Andrew Luck Sets Rookie Record With 433 Yards, Fuels MVP Talk
Andrew Luck is living up the the hype, and the Indianapolis Colts just keep winning.
The highly touted quarterback set a rookie record with 433 yards passing Sunday in a 23-20 win over the Miami Dolphins, leading the Colts to a third straight win and fueling MVP talk. Though the Colts were picked by many experts to be one of the weakest teams in the league, Andrew Luck now has them solidly in the playoff hunt, ESPN noted.
In the game, Andrew Luck hit on 30 of 48 passes, throwing for two touchdowns and no interceptions. He looked crisp and accurate, hitting a number of Colts’ receivers as he spread the ball around.
Though the season has just reached the midway point, Andrew Luck has already had a stellar year. He became just the second rookie quarterback to have at least four 300-yard games, joining Peyton Manning, the man he replaced in Indianapolis.
As the Yahoo! Sports blog Shutdown Corner noted, Andrew Luck’s electrifying performances have put him in contention for the MVP award:
“The Colts had a more memorable rookie quarterback who set records that Luck is gaining on. ESPN Stats and Info said Luck is the second rookie in NFL history with four 300-yard passing games. The other was Peyton Manning in 1998. Luck has half a season left to add to that total.
“Two Colts receivers had 100-yard games on Sunday: Donnie Avery and T.Y. Hilton. That’s not exactly Swann and Stallworth. The Colts could go from a team that started 0-13, brought back a roster that isn’t dramatically better than last season and had the horrible situation of coach Chuck Pagano being diagnosed with leukemia during the season, to one that goes to the playoffs. Luck’s impact on the first half of this NFL season can’t be overstated. He should be considered a legitimate MVP candidate through eight games.”
The second half of the season will likely determine if Andrew Luck can remain in the MVP race. The Colts now sit in the Wild Card spot in the NFL playoff race, and, if they can remain so, Luck’s stock will only continue to rise.
