The Colts finally got their first win of the 2015 season on Sunday afternoon, but it didn’t come easy.
Indianapolis blew a 14-0 lead and trailed by 13 points heading into the fourth quarter before Andrew Luck threw two touchdown passes to put them in the lead and the defense held on a late two-point try by the Titans to seal a 35-33 victory. It wasn’t the kind of overwhelming win the the Colts needed to erase all of the bad feelings generated in the first two weeks of the season, but it was enough to satisfy coach Chuck Pagano.
Pagano was emotional in the locker room after the game and got choked up while telling the team how proud of them he was for the way they fought back in the final 15 minutes of the game.
“This is bigger than a football game,” Pagano said. “This is about life and learning lessons about life. You can do anything that you want to do. Anything. You have faith and you have family and you have belief in one another. You have grit and intestinal fortitude and resolve. You got it, kid. Every one of you guys. Big time. That’s as big a win I’ve ever been a part of in my life. I’ll cherish that one for the rest of my life.”
Before Sunday’s game, there was another report regarding Pagano’s doubts about coming back to the Colts in 2016 due to his lack of a contract for 2016 and his reported issues working with General Manager Ryan Grigson. Throw in two losses to open the year and the roller coaster that the Colts rode on Sunday and it’s not surprising that emotions bubbled over after the final whistle.