Andrew Luck, in his second home playoff game, took a third look downfield Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. His world, or at least his pocket, collapsed around him. Eventually, he had to make a choice.
A sack would have been predictable for most NFL quarterbacks. Shoulders level, legs chugging, Luck sprinted forward. Bengals lineman Carlos Dunlap left his blocker and curled his right arm around Luck’s waist. Luck shed the tackle as Dunlap slid to the ground and wrapped around Luck’s feet.
This provided the snapshot moment that makes Luck different, a freeze frame of why he is a franchise quarterback and soon enough the neck-bearded face of the NFL. Because he possesses 4.67-second speed in the 40-yard dash and is built like a tight end, the Bengals respected the run. A linebacker and a cornerback raced toward him, then experienced the queasy feeling when you reach into the wallet and realize your credit cards are gone.
Falling down, Luck fired a perfect 36-yard touchdown pass to Donte Moncrief, depositing it in front of two defenders in the corner of the end zone.
The Colts are heavy underdogs Sunday. But Luck’s ability to improvise, to color outside the lines, makes Indianapolis dangerous.
“He’s not somebody that’s just going to go down. He plays big and runs through tackles,” Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson said. “You have to wrap him up. We have to get after him and keep him in the pocket.”
Look across the playoff landscape, and no player is asked to do more for his team than Luck. In only his third year as Peyton Manning’s replacement for Indianapolis, Luck posted a league-best 40 touchdown passes with only 16 interceptions. He threw well when opponents knew he was throwing. The Colts, even with the emergence of running back Dan Herron, ranked 22nd in rushing.
How much have the Colts leaned on Luck? He owns the most passing yards through a player’s first four postseason games (1,438), according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
“What he’s accomplished may be better than any quarterback has ever accomplished early in a career,” Broncos coach John Fox said. “He’s been as advertised.”
Luck runs, but he isn’t a running quarterback. He possesses the arm strength to throw deep while scrambling, making him more like John Elway and Ben Roethlisberger than Manning. At 6-foot-4, 234 pounds, Luck strives for balance with his arm and legs.
“I think situationally, where you are in the game plays a factor. The ultimate decision for me, it’s always trying to get the ball into my playmakers’ hands,” Luck said. “That is goal No. 1. But I remember a long time ago when I was a freshman (at Stanford), coach (Jim) Harbaugh and coach (David) Shaw saying, ‘If you can get a first down or two with your legs a game, that’s a good thing.’ “
Defensive coordinators agree that elusive quarterbacks create the greatest challenge. A defense can look wrong even when it has done everything right, creating added pressure in coverage assignments.
“He can make all the throws, and also he can make all the throws on the run,” Broncos cornerback Chris Harris said. “So that sets him apart from a lot of quarterbacks, and we know we’re going to have to cover a little bit longer. But our D-line, they did a great job of getting after him the first time, so I don’t expect anything different from the D-line. I really expect even more pressure.”
Luck provides the horsepower. As he goes, the Colts go. But when he goes on the road in the playoffs, it hasn’t gone well.
Luck is 2-0 with five touchdown passes and three interceptions at home and 0-2 with a .505 completion percentage, two touchdowns and three interceptions in visiting stadiums. The Colts need him to pass frequently to win, but with attempts in the 50s, the likelihood of a mistake increases.
In the season opener at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Luck threw for 370 yards, but safety Rahim Moore intercepted two of his passes and the Broncos sacked him twice.
“I think he’s getting better and better,” Broncos linebacker Von Miller said. “The concern with him is that he passes, runs, extends plays. He’s the heart of their offense. He’s the heart of their organization. He is our focus.”
Troy E. Renck: trenck@denverpost.com or
