Colts vs. Patriots: If Peyton Manning Is Done, Could Luck Keep Rivalry Alive?

With injured quarterback Peyton Manning's future uncertain, the Indianapolis Colts have been leaning more and more toward drafting Stanford Cardinal sensation Andrew Luck.

Luck has shined in the Pac-12, and the Colts hope the talent transfers to the NFL. If Peyton Manning's career is indeed coming to a close, they'll be counting on the young gun to bring them back to AFC contention.

But what would happen to their rivalry with the New England Patriots? Has the current situation in Indianapolis hurt the future of their feud with Tom Brady's troops? 

Let's examine whether Luck could keep the rivalry alive.

Manning vs. Brady: The Foundation of the Rivalry

The Colts and Patriots were in the same division from 1970 to 2001, but they didn't become fierce rivals until Tom Brady and Peyton Manning took their teams to an elite level from 2001-2010.

With a staunch defense and Brady quarterbacking, the Pats became lords of the AFC East.

Meanwhile, Manning's prolific offense propelled Indianapolis to annual AFC South dominance. 

Manning put up huge numbers every year but couldn't crack the Patriots' code until the 2007 AFC Championship.

Manning and Brady combined for six MVP awards and six Super Bowl appearances. This rivalry was special, because both of these signal-callers squared off several times in the prime of their careers.

The two were head and shoulders above the rest, and that's what made the competition so compelling.

Luck's Potential

Andrew Luck has the potential to be a Pro Bowl-caliber NFL quarterback, so he certainly could lead the Colts back to AFC South prominence.

He has the skills, pedigree and moxie to become successful at the pro level.

The Heisman Trophy candidate is competitive enough and polished enough to be a star for Indianapolis.

Pinpoint accuracy is one of the hallmarks of both Brady and Manning's careers, and it's also one of Luck's greatest strengths.

Will Luck be able to match Brady yard-for-yard? Doubtful. But he's got the tools to make things interesting.

Indy's Supporting Cast Must Improve

We knew that Peyton Manning's absence would severely hurt Indianapolis this season, but we didn't know they would look this bad.

The Colts' woes are largely due to Manning being sidelined, but there are plenty of peripheral issues that have caused this team to go winless through November.

The defense is not what it once was—key players such as Bob Sanders have been injured, and others are aging.

A lack of chemistry between defensive coordinator Larry Coyer and the players led to Coyer's firing. 

As for the offense, the running game needs drastic improvement.

All of these facets of the game need to improve for Luck to have a chance to win in Indy. 

New England's Side of the Rivalry

One of the most captivating aspects of the Colts-Patriots rivalry was the matchup of Peyton Manning against the Patriots defense.

At the height of the rivalry, Manning was the best offensive weapon in football, and New England's defense was nearly unsolvable.

Teddy Bruschi, Richard Seymour, Ty Law and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel are all gone, and the defense is not the same.

I understand that change is inevitable, but this matchup was irresistible.

It will take some major developments for these two teams to regain the type of plots and themes that create a dynamic rivalry.

Luck: Manning's Prodigy

Andrew Luck could end up being one of the luckiest prospects ever (no pun intended).

If Manning still plays for another year or two, Luck would reap the benefits of playing under him.

Luck would be able to absorb the keys of NFL quarterbacking from arguably the best quarterback of this era.

This tutelage includes learning the keys to attacking Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.

If Manning and Luck are briefly teammates, it could help Luck tremendously in the long run and help keep the rivalry alive.

Timing Issues

Luck may have a bright future in the NFL, but it will probably take him a couple years to progress and mature to a Pro Bowl level—if he gets to that level at all.

By that time, Tom Brady will be 36 and beginning his decline. 

There will be a tight window of time for them to face each other.

After that, who knows what twists and turns the rivalry will take?

By the time Luck becomes adept at his position, it might be too late. The speed of his development will dictate the magnitude of the rivalry.

Continued Rivalry Possible, but Not Probable

If Indianapolis can get its act together and Luck thrives as a young quarterback, then it is possible for them to keep the rivalry going.

But there are too many variables involved, and it's unlikely that the teams can bring back the kind of spark the rivalry had with Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning.

If Manning is gone, it will take a lot of pieces falling in the right places to continue the Pats vs. Colts magic.