NFL Playoffs: Luck, Colts Oust Manning, Broncos, Advance To AFC Championship Game Against Brady, Patriots

Young quarterback Andrew Luck outplayed veteran QB Peyton Manning in leading the Indianapolis Colts past the Denver Broncos, 24-13 on Sunday in the National Football League (NFL) post-season. Denver opened the scoring off a 7-play 68-yard play that led to Manning’s first touchdown of the game. But the Colts responded with two scores in the second quarter capping TDs in 73 and 41 yards drives to give the Colts the 14-7 lead. The Broncos scored on a field goal to cut the lead to 14-10 at halftime.

Luck, who finished with 265 passing yards on 27-of-43 completions with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, credited a total team effort in the post-game interviews and he wasn’t wrong. Eight players had 10 receiving yards or more and five players had 30 yards or more led by T.Y. Hilton with 72 yards on 4 catches and Coby Fleener with 49 yards on 3 catches.

"I'd like to think I am a better quarterback and would like to think we're a better team" Luck said to ESPN.com. "We are well equipped to handle the unknown, the unforeseen.”

Defensively, the Colts were in-form as well. Denver averaged 291.3 passing yards in the regular season but was limited to 200 total passing yards for the game. With Indianapolis pressure from all over, Manning passed for just 26-for-46 with 211 yards credited to him for a single touchdown and was sacked twice as well. C.J. Anderson had 80 rushing yards on 18 carries while Demaryius Thomas had 59 yards on 5 receptions and Julius Thomas had 53 yards on 6 catches for the Broncos, which comes up short once again in their bid for a Super Bowl title.

The Colts now move on to the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts, who took care of their divisional round match-up versus the Baltimore Ravens, 35-31. Luck took down Manning and the Broncos and the NFL awaits how he’ll perform against Tom Brady and the Patriots.

To contact author of this article, email j.gloria@IBTimes.com.au