With the Broncos beating the Bengals last night, the list of things the Colts need to happen to make the playoffs is down to nine.
Of course, the list of days Chuck Pagano has has their head coach is probably shorter than that.
Via Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star, Pagano said Monday he had no regrets, as well as no meetings about his future with owner Jim Irsay.
So he’s entering what’s expected to be the last week of his contract and down to starting a quarterback he claimed off the Eagles practice squad on Christmas Eve.
“My late father-in-law used to tell [my wife] and I all the time, ‘Life’s tough. That’s just how it is,’” Pagano said.
But while he was reflective, he wasn’t pining away for another chance. Asked if he regretted not taking the team’s offer of a one-year contract extension last year, he replied: “Nope.”
Asked if he had talked to Irsay about his future, he replied: “Nope.”
“Like I told you guys a long time ago, I’m going to be fine,” Pagano said. “I’m covered. I’m covered. I got one goal, one focus, and that’s the Tennessee Titans, and getting this team ready to win another football game and give us a chance. If the stars line up, . . . ”
But it would take a lot of lining up. Specifically, he’d need the Colts beat the Titans followed by a list which would require the Jaguars to beat the Texans, the Falcons to beat the Saints, the Dolphins to beat the Patriots, the Broncos to beat the Chargers, the Ravens to beat the Bengals, the Bills to beat the Jets, the Raiders to beat the Chiefs, and the Steelers to beat the Browns.
Those odds are long. But after overcoming cancer during his stint with the Colts, long odds don’t seem to be anything Pagano is afraid of.