colts targeted Whalen nine times, and he caught just three passes. Heyward-Bey was targeted six times and caught just one pass. Luck said hes looking ahead. "I think you hopefully learn from your mistakes," he said. "We did some good things. Its nice to say, We can win without Reggie in the lineup. Its a mental sort of checklist thing thats nice. Hopefully, you learn from the mistakes more than anything from the past game. Were 100 per cent onto St. Louis now." .Y. - Everyone expected Clayton Kershaw to pitch a shutout, and he did — a unanimous choice for the NL Cy Young Award. . The Italian football federation announced the appointment, three days after new president Carlo Tavecchio was elected. Tavecchio and Conte spoke on the phone early Thursday. .Y. -- The Montreal Canadiens have had few reasons to celebrate this season as they have been mired near the basement of the Eastern Conference. . According to a report from ESPN, sources said Manuels college coach Jimbo Fisher told teams he didnt think Manuel had the tools to be an NFL starter. . Neither made it that far in 2013. Not even close. Federer lost his second match at the All England Club. Nadal exited in the first round, a year after bowing out in the second.Robyn Regehr is likely to make his Stanley Cup Final debut for the Los Angeles Kings in Game 2 on Saturday night. Speaking to the media on Friday, Kings head coach Darryl Sutter announced Regehr will "probably play" as the team looks to take a 2-0 series lead over the New York Rangers. Regehr has not pplayed with the Kings since suffering an injury in Game 1 of his teams second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks.dddddddddddd. Sutter did not say who Regehr would replace in the lineup. Prior to his injury, Regehr notched two assists and an even plus-minus rating in eight playoff games. ' ' '
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