The Indianapolis Colts Are The Team To Beat In The AFC
By Daniel
We are heading into the home-stretch of the 2014 NFL season and as Week 15 approaches many people are trying to figure out who the real contenders are. In the AFC the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts seem like the best of the bunch. But are the Colts the most dangerous team of the three despite losing to both teams? Are they the AFC’s team to beat at the moment?
I say yes.
The Colts are the AFC’s best team. Are the Patriots and Broncos still dangerous? Could either win the AFC? Sure, but I believe it will be the Colts representing the conference in the Super Bowl this year. Indianapolis is the team to beat and here are three reasons why.
This Team Knows How To Score
Four times this team has scored over 40 points in a game this year. The Green Bay Packers’ potent offense has only accomplished this feat three times this year. The Broncos and their offensive attack have only hung 40 points three times as well. The only other team that can claim this accomplishment is the Patriots, but the Colts have still scored more points than the Pats on the year. I know it takes more than offense to win championships, but this team’s offensive attack ensures that they’re never out of a ballgame.
They Boast An Underrated Defense
Even though the strength of this team is its offense the defense doesn’t get near the credit it deserves. The Colts have allowed over 30 points in a game only twice in their last 11 games and not once in their last five. Mix that with the fact that this team is averaging 31.3 points per game and you have quite the recipe for success. Not to mention this defense secured an impressive shutout earlier in the year defeating Cincinnati 27-0.
Dec 7, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) celebrates a touchdown pass during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Colts beat the Browns 25-24. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Andrew Luck Has Arrived
Look around the NFL and point out the contenders not only in this year, but in recent years. What do they all have in common? Elite quarterback play. Andrew Luck has now reached that level of elite, despite it being only his third season in the pros. No, he’s not quite at the Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady level, but he sure as hell is trying. Luck is leading the NFL in passing yards (4,305) by a wide margin and is tied for the most touchdown passes (36).
Luck has one advantage over the quarterbacks he’s battling in the AFC (Brady, Manning) and that is his mobility. He can escape the pocket and run for first downs better than both of them. He’s ran for 12 touchdowns in less than three years in the NFL. Brady has ran for 14 touchdowns in nearly 13 years and Manning has ran for 18 in just under 17 years. Luck’s ability to escape, run and keep plays alive will ultimately get his team over the hump in the playoffs this year.
The Colts’ signal caller has no shortage of talented players to distribute the ball to and his team is riding a three-game winning streak. This team is going to surprise people in the playoffs and 2014 will be remembered as the year Luck took his first step toward being elite. Once he gets his interception numbers down a bit and raises his completion percentage some, he will join the elite of the elite quarterbacks.
Indianapolis will be known as one of the AFC’s elite teams after this year and for quite some time.