The Indianapolis Colts started 2018 with a 1-5 record but went 9-1 down the stretch. A 10-6 record was good enough to make the playoffs. It was also enough to make people recognize the talent on this roster.
Which source of talent was recognized the most? Andrew Luck. The quarterback didn't play in 2017. In fact, there was speculation he would never throw a football again.
Luck was back in 2018. He had arguably his best NFL season. Not only did he play, but he played in all 16 games. He racked up 39 touchdowns (one off his career high) compared to 15 interceptions.
Luck also managed 4,593 yards (fewer than 200 yards from his career best) and hit a new top mark in completion percentage with 67.3, almost 4% higher than his previous high.
After such a massive year, what does Andrew Luck have in store for an encore? Is an NFL MVP honor a possibility? Here are three reasons why he should be a front-runner for the award.
The Colts are a passing team
Last season, the Indianapolis Colts had a solid running back, Marlon Mack. Yet, this was — and is — still a passing team.
Last year, Luck threw the ball 639 times, second only to Ben Roethlisberger (675).
Throwing the ball more will help Luck accumulate more yards and give him more touchdown opportunities. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Colts throw on the goal line more often than most other teams.
It also helps that Luck can tuck and run when needed. Although his numbers weren't great last year (148 rushing yards), everyone is aware of that threat. His legs help him to extend plays.
Luck is the perfect quarterback for this system. He has a strong arm and can still thrive without a running game. When the running game is on, that makes him even more dangerous.
With the Colts expected to throw the ball a ton again, Luck should keep his numbers high. Numbers equal recognition, recognition equals awards.
A Winning Team
One of the most important parts of being in the MVP race is having a winning team. If your team isn't winning, a player clearly wasn't valuable enough. It's not an ironclad argument, but it's enough to sway votes. Voters won't select someone with great stats on a 5-win team if another player posts similar stats on a 12-win team.
Last season the Colts won 10 games and made the playoffs. Andrew Luck was clearly one of the biggest pieces in the puzzle.
The Colts should be in line for another big season in 2019. If they win more games than in 2018, few would be surprised.
This will also be another year in the NFL for Mack, as well as stud linebacker Darius Leonard. The natural progressions of young players will only help the Colts win more games.
If there's one downfall in this category, it's the division they're in. The AFC South had two other teams that won nine or more games in 2018. The Tennessee Titans came in third with a 9-7 record, while the Houston Texans went 11-5.
In last place were the Jacksonville Jaguars with a 5-11 mark. However, they're expected to be improved in 2019, especially with Nick Foles at quarterback.
While this could hurt the Colts in the loss column, it could help Luck's case as well. If he can lead Indianapolis to a division championship, that will look great(er) on his résumé.
Offensive Line
The Indianapolis Colts boast one of the best offensive lines in football. A group of Anthony Castonzo, Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Mark Glowinski and Braden Smith is extremely formidable.
Last season, the Colts' linemen proved to be elite in both the passing and running games.
Sustained high-level performance from his offensive line means everything you would expect for Luck: He will have more time in the pocket. He can scan the field longer. He will have a cleaner field of vision and less fear of having passes swatted down at the line.
The running game will improve. A healthy running game takes more pressure off Luck. Play action will be much more effective. Pass rushes will be slowed down.
Andrew Luck carries this offense as it is. Having solid targets and a great offensive line will make his numbers infinitely better.
His fantastic arm talent combined with an elite offensive line could mean big things, including an MVP award on his shelf.
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