SAN FRANCISCO • Andrew Luck faked out the defense, ran untouched into the end zone 6 yards for a touchdown and emphatically threw down the ball with a little extra oomph. Even he thought it might be a career-best spike.
“It was nice to score,” he said matter-of-factly.
San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh’s former quarterback sure outplayed his current one, and it wasn’t even close. Luck passed for 164 yards while facing his college coach for the first time, and the Indianapolis Colts defeated the San Francisco 49ers 27-7 on Sunday to drop the defending NFC champion to 1-2.
Trent Richardson scored a TD, on a 1-yard run, on his first carry in his Colts debut after being acquired Wednesday from the Browns. He was drafted two spots behind top pick Luck last year.
Ahmad Bradshaw added a 1-yard TD run in the final minutes, and Adam Vinatieri kicked a pair of field goals.
Luck kept coming through again to give Indianapolis (2-1) more opportunities.
“I know he’s grinning from ear to ear,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. “I’ve never seen him smile the way he was smiling after this one.”
This marked Colin Kaepernick’s first home loss at Candlestick Park as a starter.
Frank Gore ran for 82 yards after going for 60 total in his first two games, but there were few bright spots for Kaepernick as San Francisco struggled to establish a passing game with tight end Vernon Davis sidelined because of a hamstring injury. The defense committed numerous costly penalties for the third straight week.
San Francisco’s offense suddenly is struggling — it managed just three points against Seattle in its previous outing — and the 49ers will be without one of their key defensive players when they play the Rams on Thursday night in St. Louis.
Linebacker Aldon Smith will miss the game, 49ers CEO Jed York said, as the linebacker will seek treatment following his recent arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence and marijuana possession.
Smith, who played at the University of Missouri, started Sunday and had five tackles two days after he was arrested and jailed after his truck hit a tree. York said he expects Smith to get help on his own.
In addition, the status of All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis for the game against the Rams was unclear. He suffered a groin injury in the fourth quarter that sidelined him for the rest of the game.
Luck completed his initial six passes and spoiled the home team’s reunion day between coaches on both sides who know each other’s tendencies dating to their days at Stanford.
The Colts sure appeared to be better prepared.
Luck sent third-year coach Harbaugh to consecutive losses for the first time. He was happier about the fact his two sisters who attend Stanford got to see him play.
“I wasn’t caught up in, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m going up against coach Harbaugh,” Luck said. “... I figured any time you play this sport, coaches and players come and go so much that you always end up going against someone that you played for or played with or had a good relationship with.”
Kaepernick had been 4-0 on his home field since becoming a starter last November. This time, his 49ers were 10-point favorites but looked nothing like the better team in getting thoroughly outplayed.
He completed two of his eight first-half passes and wound up just 13 for 27 passing for 150 yards with an interception and three sacks.
“There’s no one thing, we just didn’t execute this offense,” Kaepernick said.
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