For the Indianapolis Colts to take the next step, a lot of things have to happen.
After a season when Peyton Manning was hurt and before Andrew Luck arrived, the Colts were a dismal 2-14.
In Luck's rookie season, the Colts made the wild-card round of the playoffs.
In Luck's second season, the Colts moved to the second round of the postseason.
This year. Luck's third, the Colts made it all the way to the AFC championship game.
To go beyond, both Luck and the Colts need to make big improvements. This is not just about another incremental improvement in 2015. The Colts need far more, and Luck needs to be far better.
Luck was up and down this season. Look beyond his gaudy pass numbers. And yes, it must be said: He was asked to account for nothing less than a nada run game and a patchy offensive line, not to mention a spotty defense and a Reggie Wayne in clear decline.
But overall,*Luck still had clear room for improvement. And it showed at the worst time.
Poised to make his first Super Bowl, Luck came up small. Dropped passes were a problem early on, but Luck never fully got in rhythm in the AFC title game against the New England Patriots and couldn't string back-to-back quality drives together.*
Luck made some big throws, such as his 36-yard sideline pass to T.Y. Hilton, but also struggled with consistency. He had six passes batted down (a few of which could have been intercepted, completed only 12-of-33 passes (even with the drops, still ...) and had two picks.
Did his team let him down? Absolutely.

This is an incomplete roster, and it also showed in this game. The offensive line was so-so, the defensive line *was pushed around, the secondary was slow to react to several throws in the second half and the team's next-longest play from scrimmage after the Hilton play — prior to the final minutes of the blowout — was 12 yards.
GM Ryan Grigson had a good draft last year, despite trading away his first-round pick, hitting on several of his picks. But they'll need yet another good draft this year, as well as a few smart free-agent additions. This is far from a complete team.
The AFC is weak, and Luck is capable of greatness, so the Colts should be competitive again next season. But in order to take that nexy step — to where the Patriots and Baltimore Ravens seemingly are every season — the defense must get better, a run game must be found and Luck's protection must improve.
That became obvious after the 45-7 beatdown on Sunday.
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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm