Andrew Luck to Peyton Manning: 'No Hard Feelings'

The sellout crowd at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium greeted the visiting Denver Broncos team with jeers and boos initially. But when former Colt quarterback, Peyton Manning took the field the boos slowly changed to emotional cheers. A video tribute played to honor Manning’s 14 season run as a member of the Colts as if to show there were no hard feelings. Manning took off his Broncos helmet and acknowledged the crowd following the tribute. One would wonder if there were any Colt’s fans in the sold out Indianapolis stadium. Colt’s replacement quarterback, Andrew Luck, received little adoration from this pro-Manning crowd.

There has been some controversy regarding Manning's return to Denver. During a USA Today interview, Colt's Owner Jim Irsay waved his Super Bowl XLI championship ring in the air as he stated having no regrets releasing Manning. But Irsay’s previous remarks did not cloud Manning’s return to Indianapolis stadium as he was greeted with a standing ovation.

At game time, Andrew Luck still carried the title of replacement quarterback for the Colts. The pre-game scene would make one wonder if Manning was leading both teams on the field with Luck standing in a huge shadow. In some ways, it was as if the game was already decided by the crowd as the 13th juror. Some have even said there would be two parades should the Broncos win the Super Bowl, with one in Denver and the other in Indianapolis.

Manning opened up the game against his prior Colts team with surgical strikes to his receivers to take the expected lead. But Andrew Luck was not content to remain in the shadow. The Colts offense pieced apart the Denver defense. Manning could only watch from the sideline as the damage was done. Andrew Luck repeatedly displayed his strong running game against the ill prepared Denver defense. Perhaps if the replacement quarterback lobbed bombs down field this iconic game would have had a different result.

Manning was able to close the Colt's lead to within 6 points but was unable to seal the win. The Colt’s replacement quarterback handed Manning and the (6-0) Denver Broncos their first loss of the season with a 33-39 loss to the Colts. It wasn’t a picture perfect Colt’s offense but it was the deciding factor in the game. Luck ran the ball and played it safe against the Denver defense who still managed to recover some fumbles.

What was notable more so than the well played Colts' performance was the resolute posture of Andrew Luck following the game winning play. He was no longer the replacement quarterback nor was he in anyone's shadow. He had won the Colts more than a game but healed his team of the Manning stigma. And the slightly confused Colts fans seemed to recover their senses and remembered just who their home quarterback was.

Andrew Luck met with Manning after the game to shake hands. It was a good moment and one of closure. The record is set straight between the two great players who fought a hard game that was played both on and off the field. Luck shook Manning's hand as if to say "No hard feelings, but we are now even."