NFL

Colts’ Luck faces steepest test vs. Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has a knack for pulling out thrilling victories, but Saturday he will test himself against Tom Brady, the star who has turned winning into an art form.

Can the winningest quarterback of this generation hold off the upset bid from the prototype passer of the next? Luck admits he measures himself against Brady, and suffered the worst loss of his career last season against these same Patriots, but he said he has grown since then.

In Saturday’s AFC divisional playoff at Gillette Stadium, he will show if it’s enough.

“I don’t want to dwell too much on last year,” said Luck, who threw three interceptions against New England on Nov. 18, 2012. “They do a great job of forcing turnovers, getting to the quarterback. We know it’s going to be a dogfight. … We know we’re going to have our hands full.”

When asked if he is a better player since that loss, Luck said, “Yeah, I think so. I think I’ve improved. I am nowhere near perfect, but I think I’ve improved. They do such a great job of disguising and making everything look the same, and then lo and behold it was different and, shoot, you did something stupid. So, I do feel like I’m better equipped to handle this.’’

Luck has looked plenty equipped, going 14-2 in games decided by a touchdown or fewer. And he cemented his clutch reputation by throwing for 443 yards and four touchdowns to rally Indianapolis from a 28-point deficit for a 45-44 comeback win over Kansas City last weekend, a Brady-like performance.

“He’s got that — probably what Tom has and what Peyton [Manning] has and all the great ones have, is the ability to identify and see things and put things behind him and move on,’’ said Colts coach Chuck Pagano.

Luck had to watch Brady throw for 331 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in the Patriots’ laugher last season, admitting the three-time Super Bowl winner is the measuring stick he holds himself up to.

“He’s definitely set the standard for success at the quarterback position,’’ Luck said. “The way he handles himself … the competitive nature and basically all the right things he does, yeah, he’s a barometer and he’s the standard.’’

A look inside the game:

MARQUEE MATCHUP: Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton vs. Patriots cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Logan Ryan

Hilton has emerged as a devastating weapon for Luck. In the Colts’ blowout loss last season against New England, Hilton was one of the few bright spots, with six receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns. He has 379 receiving yards over his past two games, including a 13-catch, 224-yard, two-touchdown performance last weekend against Kansas City.

“He’s productive at all three levels of the defense,” said Patriots coach Bill Belicheck, renowned for being able to take away opponents’ top threat. “He’s a vertical receiver, he’s a good intermediate receiver and he’s a good catch-and-run short receiver that can turn short plays into big plays.”

Talib is a Pro Bowl talent at corner, and should get safety help over the top on Hilton. But Ryan — a rookie drafted in the third-round from Rutgers — is solid as well, and the duo has combined for nine interceptions this season.

BATTER BRADY: No quarterback is at his best while he is getting knocked around in the pocket, and Brady is no exception. His 87.3 rating this season was his worst since 2003, and it’s no coincidence the Patriots’ pass-protection hasn’t been at its best. Brady has been sacked 40 times, the most since his first full season in 2001. Don’t think the Colts haven’t noticed.

Indianapolis has a game-wrecker in right outside linebacker Robert Mathis, who led the NFL in sacks this season with 19 ½, and had another in last weekend’s win over Kansas City. Watch the matchup with left tackle Nate Solder carefully, especially with left guard Logan Mankins playing injured.

WILL YOUTH BE SERVED? Brady has nine Pro Bowls and three Super Bowl rings. He torched the Colts last year, going 24-for-35 with 331 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. But Luck is regarded as the quarterback of the future, and is 14-2 in game decided by a TD or fewer. Can he go into Gillette Stadium and knock off the old guard?

RUN TO WIN: With a 60-percent chance of rain expected in Foxborough, the game could get sloppy, magnifying the importance of the ground game — where New England has an overwhelming edge.

Even after trading a first-round pick for Trent Richardson, the Colts don’t run well and can’t stop the run, just 26th in the NFL in that category. The Patriots have gotten surprising production from their running backs. Stevan Ridley and LeGarrette Blount, a Buccaneers castoff, have combined for 1,545 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Numbers of note

41: Age of ex-Pats kicker Adam Vinatieri, still going strong for Indianapolis and likely to play a role in the rainy conditions.

28: Deficit the Colts erased last weekend against the Chiefs.

17: Playoff wins for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, an NFL record.

+13: The Colts’ turnover margin, third-best in football. The Patriots are plus-9, so whichever team wins this turnover battle likely wins.