T.Y. Hilton Takes the Torch from Reggie Wayne in Colts' Comeback Win

The Indianapolis Colts have made a habit of starting slow over the last few weeks, especially offensively. 

In a game that was ugly at times, with Andrew Luck coughing the ball up three times (leading to 17 Cleveland points), there could be much to criticize. But in the end, the Colts got the win, a 25-24 comeback victory over a playoff contender on the road. 

Yes, the turnovers need to be corrected. Yes, there are some early inconsistencies in play-calling that contributed to the slow start, including the stubbornness of starting Trent Richardson.

But the Colts got the win, and against winning teams on the road, that's all that matters. 

And who was the most important player in the win? Perhaps it was Luck, who generally carries the team to victory. But Luck needed help, and nobody gave him more than WR T.Y. Hilton. Hilton, of course, has been phenomenal throughout the year and had his sixth game of at least 100 yards receiving with 10 catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday. 

After being a one-dimensional deep threat in his rookie season, Hilton was forced into a No. 1 receiver role last season after Reggie Wayne went on injured reserve with an ACL tear. The second-year receiver had some struggles in that role, but by the end of the season, Hilton had grown tremendously. His dominating performance in the Colts' comeback win over Kansas City was a sign: Hilton was ready to take the next step. 

But nobody really knew what that meant. 

With all the Colts' perceived weapons coming into the season, would Hilton just be a cog in Indianapolis' passing machine? Would he truly take the reins from Wayne as the next great Colts receiver? 

Well, there is no doubt left in Hoosiers' minds. T.Y. Hilton is not just the future; he is the present. 

On Sunday, he was transcendent yet again. After finishing the first half with just one catch, Hilton took over in the second half, burning everybody from Pro Bowl CB Joe Haden to rookie Justin Gilbert. Sure, he had a few poor moments (everybody did for Indianapolis), including a dropped touchdown, a fumble and a tipped pass that led to an interception. 

But in the end, Luck went to Hilton for big plays, and Hilton rewarded his trust to the line of 150 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner. 

That's what a Pro Bowl wide receiver does.

Unfortunately, there was a stark contrast to Hilton's fantastic performance: Reggie Wayne. 

We've seen hints of Hilton taking Wayne's role in the past, but as Colts Authority's Nate Dunlevy iterated, this one felt a little different: 

Watching the Colts great struggle on Sunday was just painful, and his final line of one catch for five yards (on eight targets) still doesn't communicate how bad he looked at times. Whether it was drops, failing to get separation or simply not producing, it was a brutal dose of mortality for Wayne. 

Perhaps there's something to his elbow injury that Wayne suffered earlier in the season. Perhaps it's just age. But no matter the case, it's affecting his on-field play. 

The torch has been passed. 

That doesn't mean that Wayne isn't a key member of the team. He'll likely provide more than a few third-down conversions by the time the year ends, and he has the best coverage-reading skills of any of the Colts receivers. Indianapolis still needs him to be a zone-beater and possession receiver to be an elite offense. 

But it does mean that now and going forward, Hilton is the Colts receiver that defenses must send extra defenders toward. It means Wayne likely can't be the Colts' focal point in offensive game-planning. 

On one hand, it's heartbreaking to watch Wayne decline, much like it was during Marvin Harrison's final year. 

On the other, T.Y. Hilton is special. Not everybody gets to watch a future elite quarterback and his go-to wide receiver grow up together, and it's a joy to observe. 

For every yin, there's a yang. For the Colts, it seems to be wide receivers. As one fades away, another emerges.