The Indianapolis Colts defied the odds and are entering the playoffs in Year One of the Andrew Luck experience. Rookie quarterbacks on postseason NFL teams are oftentimes just around for the ride, at least during the regular season, but in this case the reason the Indianapolis Colts tickets are available for the extended schedule is the rookie. The defense does not create turnovers, does not stop the pass, and does not stop the run. The offense is in a similar state to the Peyton years, with a subpar running game and a Top-Tier passing game.

If any other of those facets of the game were working then Colts may have earned at least one guaranteed home game at Lucas Oil Stadium. The again, if Head Coach Chuck Pagano had not been in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy the same could be said. Instead those things did not happen and Luck quickly established himself as the man who deserves to be called “The Man”.

Luck engineered the seventh-best passing attack during the regular season. Some of the numbers have certainly been bolstered by futile efforts that gave him garbage time stats at the beginning of the year. But, as the NFL schedule began to come to an end, more often those stats were those of a QB singlehandedly beating football teams.

Among his most impressive performances was a last minute drive against the Detroit Lions in early December in which he amassed 391 yards and came back from 3 interceptions to throw four touchdowns, including the game winner. He will need to have those kinds of efforts in the playoffs to take the Indianapolis Colts beyond the wild card round.

The return of Pagano may prove the inspiration necessary to inspire the rest of the Colts roster to take their performance to the next level. Despite the previous misgivings mentioned about the defense, the biggest boost would come from a dramatically improved offensive line. Not only would Luck have more time to find rejuvenated veteran Reggie Wayne and exciting rookie T.Y. Hilton, but rookie running back Vick Ballard would be able to start a running presence to keep the opposition honest. Indianapolis Colts playoff tickets could go far if the line allowed this offense to tame even the toughest defenses in the AFC.