Where Does Win over Bengals Rank Among Andrew Luck's Best Games?

The quarterbacks that are remembered and loved are the ones who save their best for the postseason.

Fortunately for the Indianapolis Colts, Andrew Luck did just that this past weekend, putting on one of his most flawless performances to date against the Cincinnati Bengals in the Colts' 26-10 win.

Statistically, it was nice, completing over 70 percent of his passes for over 8.5 yards per attempt and a touchdown. Aesthetically, it was even better, as Luck could have had nearly 450 yards had his receivers not had a case of the dropsies early.

Luck was simply phenomenal with his ball placement, touch and velocity throughout the afternoon, and he avoided any questionable decisions that would often give pause to his overall performance.

On Monday, head coach Chuck Pagano told the media what we were all thinking, per Conrad Brunner of ESPN's 1070 The Fan:

"

#Colts Pagano: One of best games Luck has ever played when considering decision-making, accuracy, taking what defense gave.

— Conrad Brunner (@1070Bruno) January 5, 2015"

The game simply had all the parts of a great individual game, from significance to performance to statistics.

But was it Luck's best performance? The third-year quarterback has had numerous memorable games in his short career, so where does this one stack up? 

In order to answer that question, we're going to look at all of the different factors, including statistical dominance, game significance, quality of opponent and the eye test. 

Honorable Mention: 2014 at Jacksonville, 2012 vs. Green Bay

Picking between Luck's best games is kind of like picking between children, except Luck's big games don't cost me quite as much time, money or sleep. 

Both the Colts' domination in Jacksonville earlier this season and the comeback win against Green Bay were strong performances from Luck, but in the end, they each had a distinct flaw that helped keep them out of my top five. 

The game at Jacksonville should be remembered because it was Luck's first really dominating performance, statistically. He would go on to have similar type games against Tennessee and Washington later in the year, but this was the first one. Luck completed a ridiculous 79.5 percent of his passes (career high) for four touchdowns and 11.54 adjusted yards per attempt (third-best in his career).

This is the only game in which Luck has ever surpassed a passer rating of 140 (140.4). Luck was dominant from start to finish, and the Colts were up 30-0 going into the half. 

Coming off two losses to start the season, Luck set the foundation for what would be his best season yet. However, it was also the Jaguars, and while their defense would improve, beating up on the little brother isn't what you want to put on the highlight tape. 

The Green Bay game, on the other hand, is a bit of the opposite. The game is incredibly significant in Luck "lore," since it was his first really remarkable comeback win. The Colts were given almost no chance in this game with Pagano having just gone to the hospital and the Packers coming in hot. 

Luck made some incredible plays in this one (like completing a pass to Reggie Wayne on third down with Clay Matthews draped all over his back), but as a whole it wasn't one of his best games.

The Colts only scored three points in the first half, leading to the big 18-point deficit in the first place. Luck threw for 362 yards, but it took him 55 attempts to get there for a less-than-mediocre 6.58 yards per attempt. He also threw an interception and nearly threw another back-breaking one that was overturned after replay. 

The game belongs amid those needed to tell the story of Andrew Luck, but the best individual performance in this one was Reggie Wayne's 13 catches for 212 yards and a touchdown. 

5. 2013 vs. Denver

When an all-time great quarterback and historically good offense comes to town, it's easy to get intimidated. Especially when you are a second-year quarterback and the opponent is your predecessor who is a future Hall of Famer and essentially built your current franchise up from nothing. 

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

It's hard to imagine exactly what that kind of pressure would be like, but Luck handled it with aplomb. 

Despite all the media hoopla around him and the circus at the stadium regarding Peyton Manning's return, Luck came out and calmed everybody down with a stellar first half. The Colts scored 24 offensive points in the first half, capped off by Luck's touchdown pass to Coby Fleener in the two-minute drill to end the second quarter. 

A lot of credit goes to the Colts defense for limiting Manning as long as they did, but Luck played largely mistake-free and directed the offense to 37 points. He finished with 228 yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions and a highlight-reel win against the league's best quarterback. 

4. 2013 vs. Kansas City (Wild Card Round)

How can you talk about Luck's best games without his most signature win?

While Luck wasn't statistically dominant in this game, given his three interceptions, he did complete 64 percent of his passes for 443 yards and four touchdowns as well. 

The story of this game is the incredible comeback, Luck picking up his first playoff win and the essence of Luck's potential and willpower being enough to carry the Colts anywhere. 

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Sure, Luck was part of the problem that led to the Colts being down 38-10 in the third quarter. But he wasn't the main reason. The Colts defense allowed the Chiefs to score on every single first-half drive until the final drive of the second quarter. Luck was down 31-10 before his first interception. 

At that point, picks are almost guaranteed when you are trying to force the ball down the field in a comeback attempt. Sure, Luck wasn't flawless in his decision-making, but he also had one interception bounce off T.Y. Hilton's hands. He just kept chucking the ball downfield and making things happen, which is exactly what you need from your quarterback in that situation. 

Any time you throw the fifth-most passing yards ever in a single postseason game and get a playoff win is a game that probably will stick out on a quarterback's resume. 

3. 2013 vs. Seattle 

How exactly does a regular-season win where Luck only completed 16 passes qualify for third on this list, especially when he only ran four times for nine yards? 

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Well, considering it was against one of the best defenses in history and the eventual Super Bowl champs, there's a little bit of an adjustment for opponent here. Luck only completed 55 percent of his passes, but threw for 229 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions for an adjusted yards per attempt of 9.28. 

Luck also made some simply incredible plays in this game, like this Russell Wilson-like third-down conversion, or his single best throw of the year.

He did have what could have been a costly fumble in this game, but he brought the team back after being down all game, something that is very difficult against that Seattle defense. 

The Colts' 34 points was the most scored on Seattle all season, and Luck's yards per attempt of 7.90 and adjusted yards per attempt of 9.28 were both season highs for quarterbacks against Seattle. 

2. 2012 vs. Miami

At first, you wouldn't put this game at No. 2 on this list. 

A win over Miami? A win that wasn't an incredible comeback or particularly significant win (Week 9)?

But take a look at the stat sheet from that game:

Att.	Comp.	Yards	TD	INT	Y/A	AY/A	PFF Grade
30	48	433	2	0	9.02	9.85	+6.2

Those 433 yards? A career high. 

Throwing for over nine yards per attempt? The fifth-best mark of his career, as was his adjusted yards per attempt. 

Luck took over the game, throwing for over 400 yards efficiently against a very solid Miami defense. Miami came into the game leading the league on third down as a defense, allowing a first down less than 26 percent of the time, per Pro Football Reference. 

The Colts converted 13 third downs on 19 chances, including converting eight 3rd-and-long (seven or more yards to go) on 11 chances. 

One of those third downs was one of the signature plays from Luck's rookie year, although the game provided plenty more highlights.

It was a game in which Luck broke the rookie single-game passing yards record, and he did it without the turnovers and inefficiency that plagued many of his other games that season. 

I know it's not one that comes up in most peoples' minds right away when you think about Luck, but go back and watch it if you can. It was the first sign that Luck could completely carry a team at an elite level.

1. 2014 vs. Cincinnati (Wild Card Round)

This wasn't my intention when I started this list, but after going back through, I can't come up with any other conclusion: Andrew Luck's dominating performance against the Bengals on Sunday was the best game of his career. 

He was, in a word, flawless. 

Whether it was making the right decision to check down to his running back early or taking advantage of the Bengals' safety blitz for a big play late, Luck read the field like a veteran. But what made it really special were his throws that accompanied the decision-making. 

Luck wasn't just hitting open receivers. The Bengals have one of the most talented secondaries in the league, with five former first-round picks in the cornerback group alone. Luck was hitting very small windows with astonishing ball placement, using varying velocity and touch to put the ball exactly where he wanted to. 

And that's not even including the five drops his receivers had, which took another 75 yards off the board, or the needless block in the back by rookie Donte Moncrief that erased a touchdown pass to Coby Fleener in the second half. 

Completing over 70 percent of his passes for 376 yards (the most of any quarterback last weekend) made him just the sixth quarterback to throw for over 375 yards on 70 percent completions in a playoff game. His 376 yards gave him the most passing yards ever by a quarterback in his first four playoff games. 

Outside of having to settle for field goals a few times, Luck was as good as it gets on Sunday, and in a playoff game to boot. 

It was the evolution of Luck, happening right before our eyes.

Now the Colts and their fans just hope it continues in Denver.