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. 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
What happened: The opportunity was right there for the Colts to put the vulnerable Jacksonville Jaguars away in Week 14. Rookie safety Clayton Geathers picked up safety Mike Adams’ strip sack of Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles and returned it to Jacksonville’s 29-yard line with 82 seconds left in the first half. A touchdown would have given the Colts a 20-3 lead at halftime. But on the Colts’ first play, Jaguars defensive lineman Andre Branch had a strip sack on quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Branch picked up the ball and returned it 49 yards for the touchdown to make it 13-9 (missed PAT) and it gave the Jaguars some life heading into the second half.
The impact of the play: The Colts went from having control of the game to having everything fall apart in the second half of their 51-16 loss. After a three-and-out series by Indianapolis, safety Dwight Lowery gambled and failed on an interception attempt and Bortles connected with Allen Hurns on an 80-yard touchdown pass. The Jaguars forced another three-and-out series, but instead of Bortles beating the Colts with his arm, Rashad Greene returned Pat McAfee’s punt 73 yards for a touchdown. The Jaguars outscored the Colts 48-3 after trailing 13-3 late in the first half. Things were so bad that the Jaguars embarrassed the Colts by going for it -- and scoring -- on fourth down when they were already leading 44-16. The 35-point loss marked the second straight week that Indianapolis lost by that margin.