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
No. 7: The overtime interception
No. 6: Early interception
What happened: The Colts couldn’t have hoped for a better start in Pittsburgh, a place where they were thoroughly beaten 51-34 the previous season. Linebacker Jonathan Newsome forced and recovered Jacoby Jones' fumble on the opening kickoff, giving the Colts the ball at the Steelers’ 11-yard line. But on third down, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was intercepted when he tried to force the ball to tight end Coby Fleener in the end zone, ending the chance of Indianapolis putting Pittsburgh in an early 7-0 hole.
The impact of the play: The Colts forced another turnover on the Steelers’ next possession and ended up getting three points out of it. It was a longshot for the Colts to win in Pittsburgh, but squandering points is the last thing the Colts could afford to do playing in a hostile environment like Heinz Field. The Steelers, rather than being in scramble mode after falling behind 14-0, got it going after those two turnovers and outscored the Colts 45-7 the rest of the game. Hasselbeck, who was undefeated as a starter in place of the injured Andrew Luck heading into that game, finished 16-for-26 for 169 yards, with two interceptions and a lost fumble. “I didn’t play very well,” Hasselbeck said. “Kind of disappointed how I played. I just know I have to play a lot better for our team to have a chance.”
