Change of Luck
Colts QB trying to reverse fortunes in postseason
When it comes to struggling in the playoffs, Andrew Luck has nothing on the quarterback he will face Sunday in the AFC’s divisional round.
Luck’s uneven play in the postseason pales in comparison to that of Peyton Manning, whose 12 playoff losses are the most by any quarterback in NFL history, but they still have to be a concern for the Colts heading into their matchup with Manning and the Broncos at Sports Authority Field.
Not only is Indianapolis just 22 in the playoffs in Luck’s three seasons, but the former No. 1 overall pick’s postseason passer rating is nearly 10 points lower than his regularseason rating and he has thrown more interceptions (eight) than touchdown passes (seven).
Not exactly the stuff of legend or worthy of the player that former Giants coach Jim Fassel gushed in a TV appearance this week will “go down as the greatest quarterback of all time.”
Just don’t expect Luck to buy into the storyline that his reputation could use a few more playoff victories.
“I think it’s the players’ team,” Luck told Denver media Wednesday. “I don’t think one player is necessarily bigger than the other.”
The Colts, though, have reason to be hopeful Luck is poised to make the postseason look as easy as the regular season.
After leading the NFL with 40 touchdown passes this year, Luck played a nearflawless game last week in Indianapolis’ 2610 wildcard victory over the Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium , completing 31 of 44 passes for 376 yards and a score.
Best of all, Luck wasn’t intercepted after tossing an eyepopping seven picks in just two playoff games a year ago.
“It was one of the best games that he’s ever played,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said.
Luck also helped his playoff reputation with one of the most spectacular plays of his closely watched career, when he eluded two Bengals rushers and then somehow managed to fire a 36yard TD strike to Donte Moncrief despite Carlos Dunlap being wrapped around his legs.
“We see him do stuff like that all the time,” Colts receiver Reggie Wayne said to reporters with a shrug af ter the game.
That play even made Colts owner Jim Irsay go out on a limb and compare Luck to John Elway.
Unfortunately for Luck, he hadn’t made enough of those plays in the playoffs until last weekend.
Although leading the Colts back from a 3810 deficit in the second half against the Chiefs in a 4544 wildcard win last year was the stuff of legend, Luck’s critics noted that his three interceptions had helped put Indianapolis in that huge hole to begin with.
And the following week in New England showed Luck wasn’t ready just yet for prime time as he was intercepted four times while completing just 20 of 41 passes in a 4120 divisional loss to the Patriots.
Sure, the lofty expectations for Luck are unfair, especially since Manning didn’t even make the playoffs for the first time until his third season while Luck already has two division titles and two playoff wins at the same point in his career.
But Luck knows the scrutiny comes with the territory when you’re a top pick, a quarterback and Peyton Manning’s successor.
“I’d like to think I’m more prepared this year than I was last year, as well as my rookie year,” Luck said this week. “It’s just good to be in the playoffs.”