Historical Moments:
1984: While Baltimore was angry over the Colts midnight move, fans in Indianapolis were
there to great the arriving Mayflower trucks with cheers. The Colts would sell
143,000 season tickets in just the first 2 weeks of ticket sales. On September
2nd the Colts played their first game at the Hoosier Dome against the New York
Jets. However, Colts fans would go home disappointed as the Jets won 23-14. Losing
would be a habit for the Colts in their first season in Indianapolis, as Frank
Kush was fired before the final game of the season as the Colts sat at 4-11.
The Colts would lose their final game of the season with Hal Hunter performing
the coaching duties to finish with a disappointing 4-12 record.
1985: Under new Coach Rod Dowhower, the Colts continued to struggle losing 11 of their
first 14 games. However the Colts would end the season on a strong note winning
their final 2 games to finish with a 5-11 record. The lone bright spot of the
season was LB Duane Bickett, who won the Defensive Rookie of the year after being
the Colts 1st Round pick in the draft.
1986: The Colts season as over before it ever started as they lost their first 13 games
of the season. Making matters worse was that only 2 of the losses were by less
then a Touchdown. After their 13th loss Coach Rod Dowhower was fired and replaced
by Ron Meyer. The move would work as the Colts won the last 3 games of the
season under Meyer.
1987: The Colts get off to a 0-2 start before the players went on strike. During the replacement
games the Colts scabs played well, winning 2 of their 3 games. When the
regulars returned the Colts improved to 3-3 with a win over the New England
Patriots. Prior to playing their next game the atmosphere surrounding the Colts
changed dramatically, when they acquired star RB Eric Dickerson in a 3-team deal
on Halloween. Playing without Dickerson the next day the Colts improved to 4-3
with a win in New York over the Jets. In just 8 games with Colts Dickerson rushes
for 1,011 yards as the Colts go 5-3 to win the Division with a 9-6 record.
However in the Divisional Round the Colts were defeated by the Browns 38-21 in
Cleveland.
1988: The Colts stumble out of the gate losing 5 of their first 6 games. However the Colts
would rebound to win their next 5 games, including the first Monday Night Game
at the Hoosier Dome on Halloween, in which Eric Dickerson show cased his talents
in a 55-23 mauling of the Denver Broncos. The Colts would go on to finish
with a 9-7 record, as Eric Dickerson won the rushing title with 1,659 yards rushing.
However, the Colts would miss out on the playoffs by 1 game.
1989: Eric Dickerson has another stellar season rushing for 1,311 yards, while surpassing
the 10,000-yard mark in his career. However, the Colts only play mediocre football,
and sit at 8-7 needing to win the final game of the season to make the
postseason. Unfortunately, the Colts were never even in the game losing 41-6 to
the Saints in New Orleans.
1990: The Colts do some draft day wheeling and dealing trading WR Andre Rison, and draft
picks to the Atlanta Falcons so they could move up and draft Indianapolis native
Jeff George, with the number 1 overall pick. George would have a stellar rookie
season passing for 2,152 yards while throwing 16 TD passes. However, things
were not as sunny for RB Eric Dickerson who held out of training camp, during
a contract dispute. The Colts would end up suspending Dickerson 4 games for conduct
detrimental to the team. He would return late in the season and rush for
677 yards, as the Colts finished with a 7-9 record.
1991: The Colts would get off to a miserable start losing their first 5 games before Coach
Ron Meyer was fired and replaced by Rick Venturi. Under Venturi the Colts struggle
would continue as they lost their first 4 under their new coach. The Colts
would finally get their first win of the season on a cold and rainy afternoon
in the Meadowlands, as the Beat the New York Jets by 1 point. That win would
go on to be the Colts only win of the season finishing with an awful 1-15 record,
as Eric Dickerson rushed for only 535 yards as the Colts scored an embarrassing
143 points on the season.
1992: To try and bring some gory back to the team the Colts hire Ted Marchibroda, who coached
the team to 3 straight Division Titles in the late 70's, while in Baltimore.
The Colts had two first-round draft picks and chose Steve Entman and Quentin
Coryatt. On the same day of the draft they traded away RB Eric Dickerson ending
a sometimes-stormy relationship, with their star RB. Before the season even
started the Colts were rocked by tragedy when DE Shane Curry was shot to death
outside a Cincinnati nightclub in a dispute over a car blocking the nightclub's
driveway. After the chaotic off-season the Colts got off on the right foot beating
the Cleveland Browns in the season opener at the Hoosier Dome. However in
a puzzling move cut QB Mark Hermann who led the team in the win. With Jeff George
back under center the Colts would win just 3 of their next 10 games. However
the team would end the season on a strong not winning their final 5 games narrowly
missing the playoffs with a 9-7 record.
1993: The Colts struggled all year from the lack of a running game, and a passing game,
going at one point 20 quarters without a touchdown. The defense was not much better,
as the Colts went 4-12 amid dwindling crowds. They ended the year with a
4-game losing streak, and had 8 losses in their last 9 games.
1994: The Colts shake up their entire team trading QB Jeff George to the Atlanta Falcons,
and drafting RB Marshall Faulk in the first round of the NFL Draft. Faulk would
have an impressive season first season winning the Offensive Rookie of the
Year with 1,804 All-Purpose Yards. The Colts would play only mediocre football
most of the season before winning 3 of their last 4 games to finish with an 8-8
record.
1995: After a 1-2 start Jim Harbaugh earns back the starting QB jobs and leads the Colts
on wild ride that would see them finish 9-7 and qualify for the playoffs. In
Harbaugh's first 3 games at QB He led the Colts to comeback wins in each of his
first 3 starts earning him the nickname "Captain Comeback", and the team the "Cardiac
Colts." Many of the Colts wins were close hard fought games that the gutsy
Colts just pulled out by the strength of their wills. In the playoffs they
were going to need allot more then wills, playing in the Wild Card round without
RB Marshall Faulk. However, the Colts did not skip a beat and stunned the Chargers
in San Diego 35-20. A week later the Colts were expected to go down again,
but thanks to 5 missed FGs from Chiefs PK Lynn Elliot, the Colts pulled out a
10-7 win to advance to the AFC Championship in Pittsburgh. The Chiefs were underdogs
again facing the Steelers with a trip to Super Bowl XXX on the line. The
Colts would hang tough all game long but trailed 20-16, needing a miracle on the
final play to win the game. From midfield Harbaugh would fire it up to the endzone
and the ball bounced around in and out of the arms of WR Aaron Bailey's
arms ending the Colts season.
1996: Following the Colts improbable playoff run, the team only offered Coach Ted Marchibroda
a 1-year contract. The popular Marchibroda would turn it down and take the
coaching job with the new Baltimore Ravens. The Colts would name Lundy Infante
to replace him hoping he could get them back to the postseason. Under Infante
the Colts got off to a fast start winning their first 4 games, including a 25-24
upset of the Cowboys in Dallas. However, the Colts would suffer a devastating
string of injuries and would limp into the playoffs as the 6th seed with a 9-7
record. However, this time there was no postseason magic as their season ended
in Pittsburgh with a 42-14 loss in the first round to the Steelers.
1997: Prior to the season Owner Robert Irsay passed away, leaving his son Jim to run the
franchise. After 2 postseason appearances the Colts came crashing down to reality
losing their first 10 games, in an injury plagued season. Indicative of the
team's frustrating year was a hand injury QB suffered during a confrontation
with Buffalo Bills QB Jim Kelly. The Colts would end up closing the season out
with a 3-13 record, as Coach Lindy Infante was fired, and the front office was
shaken up. The Colts would bring in Bill Polian to run the football operations,
and Jim Mora to coach the team.
1998: Finishing with a 3-13 record enabled the Colts to draft QB Peyton Manning with the
first overall draft pick. The Colts would institute Manning as their starter
right away, as he had an impressive rookie season passing for 3,739 yards. However
despite the stellar numbers from Manning the Colts struggled to their 2nd straight
3-13 season.
1999: The Colts would make a change at Running Back trading Marshall Faulk to the St. Louis
Rams, and drafting Edgerrin James in the 1st round. The Colts offense would
click right away with James who earned the Offensive Rookie of the Year with
2,159 All-Purpose Yards, and 17 Touchdowns. The In addition Peyton Manning racked
up 4,135 passing yards as the Colts won the AFC East with an impressive 13-3
record. In the Divisional Playoffs the Colts hosted the Tennessee Titans in the
first ever playoff game at the RCA Dome. However, the young Colts struggled in
their first playoff game and were shutout in the 2nd half on the way to a heartbreaking
19-16 loss.
2000: The Colts offense had impressive moments, sprinting through defenders with a no-huddle
attack that left their opponents little time to catch their breath, as Peyton
Manning passed for 4,413 yards, and Edgerrin James collected 2,303 All-Purpose
Yards. However the Colts defense was erratic, performing well, at time but
more often gave up yards at crucial moments. Eight games into the season the Colts
were 6-2, though some of the wins had been heart-stoppers with last-minute
heroics overcoming earlier mistakes. Then they lost 4 of the next 5 games, and
suddenly even making it into playoffs was in doubt. With 3 games left in the season
the Colts only chance was to win all 3, which they did to finish with a 10-6
record. In the Wild Card round at Miami the Colts led the Dolphins by 14 in
the 3rd Quarter. However, the Dolphins would comeback and force overtime where
they stunned the Dolphins on a Lamar Smith TD run to pull out a 23-17 win, keeping
Coach Jim Mora winless in the playoffs.
2001: The Colts would get off to a 2-0 start, but problems quickly arose, as the Defensive
struggles continued during a 3-game losing streak. The Colts losing streak
would end with a win over the Chiefs in Kansas City. However, the win would prove
costly as Edgerrin James suffered a season ending knee injury. Without James
the Colts would win only 3 of their final 9 games as team were able to score at
will at the porous Colts defense, which ranked at the bottom in yards, and points
allowed. Peyton Manning had another strong season passing for 4,131 yards.
However he struggled with interceptions leading to harsh public criticism form
Coach Jim Mora. The Colts would go on to finish with a disappointing 6-10 record.
Following the season Mora would be fired after refusing to fire his defensive
assistants. The Colts would go on to name defensive minded Tony Dungy as their
new Head Coach, hoping with a stellar offense already intact he could make the
Colts a complete team.
2002: The Tony Dungy era in Indianapolis would get off to a solid start as the Colts won
3 of their first 4 games. The Colts would then lose 3 straight and stood at the
halfway with a mediocre 4-4 record. However they would quickly rebound with
a 4 game winning streak that included a dramatic primetime win in on the road in
the snow against the Denver Broncos with PK Mike Vanderjagt hitting a 54-yard
FG with time winding down in regulation and a 51-yarders in overtime as the Colts
beat the Broncos 23-20. The Colts would end up splitting their final 4 games
to finish 2nd place in the newly created AFC South, with a solid record of 10-6,
which was good enough for a Wild Card berth. Along the way WR Marvin Harrison
set a NFL single season record with 143 receptions for 1,722 yards. However,
the Colts playoffs appearance would be short and forgettable as they were
mauled on the road by the New York Jets 41-0.
2003: After their horrific thud in the playoffs the experts doubted the big game ability
of Colts QB Peyton Manning. Despite playing shaky football in their first game
the Colts began the season with a 9-6 road win over the Cleveland Browns, as
they won their first 4 games. Week 5 would be an emotional home coming for Coach
Tony Dungy as the Colts faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a Monday Night Road
Game. It was not going well for Dungy's against his former team as the Colts trailed
with 5 minutes left 35-14. However the Colts would not give up as Manning
led 3 quick Touchdown drives to tie the game and force overtime where Mike Vanderjagt
gave the Colts a dramatic 38-35 win over the defending Super Bowl Champions.
A week later the Colts would stumble at home b lowing a 4th Quarter lead
in an overtime 23-20 loss to the Carolina Panthers. After winning 4 of their next
5 games the Colts found themselves in a match up of AFC elite against the New
England Patriots at home. Trailing 17-0 early the Colts fought all game to tie
the game at 31 early in the 4th Quarter. However the Pats answered back right
away after being set up on a long kick off return. The Colts would cut the lead
to 38-34, and had the ball first goal in the final minute. However 4 attempts
the Colts could not get in as they dropped their 3rd game of the season. After
their heartbreaking loss to the Pats the Colts bounced back nicely beating the
Tennessee Titans 29-27 to capture a stranglehold on first place in the AFC South.
The Colts would go on to win 2 of their last 3 games to finish the season
with a solid 12-4 record, as Peyton Manning with 4,267 yards passing was named
NFL Co-MVP with Titans QB Steve McNair. In the playoffs the Colts and Peyton Manning
erased the perception they could not win a big game in convincing fashion
as Manning passed for 377 yards and 5 Touchdowns in a dominating 41-10 win over
the Denver Broncos which was the first home playoff win for the Colts since moving
to Indianapolis. In the Divisional Round the Colts would hit the road facing
the Kansas City Chiefs. Once again NFL MVP Peyton Manning was at the top of
his game with 304 yards passing at 3 Touchdowns as the Colts outgunned the Chiefs
38-31 in a shootout in which for the second week in a row Punter Hunter Smith
did not make a single punt. The win sent the Colts on to the AFC Championship
game where they faced the New England Patriots. However the Colts magical run
would come to an end on a cold snowy day in Foxboro as the Pats defense frustrated
Manning all day intercepting the MVP 4 times on the way to a 24-14 win to
advance to Super Bowl XXXVIII.
2004: The Colts began the season in the same place where their previous season ended, Foxboro
with a Thursday Night kickoff against the New England Patriots. Once again
the Pats would frustrate Manning as the Colts lost 27-24, as a game tying drive
was short-circuited by a sack as Mike Vanderjagt's attempt of a game tying
FG went wide. However, there would not be much frustration the rest of the way
for Manning and the Colts as he embarked on a record season passing for 49 Touchdowns
breaking Dan Marino's 20-year old record as the Colts galloped to a second
straight division title with a solid 12-4 record, as each week it seemed a different
receiver would benefit from the dazzling play of Peyton Manning who would
earn him second straight NFL MVP award. After ending the regular season a meaningless
loss to the Denver Broncos in the final game of the regular season with
Manning and the rest of the regular sitting, the Colts faced the Broncos in
the playoffs and it was a different story as the Colts behind the arm of Manning
jumped out to a 35-3 halftime lead on the way to beating the Broncos 49-24 as
Manning had 4 TD passes and 457 yards passing, to earn a rematch with the Patriots
in Foxboro. As the Divisional Playoff in Foxboro began the snow began to
fall and it was if a harbinger of things to come as the Colts never left the starting
gate as the Pats playing with a banged up secondary frustrated Peyton Manning
again, not allowing the Colts to reach the endzone in a dominating 20-3 victory.
2005: Coming off a historic 49-Touchdown season Peyton Manning was hard pressed to come
any where close to matching those numbers, and he would not come close, as he
managed 28, but the story was not Peyton and his reduced TDs it was the Colts improved
defense who were actually behind the Colts strong early start as were kept
under 14 points in two of their first 3 games but managed to start 3-0 as their
defense only allowed 16 total points. Of course the Colts offense was too
good to be kept down long and soon they were explosive again as the team started
rolling up the wins along the way Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison would be
come the top QB-WR connection in NFL history as they broke the old record of 86
held by Steve Young and Jerry Rice. After starting 7-0 the Colts started November
in their house of horrors in Foxboro against the New England Patriots for
a Monday Night Showdown. The showdown would never materialize as the Colts exercised
their demons in one swift statement game beating the two-time defending champions
40-21 as Manning passed for 321 yards with 3 Touchdown passes, as the
8-0 Colts became the talk of the league. After an easy win over the Houston Texans
the Colts won a shootout with the Cincinnati Bengals to improve to 10-0 as
Manning had another 3 TD game with 365 yards passing. The Colts would improve to
11-0 win another marvelous Monday Night performance beating the Pittsburgh Steelers
easily 26-7, as talk began about an undefeated season. The Colts would stay
unbeaten for the next two weeks beating the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville
Jaguars to sit at 13-0 when they faced the San Diego Chargers on December 18th.
Manning would pass for 336 yards but the running game was stuck in neutral
as the Chargers got off to a 16-0 lead in the 3rd Quarter. However, the Colts would
comeback in quick fashion taking a 17-16 lead as the 4th Quarter began. This
time it would not last as the Chargers answered back in the final 15 minutes
putting the game away on an 83-yard TD run by Michael Turner for a 26-17 win.
A few days later the Colts would shaken personally as Coach Tony Dungy's son committed
suicide. With homefield locked up and Dungy away with his family an anticipated
match up with the Seattle Seahawks turned into a preseason game as Manning
only played a few plays to keep his games played streak alive as the Colts
lost again 28-13. Dungy would return for the regular season finale but the Colts
treated it like a preseason game again as they barely beat the Arizona Cardinals
at home 17-13 to finish with an Indianapolis best 14-2 record. Being 13-0
was great for headline and getting players rested for the playoffs, but after a
bye week in the first round of the playoffs it had been nearly a month since the
Colts played a game to win with their regulars playing all the way. The rust
would show as the Colts fell behind the Pittsburgh Steelers early 14-0 after the
1st Quarter. The Colts seemed stuck in neutral all game as they trailed 21-3
as the 4th Quarter began. However, Peyton Manning would start the comeback hooking
up with Dallas Clark on a 50-yard TD pass. Then it was Edgerrin James with
a TD and Manning to Reggie Wayne on a 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to
21-18. However, with time winding down the Colts got trapped deep in their own
territory. With just 1 time out the Colts were force to go for it on 4 and long
under 2 minutes left, as Manning was sacked on his own 2 yard line. Just as it
seemed hopelessly bleak, the Colts got a miracle reprieve when Jerome Bettis
fumbled; the fumble was picked up by Nick Harper who was playing with stitches
in his leg after a domestic violence incident with his wife the night before. Perhaps
slowed a little Harper who seemed to be in open field was tripped up by
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. Manning would quickly get the Colts into Field
Goal range as he took two cracks at the endzone. However, Mike Vanderjagt's game
tying attempt from 46 yards sailed wide right, a few days later the Colts kicker
made light off the miss on "The Late Show with David Letterman," weather it
was to make him the scapegoat of tired of Vaderjagt's act, the Colts signed Adam
Vinatieri who nailed two Super Bowl winning field goals with the New England
Patriots, and is well known as a kicker who excels in pressure situations.
2006: Coming off their heartbreaking loss, the Colts came running out of the gates fast
again, winning their first nine games, becoming the first team in NFL history
to start 9-0 two years in a row. After losing their first game just before Thanksgiving
on the road to the Dallas Cowboys 21-14, the Colts rebounded for a primetime
win over the Philadelphia Eagles, which marked a coming out party for Rookie
Running Back Joseph Addai, as he rushed for 171 yards, and scored four touchdowns.
However, in the coming weeks it was the Colts defense that felt run over
as they lost three of their next four games. First came a stunning 20-17 loss
to the Tennessee Titans on 60-yard field goal by Rob Bironas. That was followed
by a crushing 44-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars as the Colts allowed 375
yards rushing. Following a 34-16 win over the Cincinnati Bengals the Colts defense
was stunned by another last second field goal losing to the Houston Texans
27-24 on a Kris Brown 48-yard Field Goal. The Colts would end the season with
a 27-22 win over the Miami Dolphins, but at 12-4 the Colts still won the division
title but had no momentum coming in to the playoffs, as they did not earn a
first round bye. In the playoffs the Colts faced the Kansas City Chiefs in the
Wild Card Round, and many were predicting doom for the Colts against the Chiefs
strong running game. However, helped by the return of Bob Sanders who missed
most of the season, the Colts held Larry Johnson to 32 yards as they won 23-8,
overcoming three interceptions by Peyton Manning, including one late in the 2nd
Quarter that gave the Chiefs the ball on the Colts 9-yard line, but the Colts
defense held firm, as Lawrence Tynes missed a 23-yard field goal. The following
week, the Colts returned to Baltimore for a second round match with the Ravens.
Manning would struggle again, as he was intercepted twice, but the Colts defense
rose to the occasion allowing just two field goals, while the Adam Vinatieri
signing paid off, as he nailed five field goals including three that were over
40 yards in a 15-6 win that sent the Colts back to Indianapolis for the AFC Championship
Game against the New England Patriots. For most of the first half in
the AFC title game it looked as if the Patriots were going to hammer the Colts
again, as they held a 21-3 lead following a 39-yard Interception return by Asante
Samuel. Vinatieri would answer back with a filed goal as the Colts went into
halftime down 21-6. In the 3rd Quarter the Colts came alive storming back to
tie the game on two touchdowns, including a two point conversion. However, the
Pats would quickly retake the lead as the score was 28-21 heading into the 4th
Quarter. The Colts would tie the game again, in the fourth quarter only to see
the Patriots retake the lead. After both sides traded field goals Colts needed
to rally again trailing 34-31 with 3:49 left. However, three incomplete passes
left the Colts defense which struggled all day needing a stop just to keep the
Colts hope alive, which they did giving Peyton Manning one last try down by three
with 2:17 left and one time out. Starting at their own 20 the Colts quickly
got into Patriots territory on two big pass plays to Reggie Wayne, as a an added
roughing the passer penalty gave the Colts the ball at the Patriots 11 yard
line at the two minute warning. Using Joseph Addai up the middle the Colts sliced
through tiring Pats defense, taking a 38-34 lead with 1:02 left. However Pats
QB Tom Brady should no quit quickly getting his team into Colts territory, before
Marlin Jackson clinched the win with a interception at the Colts 35 yard line,
sending the Colts to their first Super Bowl since moving to Indianapolis.
Super Bowl XLI: Facing the Chicago Bears in Miami the attention before the game was on the coaches
as Tony Dungy faced protégé Lovie Smth, as the first two black coaches to appear
in the Super Bowl. When the game began the Colts found themselves down before
the smoke from the pre-game ceremonies settled, as the explosive Devin Hester
returned the game's opening kick 92-yards for a touchdown. The Colts would quickly
answer back with a TD of their own as Peyton Manning hit Reggie Wayne on
a 53-yard TD pass. However, the shaky Colts could not tie the game as the PAT was
botched in the rain. After both teams traded fumbles the Bears struck again
taking a 14-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. However, as the rain got heavier
in Miami, the Colts settled in taking a 16-14 lead on a Touchdown by Dominick
Rhodes following a 29-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri. As the rain continued
to fall in the 3rd quarter Vinatieri added two more field goals to give the
Colts a 22-14 lead, but the Bears continued to hang tough answering back with
a field goal of their own. Finally in the fourth quarter the Colts ceased the
game as Kelvin Hayden return an interception 56-yards down the sideline for a Touchdown
to give the Colts a 29-14 lead. From their they relied on their defense
to seal the victory for Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning who was named the game's
MVP with a steady 247 yards passing and one touchdown in bad playing conditions. |
