INDIANAPOLIS – Andrew Luck entered his rookie season with the weight of expectation.
He exited the season on Saturday night by being the runner-up for the NFL's Offensive Rookie-of-the-Year by the Associated Press.
The top overall pick in the draft, Luck helped guide the Colts to an 11-5 record and the Wild Card Playoffs. He had one of the most dynamic seasons ever by a young quarterback.
Luck (339-of-627 passing for 4,374 yards and 23 TDs) set NFL rookie records in attempts, yards and 300-yard games (six). Luck ranked fifth in NFL attempts, 10th in completions, seventh in yards and 17th in yards per attempt (6.98).
Luck finished second in AP voting to Washington's Robert Griffin III.
Griffin had a 102.4 rating and 815 rushing yards in helping the Redskins to a 10-6 record and the NFC East title.
Luck was one of eight rookies ever to throw 20-plus touchdown passes. He became the only NFL rookie to exceed 4,000 yards and earn at least 10 starting wins (11).
Luck set the NFL rookie record with seven fourth-quarter or overtime comeback wins, surpassing six achieved by Ben Roethlisberger (2004) and Vince Young (2006). The Colts' seven such wins in 2012 tied a league record done six other times.
The 11 wins Luck earned placed him with Roethlisberger (13), Joe Flacco (11, 2008), Matt Ryan (11, 2008) and Russell Wilson (11, 2012) as the only rookies to exceed 10 wins.
"He's playing right now like he's been in the league three or four years," said Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano at the end of the regular season.
Luck's six 300 games surpassed the previous league mark of Peyton Manning (4, 1998). He eclipsed Manning's rookie club records in yards, attempts and completions (3,739; 575; 326).
Luck eclipsed Cam Newton's NFL record for rookie passing yards (4,051). Against Miami in week nine, Luck threw
for 433 yards to surpass Newton's (432) previous NFL rookie record.
Luck's seven wins in fourth-quarter or overtime fashion tied the NFL seasonal record done six other times, including in 1999 and 2009 by Manning. His seven in a single season tied for the most by a veteran or rookie QB since at least 1970. The comeback performances came against Minnesota, Green Bay, at Tennessee, Miami, at Detroit, vs. Tennessee and at Kansas City.
Luck averaged 273.4 passing yards a game, 7th-most in the NFL and most among rookie QBs. He was second among AFC QBs with 255 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. The rushing touchdowns broke the previous club seasonal record of four by Bert Jones (1974) and Manning (2001, 2006).
Luck is the third Colt to win NFL Offensive Rookie-of-the-Year honors by the Associated Press, joining Marshall Faulk (1994) and Edgerrin James (1999).
"We're watching a kid grow up in front of our eyes. This is just the beginning," said Cory Redding during the season."
