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2020 Indianapolis Colts season

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2020 Indianapolis Colts season
OwnerJim Irsay
General managerChris Ballard
Head coachFrank Reich
Home fieldLucas Oil Stadium
Results
Record11–5
Division place2nd AFC South
Playoff finishLost Wild Card Playoffs
(at Bills) 24–27
Pro BowlersG Quenton Nelson
C Ryan Kelly
OLB Shaquille Leonard
AP All-ProsLG Quenton Nelson (1st team)
DT DeForest Buckner (1st team)
LB Shaquille Leonard (1st team)
ST George Odum (1st team)
C Ryan Kelly (2nd team)
LS Luke Rhodes (2nd team)
Uniform

The 2020 season was the Indianapolis Colts' 68th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 37th in Indianapolis. It was also their third season under head coach Frank Reich and fourth under the leadership of general manager Chris Ballard. Long-time San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers signed a one-year contract worth $25 million on March 17, 2020, to take over as the team's starting quarterback, reuniting him with Frank Reich, who served as quarterbacks coach for the Chargers during the 2013 season.

Despite giving the Jacksonville Jaguars their only win of the season in their season opener, the Colts improved upon their 7–9 season from the previous year with a Week 13 win over the Houston Texans and returned to the playoffs as a Wild Card as the 7th seed. The Colts finished tied with the Tennessee Titans for the AFC South division title, with an 11–5 record, but lost the tiebreaker based on record vs. division opponents (5–1 to 4–2). Before the season, the NFL decided to add a 7th team from each conference in the postseason. This proved to be a crucial decision, because had the NFL stuck with 6 teams per conference in the playoffs, the Colts would've joined the 1985 Broncos and 2008 Patriots as the only teams in NFL history to go 11-5 but fail to qualify for the playoffs. In the Wild Card, the Colts were defeated by the Buffalo Bills 27–24, marking the only time in his career Rivers lost in the Wild Card Round.

Following the season, Rivers announced his retirement on January 20, 2021, after 17 years in the league. After starting a total of 252 straight games and never missing a single start in his career, Rivers also retired as 2nd in the all-time consecutive starts list, only behind former long-time Packers quarterback Brett Favre. Rivers' retirement left Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks as the new longest active leader for consecutive starts by a quarterback.

Draft

Main article: 2020 NFL Draft
2020 Indianapolis Colts Draft
Round Selection Player Position College Notes
2 34 Michael Pittman Jr. WR USC from Washington Redskins
41 Jonathan Taylor RB Wisconsin from Cleveland Browns
3 85 Julian Blackmon S Utah from Philadelphia Eagles via Detroit Lions
4 122 Jacob Eason QB Washington
5 149 Danny Pinter G Ball State from Detroit Lions
6 193 Robert Windsor DT Penn State
211 Isaiah Rodgers CB UMass from New York Jets via Kansas City Chiefs
212 Dezmon Patmon WR Washington State from New England Patriots
213 Jordan Glasgow LB Michigan from New England Patriots

Staff

2020 Indianapolis Colts staff

Front office

  • Owner – Jim Irsay
  • General manager – Chris Ballard
  • Assistant general manager – Ed Dodds
  • Vice president of player personnel – Vacant
  • Director of football administration – Mike Bluem
  • Director of pro personnel – Kevin Rogers Jr.
  • Director of college scouting – Morocco Brown
  • Assistant director of pro scouting – Jon Shaw
  • Assistant director of college scouting – Matt Tarpening
  • Senior player personnel scout – Todd Vasvari
  • Director of player development – Brian Decker

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning


Final roster

2020 Indianapolis Colts roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 13 reserve, 15 practice squad

Preseason

The Colts' preseason schedule was announced on May 7, but was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]

Week Date Opponent Venue Result
1 August 13 Philadelphia Eagles Lucas Oil Stadium Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2 August 24 Washington Football Team Lucas Oil Stadium
3 August 29 at Buffalo Bills New Era Field
4 September 3 at Cincinnati Bengals Paul Brown Stadium

Regular season

Schedule

The Colts' 2020 schedule was announced on May 7.[1]

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 13 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 20–27 0–1 TIAA Bank Field Recap
2 September 20 Minnesota Vikings W 28–11 1–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
3 September 27 New York Jets W 36–7 2–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
4 October 4 at Chicago Bears W 19–11 3–1 Soldier Field Recap
5 October 11 at Cleveland Browns L 23–32 3–2 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap
6 October 18 Cincinnati Bengals W 31–27 4–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
7 Bye
8 November 1 at Detroit Lions W 41–21 5–2 Ford Field Recap
9 November 8 Baltimore Ravens L 10–24 5–3 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
10 November 12 at Tennessee Titans W 34–17 6–3 Nissan Stadium Recap
11 November 22 Green Bay Packers W 34–31 (OT) 7–3 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
12 November 29 Tennessee Titans L 26–45 7–4 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
13 December 6 at Houston Texans W 26–20 8–4 NRG Stadium Recap
14 December 13 at Las Vegas Raiders W 44–27 9–4 Allegiant Stadium Recap
15 December 20 Houston Texans W 27–20 10–4 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
16 December 27 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 24–28 10–5 Heinz Field Recap
17 January 3 Jacksonville Jaguars W 28–14 11–5 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 1: Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Colts 7 10 0320
Jaguars 0 14 31027

at TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Florida

Game information

The Colts failed to win in Week 1 for the seventh consecutive season, dating back to 2014. In addition, they also suffered their sixth consecutive road loss to the Jaguars. This was the Jaguars only win of the season.

Week 2: vs. Minnesota Vikings

Week 2: Minnesota Vikings at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 3 0 0811
Colts 0 15 31028

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

This game marked the team's 300th home win in franchise history. Vikings QB Kirk Cousins struggled immensely, throwing 3 interceptions, just 113 yards and 11 completions on 26 attempts, and a passer rating of 15.9

Week 3: vs. New York Jets

Week 3: New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Jets 7 0 007
Colts 7 10 14536

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Philip Rivers reached 400 touchdowns and 60,000 passing yards for his career. Sam Darnold threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns by Colts defensive backs, and was sacked in the end zone for a safety.

Week 4: at Chicago Bears

Week 4: Indianapolis Colts at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Colts 7 6 3319
Bears 0 3 0811

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 4:25 p.m. EDT/3:25 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 52 °F (11 °C)
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Referee: Craig Wrolstad
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Rich Gannon and Amanda Balionis
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 5: at Cleveland Browns

Week 5: Indianapolis Colts at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Colts 7 3 10323
Browns 3 17 7532

at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game information

Week 6: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Week 6: Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bengals 14 10 3027
Colts 0 21 01031

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

After trailing 0–21 in the second quarter, the Colts outscored the Bengals 31–6 to improve to 4–2 entering their bye week. The 21-point deficit is the largest comeback in a home regular season game in franchise history. It was also Philip Rivers' largest comeback win since 2006, coincidentally also against the Bengals, also Rivers' first year as a starting quarterback.

Week 8: at Detroit Lions

Week 8: Indianapolis Colts at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 20 02141
Lions 7 0 7721

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Game information

Week 9: vs. Baltimore Ravens

Week 9: Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Ravens 7 0 71024
Colts 7 3 0010

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Week 10: at Tennessee Titans

Week 10: Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Colts 3 10 14734
Titans 7 10 0017

at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Game information

Week 11: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 11: Green Bay Packers at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Packers 7 21 03031
Colts 7 7 116334

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: November 22
  • Game time: 4:25 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 12,495
  • Referee: Shawn Hochuli
  • TV announcers (Fox): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Erin Andrews
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 12: vs. Tennessee Titans

Week 12: Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Titans 14 21 3745
Colts 7 7 01226

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: November 29
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 12,464
  • Referee: John Hussey
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, and Evan Washburn
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 13: at Houston Texans

Week 13: Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Colts 14 10 0226
Texans 10 10 0020

at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

  • Date: December 6
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 57 °F (14 °C) (retractable roof open)
  • Game attendance: 12,316
  • Referee: Scott Novak
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Rich Gannon and Sherree Burruss
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 14: at Las Vegas Raiders

Week 14: Indianapolis Colts at Las Vegas Raiders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Colts 10 10 71744
Raiders 7 7 6727

at Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada

  • Date: December 13
  • Game time: 4:05 p.m. EST/1:05 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Referee: Clete Blakeman
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, Charles Davis and Evan Washburn
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 15: vs. Houston Texans

Week 15: Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Texans 0 10 3720
Colts 14 0 31027

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: December 20
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 9,992
  • Referee: Bill Vinovich
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Rich Gannon and Jay Feely
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 16: at Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 16: Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Colts 7 14 3024
Steelers 0 7 71428

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

Initially seeded within the AFC playoff race, the Week 16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers knocked the Colts to the first seed outside looking in.[2]

Week 17: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 17: Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Jaguars 0 7 7014
Colts 10 10 0828

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: January 3, 2021
  • Game time: 4:25 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 9,976
  • Referee: Shawn Smith
  • TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon, James Lofton and Sherree Burruss
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

As one of five AFC teams with a 10–5 record entering Week 17, the Colts were on the outside of the playoff picture until the Miami Dolphins fell to the Buffalo Bills earlier in the afternoon. The Colts held on for a 28–14 win to avoid being swept by the otherwise winless Jaguars. With the win and the Houston Texans' loss to the Tennessee Titans, the Colts finished the season with an 11–5 record and were eliminated from contention for the division title, but clinched the seventh and final wild card slot in the expanded NFL playoffs.

Standings

Division

AFC South
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(4) Tennessee Titans 11 5 0 .688 5–1 8–4 491 439 W1
(7) Indianapolis Colts 11 5 0 .688 4–2 7–5 451 362 W1
Houston Texans 4 12 0 .250 2–4 3–9 384 464 L5
Jacksonville Jaguars 1 15 0 .063 1–5 1–11 306 492 L15

Conference

AFC
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division leaders
1 Kansas City Chiefs West 14 2 0 .875 4–2 10–2 .465 .464 L1
2 Buffalo Bills East 13 3 0 .813 6–0 10–2 .512 .471 W6
3 Pittsburgh Steelers North 12 4 0 .750 4–2 9–3 .475 .448 L1
4[a] Tennessee Titans South 11 5 0 .688 5–1 8–4 .475 .398 W1
Wild Cards
5[b][c] Baltimore Ravens North 11 5 0 .688 4–2 7–5 .494 .401 W5
6[c][d] Cleveland Browns North 11 5 0 .688 3–3 7–5 .451 .406 W1
7[a][b][d] Indianapolis Colts South 11 5 0 .688 4–2 7–5 .443 .384 W1
Did not qualify for the postseason
8 Miami Dolphins East 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 .467 .347 L1
9 Las Vegas Raiders West 8 8 0 .500 4–2 6–6 .539 .477 W1
10[e] New England Patriots East 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 .527 .429 W1
11[e] Los Angeles Chargers West 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 .482 .344 W4
12 Denver Broncos West 5 11 0 .313 1–5 4–8 .566 .388 L3
13 Cincinnati Bengals North 4 11 1 .281 1–5 4–8 .529 .438 L1
14 Houston Texans South 4 12 0 .250 2–4 3–9 .541 .219 L5
15 New York Jets East 2 14 0 .125 0–6 1–11 .594 .656 L1
16 Jacksonville Jaguars South 1 15 0 .063 1–5 1–11 .549 .688 L15
Tiebreakers[f]
  1. ^ a b Tennessee finished ahead of Indianapolis based on division record.
  2. ^ a b Baltimore finished ahead of Indianapolis based on head-to-head victory. Division tiebreaker used to eliminate Cleveland (see below).
  3. ^ a b Baltimore finished ahead of Cleveland based on head-to-head sweep.
  4. ^ a b Cleveland finished ahead of Indianapolis based on head-to-head victory.
  5. ^ a b New England finished ahead of the LA Chargers based on head-to-head victory.
  6. ^ 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.

Postseason

See also: 2020–21 NFL playoffs

Schedule

Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap
Wild Card January 9, 2021 at Buffalo Bills (2) L 24–27 0–1 Bills Stadium Recap

Game summaries

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (2) Buffalo Bills

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: (7) Indianapolis Colts at (2) Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Colts 3 7 01424
Bills 7 7 31027

at Bills Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

Game information

In what would become quarterback Philip Rivers' last game in the NFL, the Colts fell to the Bills by a final score of 27–24 despite coming back from a 24–10 fourth-quarter deficit. Rivers threw for two fourth-quarter touchdowns and led another drive to the Bills' 47-yard line in the final two minutes, but the Colts were unable to score on the drive, sealing the win for the Bills.

References

  1. ^ a b Shook, Nick (July 27, 2020). "Roger Goodell writes letter to NFL fans as training camps start across U.S." NFL. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  2. ^ "2020 NFL Playoff Picture, Scenarios, and Standings". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
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