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Colts: Andrew Luck Faces Same Demons as Peyton Manning

By Pierre Wilson

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Colts quarterback Andrew Luck knows being a successful quarterback in the NFL is tough.

Doing so with the pressure of being the 1st overall pick in the NFL draft is even tougher. Don’t believe me? Ask JaMarcus Russell and Tim Couch. The two played 9 NFL seasons…..combined.

Andrew Luck is entering just his 4th season in the NFL, Andrew Luck has achieved more in three seasons, than Russell and Couch’s combined careers. The impressive part, is he has done so with even more pressure on him …by being in the shadow of Peyton Manning.

Like it or not, Luck’s entire career will be compared to Peyton Manning. It may not be fair, but that’s what happens when you follow a future 1st ballot hall of fame quarterback. A quarterback, that still had a few years left in the tank, and now has another AFC team in Super Bowl contention each

Oct 20, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) shake hands before the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

year.

It’s not Andrew Luck’s fault that Jim Irsay made a bold move, and let the team’s franchise quarterback walk. Many weren’t sure if Peyton Manning would ever play a game again, let alone a full NFL season. As a fan it’s easy to say, “How dare you release Peyton Manning!”, but as an owner, you have to make a quick decision on a multi-million dollar investment.

The same situation took place in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers had to make a choice to move on from Brett Favre and hand Aaron Rodgers the team’s reins. Rodgers wasn’t even the 1st overall pick in his draft (sorry 49ers fans). San Francisco also faced this situation years ago when they moved on from Joe Montana for a guy named Steve Young.

Though it was hard for both Packers and Niners fans to face change, one accomplishment takes away the pain… winning the Super Bowl.

Andrew Luck has plenty of years to win a Super Bowl (health permitting), but he’s already facing similar challenges as Manning. It won’t be long before the critics start asking, “Can Andrew Luck win the BIG ONE?”

Just like Peyton, it will start with college. Manning always had that monkey on his back for not being able to win a National Championship as a Tennessee Volunteer. Luck heard the same criticism while at Stanford.

In the NFL, Luck has been great. He has led the Colts to the playoffs all three years of his career, and each year, Luck and the Colts have advanced further in the playoffs. However, the last two seasons for Luck have come to an end – thanks to a familiar foe of Peyton Manning’s Indianapolis Colts teams – the New England Patriots.

Regardless of Deflategate, the Colts have went up to Foxborough, MA two straight years and gotten routed by Brady and the Patriots.

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Last year, Luck and the Colts even knocked off Peyton Manning on their way to the AFC Championship showdown against New England. That was a great victory, and really felt like the passing of the guard….until the Pats ruined my moment.

In order to truly step out of Peyton Manning’s shadow, Andrew Luck will ultimately have to beat the Patriots, and win a Super Bowl.

Though a week 6 victory against a Patriots team (that will be getting Tom Brady back from suspension) would be nice, Luck must do so in the playoffs.  Just like in the Manning years, the Colts have put plenty of offensive weapons around Andrew Luck. Also in similar fashion, I feel the Colts Super Bowl hopes will come down to the play of their defense.

We all know Andrew Luck is a great quarterback, just like we knew Peyton Manning was a great quarterback, but all great quarterbacks need a good defense (see Dan Marino). Though Patriots fans will argue to the death, Tom Brady has his multiple rings because of the defense and Adam Vinatieri….but he’s still a great quarterback.

A great quarterback that Andrew Luck must beat, one that he will not be able to beat alone, but one that once he beats him and the Patriots….will start to fully step out of the shadow of Peyton Manning. Will this be the year?

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