1986 Indianapolis Colts season

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1986 Indianapolis Colts season
OwnerRobert Irsay
Head coachRod Dowhower
Ron Meyer
General managerJim Irsay
Home fieldHoosier Dome
Results
Record3–13
Division place5th AFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers

The 1986 Indianapolis Colts season was the 34th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL) and third in Indianapolis. The team finished the year with a record of 3 wins and 13 losses, and fifth in the AFC East division.

The 1986 Colts were the last team until the 2007 Miami Dolphins to lose their first thirteen games in a season. Head Coach Rod Dowhower was fired with three games left in the season and was replaced by Ron Meyer. It appeared that the Colts could be on their way to the NFL's first anti-perfect season since the 1976 Buccaneers, and indeed there were many critics who argued that Colts wanted to go 0–16 to gain hot college quarterback prospect Vinny Testaverde,[1] despite some fears Testaverde – like John Elway – would refuse to play for the team.[2]

However, at 0–13, the Colts defeated the Atlanta Falcons 28–23 in Week 14, by returning a blocked punt for a touchdown.[3] They then won their last two games, to finish with three wins on the season. The Colts are the only team in NFL history to win the remainder of their games after starting winless.

Personnel[]

Staff[]

1986 Indianapolis Colts staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs – Billie Matthews
  • Quarterbacks – John Becker
  • Receivers – Chip Myers
  • Offensive Line – Tom Lovat
  • Assistant Offensive Line – Keith Rowen
Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special Teams – Keith Rowen

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning – Tom Zupancic

Roster[]

1986 Indianapolis Colts roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics

Schedule[]

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 7 at New England Patriots L 3–33 0–1 Sullivan Stadium 55,208
2 September 14 at Miami Dolphins L 10–30 0–2 Miami Orange Bowl 51,848
3 September 21 Los Angeles Rams L 7–24 0–3 Hoosier Dome 59,012
4 September 28 New York Jets L 7–26 0–4 Hoosier Dome 56,075
5 October 5 at San Francisco 49ers L 14–35 0–5 Candlestick Park 57,252
6 October 12 New Orleans Saints L 14–17 0–6 Hoosier Dome 53,512
7 October 19 at Buffalo Bills L 13–24 0–7 Rich Stadium 50,050
8 October 26 Miami Dolphins L 13–17 0–8 Hoosier Dome 58,350
9 November 2 Cleveland Browns L 9–24 0–9 Hoosier Dome 57,962
10 November 9 New England Patriots L 21–30 0–10 Hoosier Dome 56,890
11 November 16 at New York Jets L 16–31 0–11 Giants Stadium 65,149
12 November 23 at Houston Oilers L 17–31 0–12 Astrodome 31,792
13 November 30 San Diego Chargers L 3–17 0–13 Hoosier Dome 47,950
14 December 7 at Atlanta Falcons W 28–23 1–13 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 30,397
15 December 14 Buffalo Bills W 24–14 2–13 Hoosier Dome 52,783
16 December 21 at Los Angeles Raiders W 30–24 3–13 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 41,349

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings[]

AFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
New England Patriots(3) 11 5 0 .688 7–1 8–4 412 307 W1
New York Jets(4) 10 6 0 .625 6–2 8–4 364 386 L5
Miami Dolphins 8 8 0 .500 5–3 6–6 430 405 L1
Buffalo Bills 4 12 0 .250 1–7 3–11 287 348 L3
Indianapolis Colts 3 13 0 .188 1–7 2–10 229 400 W3

References[]

  1. ^ Vierria, Dan; ‘Colts May Need a Win, but They Need Vinnie Even More’; Sacramento Bee, November 16, 1986, p. C4
  2. ^ Kaufman, Ira; ‘Will testaverde, like Elway, Spurn Colts’; Seattle Times, November 23, 1986, p. C5
  3. ^ Sheeley, Glenn; ‘Rope-a-dope: Falcon blunders give Indianapolis first victory’; Atlanta Constitution; December 8, 1986, p. D1

See also[]

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