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Michael Conroy / Associated Press
The best pass of Sunday matches comes from one of the best football stories. A story almost forgotten.
While we all focused on the accuracy of Drew Brees, the explosive Patrick Mahomes, the nuclear rating of the Rams and a hundred other stories, a quarter of Colts Andrew Luck has gradually and silently assaulted his ass in the race to the MVP.
In the middle of the second quarter on Sunday, Luck showed why. Against a team of Titans who was entering the 11th week as one of the best football defenses, Luck dropped and saw receiver T.Y. Hilton stepped back on adoree corner half Jackson. But it was only one step away.
The luck then unleashed the ball with such a beautiful bow that he was almost hypnotic. He landed right on Hilton's hip, and Hilton bounced back against Jackson and had a 68-yard touchdown and a 16-0 lead. The Colts then won 38-10.
A good game, yes, but it was also something bigger. It was a symbol of luck and distance traveled after losing all last season due to an injury to the shoulder. He traveled from a place where he was once a tackle manikin, a line of punches for jokes on offensive lines. Speculation was going on about the chances of not being able to play more deeply, fearing never to play again. Well, yes, he plays again, and you bet he can always throw the ball deep.
Although luck definitely deserves to participate in the conversation with the MVP, it's hard to imagine winning. It's just not as present on the radar as Rams stars, Mahomes or Brees. The Colts are not as bright as these teams and, despite four consecutive wins, they are only 5-5.
Nevertheless, do not get me wrong, what Luck is doing now is one of the most incredible stories of this season or any other. Luck is not limited to launching accurately, it produces huge numbers. He has thrown at least three touchdowns in seven consecutive games. His completion percentage of 67.3 is a career high. And against a Titans defense that had previously allowed only 16.8 points per game and had not given three touchdowns in a game of the year, Luck scored 23 attempts out of 29 for a total of 297 yards, three scores and a score of 143.8.
Of course, luck does not do it alone.
Bobby Ellis / Getty Images
Finally, it appears that the Colts have a strong offensive line, a line that allowed Chance to be sacked only 10 times this season. (During his last full season, Luck was fired 41 times.) Now we see that when Luck does not spray himself permanently, he's as good as in football.
Luck also has the benefit of playing with new coach Frank Reich, long regarded as one of the most intelligent people in football by those who have followed his cautioned shift career to Eagles offensive coordinator to the Colts coach.
Reich created an imaginative offense in Philadelphia and brought the same creativity to Indianapolis. In addition, as he did in Philly, Reich attaches great importance to the protection of the quarterback and, according to the team, the Colts did not allow a sack in 217 consecutive attempts. It's five games, a series that links the 2010 Giants and the 2008 Titans for the third longest since 1982.
To really understand how good the Colts' luck and attack have been, we have to remember how bad it was.
Apparently fleeing each return, Luck was sacked more than 30 times per season during his first five years in the league. Then, he underwent a shoulder surgery in 2017, and he did not recover in time to play. He even went to Europe for treatment.
But now, the Colts have an offense that is flourishing and fun, after years of sadness and doubt.
Joe Robbins / Getty Images
And while these dark seasons have left some people waiting for the bottom to be on Luck and the Colts again, it looks different. It's as if luck returned to luck which was one of the most promising quarters we have ever seen. The Pro Bowler three times, considered one of the prototypes of the post. Consider that, according to the Colts, his 161 touchdown passes place him with Dan Marino (182) and Aaron Rodgers (160) as the only players in league history with 160 or more players in their first 80 career games .
Yes, this package for Hilton was beautiful, but it was more than just a pass. It was a statement.
Andrew Luck is back.
Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @mikefreemanNFL.
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