The 2015Indianapolis Coltsseason was the franchise's 63rd season in the National Football League and the 32nd in Indianapolis, surpassing the 31 seasons they played in their original home city of Baltimore. It was also the fourth season under the trio of head coachChuck Pagano, general manager Ryan Grigson and quarterbackAndrew Luck. The Colts entered the 2015 season as the defending AFC South champions after compiling an 11–5 record before falling to the New England Patriots in a controversialAFC Championship Game matchup.
After a week 8 loss to the Carolina Panthers, the Colts fired offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton and elevated associate head coach Rob Chudzinski to replace him.[1] The Colts failed to improve from their three consecutive 11–5 records and finished the season at 8–8. They lost the division to the Houston Texans and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011 and only the fourth time since 1998. This was their first time to lose to the Houston Texans at home since the Texans entered the NFL in 2002.
Indianapolis traded their second and fourth-round selections (No. 61 and 128, respectively) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for Tampa's third and fourth-round selections (No. 65 and 109, respectively).
Indianapolis traded their fifth and seventh-round selections (No. 165 and 244, respectively) to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for San Francisco's fifth-round selection (No. 151).
Indianapolis acquired an additional sixth-round selection (No. 207 overall) in a trade that sent cornerbackMarcus Burley to the Seattle Seahawks.
Indianapolis traded their original seventh-round selection (No. 246 overall) to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for linebackerCam Johnson.
Indianapolis acquired an additional seventh-round selection (No. 244 overall) in a trade that sent defensive endCaesar Rayford to the Dallas Cowboys.
After leading 14–0 in the first half, the Titans would score 27 unanswered points to take a 27–14 lead. However, the Colts would own the fourth quarter, as they outscored Tennessee 21–6. The Titans had a chance to tie the game after pulling within 35–33, but the 2-point attempt failed, and the Colts held on for the win. With the win, the Colts improved to 1–2 and picked up their 8th straight win over the Titans.
Week 4: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars[]
Week Four: Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
1
2
3
4
OT
Total
Jaguars
3
10
0
0
0
13
Colts
3
7
0
3
3
16
at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Date: October 4
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C), partly cloudy — retractable roof open
Game attendance: 65,609
Referee: Ed Hochuli
TV announcers (CBS): Tom McCarthy (play-by-play) and Adam Archuleta (color commentator)
Due to an injured shoulder, Andrew Luck missed the first game of his career, and was replaced by 40-year-old veteran Matt Hasselbeck, who avoided any turnovers and led the Colts to a 16–13 win in overtime. Jacksonville kicker Jason Myers would miss 3 game-winning field goal attempts at the end of the fourth quarter and one in overtime. Adam Vinatieri would nail the game winner in overtime to give Indianapolis the win. With the win, the Colts evened their record at 2–2.
Week 5: at Houston Texans[]
Week Five: Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans – Game summary
Despite a Hail Mary being thrown at the end of the first half, the Colts still managed to hold on for the win. With their 3rd straight win, the Colts improved to 3–2, and set a new NFL record for most consecutive wins against division opponents with 16.
Week 6: vs. New England Patriots[]
Week Six: New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Patriots
7
13
7
7
34
Colts
7
14
0
6
27
at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Date: October 18
Game time: 8:30 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
Game attendance: 66,726
Referee: Tony Corrente
TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (color commentator) and Michele Tafoya (sideline reporter)
This game was notorious for a terrible playcall by the Colts, now known as the Colts Catastrophe. With the Colts trailing 27–21 late in the 3rd quarter, Pagano opted to run a scrimmage play using special teams on 4th and 3 on the Colts' 37-yard line. However, a bizarre formation resulted in a Patriots tackle for loss, Colts turnover, and a flag for illegal formation. The Patriots easily scored a touchdown on the next drive and went on to win the game by 7 points, 34–27. The playcall was universally criticized and was considered by many to be the worst play in NFL history.[47]
Week 7: vs. New Orleans Saints[]
Week Seven: New Orleans Saints at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Saints
7
13
7
0
27
Colts
0
0
14
7
21
at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Date: October 25
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C), mostly cloudy — retractable roof open
Game attendance: 66,420
Referee: Carl Cheffers
TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen (play-by-play), John Lynch (color commentator) and Pam Oliver (sideline reporter)
In the Super Bowl rematch between the two teams, the Saints started the first half, dominating the Colts 20–0, which stunned Indy's home crowd. The Colts looked for answers in the second half, but Andrew Luck struggled to find open receivers and he was intercepted twice on defense.
Week 8: at Carolina Panthers[]
Week Eight: Indianapolis Colts at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
1
2
3
4
OT
Total
Colts
0
6
0
17
3
26
Panthers
10
0
7
6
6
29
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Date: November 2
Game time: 8:30 p.m. EST
Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C), light rain
Game attendance: 74,136
Referee: Bill Vinovich
TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Jon Gruden (color commentator) and Lisa Salters (sideline reporter)
CAR – Luke Kuechly: 9 tackles, 5 assists, 1 interception
The Colts traveled to Charlotte to take on Cam Newton and his undefeated Carolina Panthers, looking to hang their first loss on them. After struggling much in the first half, the Colts answered back in the fourth quarter. However, it wasn't enough to stop the Panthers in overtime and the Colts would lose 29–26.
Week 9: vs. Denver Broncos[]
Week Nine: Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Broncos
0
7
10
7
24
Colts
7
10
0
10
27
at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Date: November 8
Game time: 4:25 p.m. EST
Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C), sunny — retractable roof open
Peyton Manning returned to Indianapolis for the final time.
Late in the fourth quarter, with the Colts leading 27–24, they looked to extend the lead on a field goal by Adam Vinatieri, but it was overturned and the Colts still won 27–24.
With the win, the Colts went to 4–5, while the Broncos suffered their first loss and dropped to 7–1.
However, two days later, Andrew Luck was hospitalized with a lacerated kidney along with an abdominal injury. He ended up missing the rest of the season, putting more pressure on veteran backup Matt Hasselbeck, who was 2–0 in 2 starts due to Luck's previous injury.
Week 11: at Atlanta Falcons[]
Week Eleven: Indianapolis Colts at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Colts
0
7
7
10
24
Falcons
7
7
7
0
21
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta
Date: November 22
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
Game attendance: 70,433
Referee: Walt Anderson
TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel (play-by-play), Trent Green (color commentator) and Jamie Erdahl (sideline reporter)
The Colts would trail 21–7 late in the third quarter, but they would fight back to tie the game at 21 after D'Qwell Jackson returned an interception at the Atlanta 6-yard line for a touchdown. The Colts would then later on march down the field to win it with an Adam Vinatieri field goal with 52 seconds left. With the win, the Colts improved to 5–5. They also improved to 14–2 all time against the Falcons.
Week 12: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers[]
Week Twelve: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Buccaneers
3
9
0
0
12
Colts
3
3
13
6
25
at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Date: November 29
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 37 °F (3 °C), partly cloudy — retractable roof open
Game attendance: 65,696
Referee: Walt Coleman
TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Matt Millen (color commentator) and Peter Schrager (sideline reporter)
IND – 8:26 Frank Gore 9-yard TD pass from Matt Hasselbeck, Adam Vinatieri kick. Drive 4 plays, 46 yards, 2:28. (IND 10–6)
PIT – 4:04 Antonio Brown 7-yard TD pass from Ben Roethlisberger, 2-point conversion successful (Ben Roethlisberger pass to Will Johnson). Drive 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:22. (PIT 14–10)
PIT – 0:10 Markus Wheaton 5-yard TD pass from Ben Roethlisberger, Chris Boswell kick. Drive 8 plays, 60 yards, 1:38. (PIT 21–10)
Third quarter
PIT – 12:35 Martavis Bryant 68-yard TD pass from Ben Roethlisberger, Chris Boswell kick. Drive 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:23. (PIT 28–10)
Fourth quarter
PIT – 14:11 Antonio Brown 5-yard TD pass from Ben Roethlisberger, Chris Boswell kick. Drive 10 plays, 85 yards, 4:23. (PIT 35–10)
The Colts would suffer an embarrassing loss on national television to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers would lead for the majority of the game, and the Colts could not get into any rhythm. With the loss, the Colts fell to 6–6.
Week 14: at Jacksonville Jaguars[]
Week Fourteen: Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Colts
3
10
3
0
16
Jaguars
3
6
21
21
51
at EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Florida
Date: December 13
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C), clear
Game attendance: 62,372
Referee: Carl Cheffers
TV announcers (CBS): Tom McCarthy (play-by-play) and Adam Archuleta (color commentator)
First quarterSecond quarterThird quarterFourth quarter
Top passers
IND –
JAX –
Top rushers
IND –
JAX –
Top receivers
IND –
JAX –
Top tacklers
IND –
JAX –
The Colts would lead 13–3, but Jacksonville would outscore Indianapolis 48–3 from then on. With the loss, the Colts fell to 6–7 and lost to a divisional opponent for the first time since 2012, snapping their NFL record 16-game winning streak in division play.
Week 15: vs. Houston Texans[]
Week Fifteen: Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Texans
0
3
3
10
16
Colts
0
10
0
0
10
at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Date: December 20
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
Game attendance: 66,083
Referee: Ed Hochuli
TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel (play-by-play), Trent Green (color commentator) and Jamie Erdahl (sideline reporter)
^ abcDenver finished ahead of New England and Cincinnati for the No. 1 seed based on head-to-head sweep. New England finished ahead of Cincinnati for the No. 2 seed based on record vs. common opponents — New England's cumulative record against Buffalo, Denver, Houston and Pittsburgh was 4–1, while Cincinnati's cumulative record against the same four teams was 2–3.
^ abPittsburgh finished ahead of the New York Jets for the No. 6 seed and qualified for the last playoff spot based on record vs. common opponents — Pittsburgh's cumulative record against Cleveland, Indianapolis, New England and Oakland was 4–1, while the Jets' cumulative record against the same four teams was 3–2.
^ abBuffalo finished ahead of Indianapolis based on head-to-head victory.
^ abJacksonville finished ahead of Baltimore based on head-to-head victory.
^ abCleveland finished ahead of Tennessee based on head-to-head victory.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
Bold indicates NFL Championship (1920–65) or Super Bowl (1966–present) victory Italics indicates NFL Championship (1920–65) or Super Bowl (1966–present) appearance