Colts Make Playoffs One Season After Going 2-14

Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck has helped lead the Colts turnaround from 2-14 to a playoff berth. (AP Photo)

Last season, the Indianapolis Colts went a league worst 2-14 and were compensated with the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. With highly acclaimed Andrew Luck in the draft, they made the difficult decision to cut ties with the face of the franchise, veteran quarterback Peyton Manning. Expectations were high for the young quarterback, but no one knew for sure how much the Colts could accomplish with all of the changes that took place during a turbulent offseason.

Having to fill the shoes of a legend like Peyton Manning is not an easy task to say the least. However, I am sure that Luck and this season's Colts exceeded whatever expectations people had for them this season. They have even managed to accomplish everything without their head coach on the sidelines for the majority of the season. Coach Chuck Pagano has been undergoing treatment for leukemia.

The Colts entered Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs with much on the line. Luck took care of the first step late in the second quarter when he broke Cam Newton's single-season rookie passing record with a 23-yard pass to fellow rookie T.Y. Hilton. Luck has now thrown for 4,183 yards this season, but my guess is he didn't even realize it because he was focused on what he does best, winning football games.

The Colts needed him to do exactly that late in the fourth quarter with the game on the line. Luck took care of business. He drove down the field and completed a 7-yard touchdown pass to veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne with 4:08 remaining in the game. The touchdown lifted the Colts to the win, 20-13. In doing so, Luck extended his own rookie record for fourth-quarter or overtime comebacks to seven.

The win improved the Colts record to 10-5 and clinched their spot in the playoffs. They join the 2008 Miami Dolphins as the only teams to win at least 10 games after losing 14 or more the previous season. The Colts have won four out of their last five games and currently hold the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs.

The Colts get to celebrate with Coach Pagano, who is expected to return to coaching on Monday. They will prepare to play an angry Houston Texans team in the regular season finale. The Texans had a chance to lock up home-field advantage in the playoffs, but lost today to the Minnesota Vikings. Instead of resting next week, they will be playing  to try and secure a first-round bye. The Colts will be playing under no such pressure. They are just happy to be winning once again and to be back in the playoffs.