Kravitz: Colts' Chuck Pagano gets cherry on top of inspiring return

• Head coach rewarded with win three months after battle with cancer began
• Colts turn in another marvelous performance on a day when they had nothing to gain
• Pagano aware he and team are inspiring others in Indianapolis and beyond

INDIANAPOLIS — This is what Chuck Pagano dreamed about. This is what he dreamed about during those darkest of days at the Indiana University Health Simon Cancer Center, when his energy was sapped, the migraines were gripping his skull, the night sweats were ruining his sleep. This, along with his family and friends, is what kept him going, the knowledge, this vision, that when it was all over, he'd walk back into the light of Lucas Oil Stadium and coach his amazing football team.

Sunday, the dream was realized in all its Technicolor glory.

"What a day,'' Pagano said after another memorable Colts victory, a 28-16 win over the Houston Texans. He shook his head and smiled. "What a day.''

After three months of hell, he was back, strong and nervous as ever, ready to lead a team that may just make some noise this coming postseason. And then, as a fitting and emotional tribute to Chuckstrong, the Colts went out and celebrated his return by playing their very best game of the season.

This was about a football game, but as it's been all season, this was about so much more.

"It's like a dream come true again,'' Pagano said. "It's the greatest feeling in the world to be down there.

"When I first walked out of the tunnel and see everyone in the stands again and to have an opportunity to see there's a ton of people, but to see my family standing there again as they did the first couple of games — to see my entire family, all my daughters and my grandchildren, my wife, that was pretty special.''

Said quarterback Andrew Luck: "It was like a rock star coming out of the tunnel with all the cameras flashing when he walked out.''

Before the game, the Colts showed a one-minute video of Pagano, then focused on the head coach on the sidelines.

He was clearly moved.

"I'll remember that for the rest of my life,'' he said.

This is why we pay attention to sports. Because they have the power to inspire. Because they are real. Because they have the ability to move us in the most remarkable ways.

Want to feel good this morning? Check out the post-game video on Colts.com. There were Pagano's players, dancing, and there was Pagano dancing, although he needs to work on those dance moves before it comes time for his daughters' weddings. At one point, he turned to team owner Jim Irsay, hugged, and then the pair danced together.

A special scene. A special football team.

"Yeah,'' said Deji Karim, the man who turned the game with a 101-yard kick return for a touchdown. "It was beautiful to watch.''

After all the dancing and yelling and the team prayer, Pagano stood before them and held the game ball.

My inspiration came week in and week out from just watching you fight,'' he told his players and coaches. "What you've given this city? Hope. There's people out there, and they're struggling. They've got circumstances. And right now, they're sitting back with a big smile on their face.

"What you bring them is unbelievable. You bring them hope. And they got something to live for and something to fight for. And that's what you gave me. And it was better than any medicine the doctors could have given me.''

The best story in sports this year just keeps getting better. And sweeter. They played this game to win, win for themselves, win for Pagano. And it doesn't necessarily have to end next week in Baltimore. Anything is possible now. How can there be any doubt after this team just fashioned the most unlikely 11-5 season in the recent history of the game? How can you wonder whether there isn't something bigger going on here?

"We said (Saturday) night that mojo — the definition, I had to look it up — is 'magical spell.' And we talked about the Midas touch, the uncanny ability to where everything you touch turns to gold,'' Pagano said. "Then we said, 'What's uncanny, supernatural?' I don't know if any of those things have taken place; there were some things that transpired out there (the overturned Luck fumble?). This team can go as far as they want to go.''

A few weeks ago, they looked like they might end up as road pizza in the playoffs.

But now? Now they're playing their best football. That was the best 60 minutes they've played all season, and there's no reason to believe they won't bring it with them to Baltimore, where the Ravens lost four of their last five games.

"We're a team of misfits who've come together around one big cause,'' punter Pat McAfee said. "And that's our leader, who gives us inspiration and hope and makes us understand it's much bigger than us.''

Here is just one of the things that makes this team so special. Look at the players who made game-changing plays. Karim, a late addition to the roster, a guy who was recently valet parking cars at an Oklahoma City hotel. Lawrence Guy, and Clifton Geathers, and Jamaal Westerman, all of them late arrivals. This has been happening all season, players — not just roster fillers — showing up in a pinch and contributing in unimaginable ways.

And there were the usual suspects.

There was Luck, fighting back the pass rush, leading two first-half touchdowns and then a back-breaking 70-yarder to T.Y. Hilton.

There was the defense, embarrassed after giving up 507 yards to the Chiefs one week ago, stuffing Arian Foster and keeping the Texans offense in check.

There was the offensive line, dominating during an epic 9:46 game-ending drive when they played keepaway from the Texans offense.

It was meaningless in the standings, but it was so overwhelmingly meaningful to this franchise. And to Pagano, in particular.

"To watch them do what they did with nothing to gain — there was nothing to gain today — but that's not how this group rolls,'' Pagano said. "It's not they mindset. To watch them play the way they played, they just refused to let anybody write their story of what they could and couldn't do.''

He shook his head.

We're all shaking our heads, the wonderment of it all almost too great to fully comprehend.

Welcome back, Coach.

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Kravitz also writes for The Indianapolis Star, a Gannett property