INDIANAPOLIS — Crazy. Dramatic. Embarrassing.
The list of words to describe the Indianapolis Colts‘ 2015 season could go on and on. All 32 NFL teams enter the season with Super Bowl aspirations. But the Colts truly believed they were good enough to make a Super Bowl run after reaching the AFC Championship Game in 2014.
That obviously didn’t happen, as the Colts are at home watching the playoffs. So, let’s take a look back at the season. We’re looking at the top 10 moments — two each day — that played a part in defining the Colts’ season.
No. 10: The fumble
No. 9: Fake field goal
No. 8: Strip sack
No. 7: The overtime interception
No. 6: Early interception
No. 5: Brandon Weeden beats Indy
No. 4: Jim Irsay denies coach-GM rift
What happened: A CBS Sports report came about an hour before the Colts’ Week 1 game at Buffalo that said there was “growing friction between [coach Chuck] Pagano and [general manager] Ryan Grigson.” Pagano had turned down owner Jim Irsay’s one-year contract extension back in the spring, putting the pressure on him to lead the Colts deep into the playoffs.
The impact: Irsay spoke to the media outside the locker room shortly after his team’s 27-14 loss to the Bills. And the owner quickly tried to defuse the report. “That couldn’t be farther from the truth,” Irsay said. "Someone mentioned that to me when I walked in the locker room. I don’t keep track of the rumor mill. That could not be farther from the truth. Ryan and Chuck work hard together. They have a great relationship. I’ve seen coaches and general managers work together since I was 11 years old. I know the dynamic that needs to be there to work together. They have a great relationship. That report is completely false. I guarantee you. There is not one shred of truth to it at all, honestly. These guys have a great relationship. When I heard the report, I was as shocked as anyone. We have so many reports that go around the league these days with Twitter and all the different people who publish reports who are so-called journalists. Couldn’t be further from the truth.”
The last thing the Colts needed was a distraction after the offseason roster moves they made and Irsay saying he wants to win multiple Super Bowls with quarterback Andrew Luck. Pagano and Grigson tried to deny the rift, too, during a surprising news conference in between Weeks 1 and 2. But the truth of the matter was, the coach and general manager had a season-long strained relationship to the point that there was limited communication at the end of the season.