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 did believe 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. Over the next five days, I’m going to look at the top 10 moments -- two each day -- that played a part in defining the Colts’ season.
No. 10: The fumble
What happened: Things weren’t going right all game for the Colts up to this point in their Week 2 matchup with the Jets. Quarterback Andrew Luck threw an interception and lost a fumble and Adam Vinatieri missed a 29-yard field goal in the first half. But the Colts still trailed only 10-0 when they opened the second half by going on an 18-play, 79-yard drive that had them with the ball on third-and-goal from the Jets’ 1-yard line. Running back Frank Gore took the handoff from Luck and looked like he was going in for an easy touchdown on the left side to potentially cut the Jets’ lead to three points. Then Gore did what seemed liked the unthinkable at the time -- he fumbled. Jets All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis recovered the ball to end what was an impressive drive by the Colts.
The impact of the play: Momentum would have swung the Colts’ way had they scored a touchdown on that possession, especially since the Jets missed a field goal at the end of the first half and were forced to punt on their first two possessions of the second half. Luck threw two more interceptions -- he had four turnovers total in the game -- and the Colts lost the Monday night game 20-7 to fall to 0-2. After the game, Colts coach Chuck Pagano reminded everybody about their offensive line issues after Luck had been blitzed on 47.9 percent of his dropbacks through the first two weeks of the season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. “That’s been the case for three years now, has it not?” Pagano said.