INDIANAPOLIS — Reality hit hard as soon as the Indianapolis Colts

walked into their locker room Monday morning.Andrew Luck’s stall was empty Tyquan Lewis Jersey , the name plate gone, the era over.Coach Frank Reich and general manager Chris Ballard started the day with a team meeting to discuss how the Colts would proceed without their newly retired starting quarterback.Luck’s replacement, Jacoby Brissett, took the podium inside a packed media room, Pro Bowl receiver T.Y. Hilton wore a Stanford baseball cap to honor his 2012 draft classmate and then it was time to get back to work.“In one respect this story is unique and shocking,” coach Frank Reich said. “But it’s happened enough where a team loses a great player, and it galvanizes a team and propels them to a championship.”The former pastor has a vast array of resources to make the point, some from his own experiences.In 1989, when Jim Kelly got hurt, most thought the Buffalo Bills would slow things down for his backup, Reich.Instead, coach Marv Levy didn’t change a thing and Reich responded by leading the Bills to three consecutive wins. Three years later, with Kelly out again, Reich won two playoff games, including the greatest comeback in postseason history as the Bills eventually won their third straight AFC title.In 2017, Reich was Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator when MVP candidate Carson Wentz tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee — an injury many expected to derail the Eagles’ title hopes. Instead, Nick Foles stepped in and led Philadelphia to its first title since 1960.Then there was the seemingly made-for-TV script from two decades ago when grocery store bagger-turned-quarterback Kurt Warner took over for the injured Trent Green and led the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl title. Warner was the league’s MVP, too.But Reich and the Colts know this season is not about the past. They must focus on adding their own, unique chapter to the underdog story to fill the hole in the middle of the locker room.“I need to be Jacoby Brissett, just be myself,” he said when asked about permanently replacing his close friend. “It’s always been prepare like you’re the starter.”Outside the locker room, many doubt Brissett can emerge as the next Foles, Warner or even Reich. Brissett went 4-11 in 2017 Ryan Grant Color Rush Jersey , becoming the starter less than two weeks after Indy acquired him in a trade from New England, behind an offensive line that allowed the most sacks in the NFL that season.Around the Colts’ complex, though, there are plenty of Brissett believers.Reich noted Brissett has taken more than 1,200 snaps with the starting unit since offseason workouts started in April as Luck tried to recover from a lower left leg injury.Plus, he’s working with a coach who has been down this road previously. Reich spent his first decade in the NFL playing behind a Hall of Famer, needing to be ready at every moment. It’s a conversation the two have had multiple times since Reich was hired 18½ months ago.“From Day One, I came in and watched all of Jacoby’s film and I said this guy is a top-20 quarterback, this guy is a starting quarterback in the NFL,” Reich said. “This guy is all in, he’s not just checking off boxes. He’s a great leader and I’m excited for him.”So are teammates, who have embraced Brissett’s hard-working approach on the field and his fun-loving style off it.As for Luck, teammates universally backed his decision to walk away two weeks before the Sept. 8 season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers.Some, like Brissett and left tackle Anthony Castonzo, acknowledged Luck let them in on the secret before Saturday’s game. Most, like All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard, said they found out as word trickled out on the sideline.Luck made his formal announcement to the team in the postgame locker room, just moments before going public with the decision.Castonzo understood.“Everybody deals with the pain, it’s when you’re out there and you’re doing something and you feel yourself not being able to change direction or miss a throw in his case,” he said. “It’s when the pain starts to affect your ability on the field is when it really gets to you.”Most were disappointed with the chorus of boos Luck heard from fans as he left the Lucas Oil Stadium turf for the final time.“It sucked,” Brissett said, acknowledging Luck was at peace with the choice. “I mean you don’t want to hear that, especially for a guy like that who’s done what he’s done and what he’s been through.”But it didn’t take the Colts long to move on from Saturday — or the announcement that shocked the football world.“It’s the same old https://www.coltsfanshop.com/Marshall-Faulk-Jersey , same old,” Leonard said. “He’s a great player, we respect everything Andrew does. But now we’re focused on Jacoby Brissett and winning games.”100<button class="view-gallery">View Gallery</button> Gallery:View from the sidelines: NFL cheerleaders 2018Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports | Raj Mehta INDIANAPOLIS — Andrew Luck was at his best when it mattered most for the Indianapolis Colts.Including some fancy footwork at a big moment.After throwing three TD passes, Luck calmly stepped through Miami’s pass rush and found Chester Rogers for a 34-yard gain that helped set up Adam Vinatieri’s 32-yard field goal as time expired in the Colts’ improbable 27-24 victory over the Dolphins on Sunday.“There’s a moment there where you’re thinking ‘Don’t go down, stay up, give our guys a chance,'” Luck said. “I’m glad it worked out.”For most of Indianapolis’ fifth straight win, Luck & Co. struggled.He was picked off twice in a 17-second span at the end of the first half. The Colts also lost a fumble. They had a punt partially blocked and Vinatieri came up well short on a makeable field goal — though it appeared the Dolphins (5-6) might have deflected the kick.Then, with the Colts trailing 24-14 early in the fourth, Luck found a way to rally his teammates.He overcame two offensive penalties to set up Vinatieri’s 46-yard field goal with 8:26 left. He fired a perfect 12-yard strike to Eric Ebron, tying it at 24 with 4:25 remaining. And after the Colts’ defense forced a second straight three-and-out, Luck took over on his own 42 and kept his balance just long enough on third-and-9 to connect with Rogers.“I didn’t think that,” coach Frank Reich said when asked if he thought Luck might fall down. “I saw him stepping up and I’m so accustomed to him finding a way to make a play. I wasn’t anticipating him finding someone for a 30- or 40-yard gain, but what a play.”Four plays later, Vinatieri trotted onto the field and made the 28th game-winning kick of his career.The resurgent Luck finished 30 of 37 for 343 yards. He has thrown at least three TD passes in eight consecutive games, tying Peyton Manning for the second-longest streak in NFL history.Luck also had his first career reception , a 4-yard catch for a fourth-down conversion that eventually led to a 1-yard TD pass to Jack Doyle late in the first half.It’s the longest win streak for Indianapolis (6-5) since it also won five in a row in the first half of the 2014 season.The Dolphins, meanwhile, have lost 10 of their last 11 road games — perhaps none more frustrating than this game.Ryan Tannehill returned after missing five games with a shoulder injury and played well from the start.His 33-yard TD pass to Kenyan Drake on the opening possession ended the team’s nine-quarter streak without a touchdown and his 74-yard TD pass to Leonte Carroo tied it at 14 late in the first half. Jason Sanders kicked a 29-yard field goal early in the third quarter and Drake’s nifty 14-yard run with 13:36 remaining gave the Dolphins a 24-14 lead.With Luck working his magic, it didn’t last. He led the Colts on three scoring drives in the final 8 1/2 minutes.“It hurts,” Tannehill said. “We were in a good position to win and to not finish it hurts.”INJURY REPORTDolphins: Receiver Danny Amendola (right knee) and center Travis Swanson (ankle) both left in the first quarter.Colts: Linebacker Darius Leonard injured his knee on the first play of the game but returned on the next defensive series. Running back Marlon Mack entered the concussion protocol in the fourth quarter.STAT PACKDolphins: Frank Gore ran 14 times for 67 yards against his former team. … Drake caught five passes for 64 yards and the TD. … Xavien Howard picked off Luck twice. … The Dolphins squandered their last chance when Howard was called for a personal foul following the Colts’ last touchdown and Senorise Perry drew a holding call on the ensuing return to pin Miami at its own 6-yard line.Colts: Luck’s streak of consecutive dropbacks without a sack ended at 239. … Ebron has 11 TDs this season — matching his career total coming into this season. … T.Y. Hilton had seven catches for 125 yards. … Mack ran 15 times for 85 yards.UP NEXTDolphins: Host Buffalo in a division matchup next Sunday.Colts: Visit Jacksonville next Sunday, seeking a series sweep of last year’s AFC runner-up.