1976 Baltimore Colts season

Last updated

1976 Baltimore Colts season
Owner Robert Irsay
General manager Joe Thomas
Head coach Ted Marchibroda
Home field Memorial Stadium
Results
Record11–3
Division placeT-1st AFC East
Playoff finishLost Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Steelers) 14–40
Pro Bowlers T George Kunz
QB Bert Jones
WR Roger Carr
RB Lydell Mitchell
DE John Dutton
K Toni Linhart

The 1976 Baltimore Colts season was the 24th season for the team in the National Football League. Led by second-year head coach Ted Marchibroda, the Colts finished with a record of 11 wins and 3 losses, tied for first in the AFC East division with the New England Patriots. [1] Baltimore won the AFC East title based on a better division record (7–1 to Patriots' 6–2).

Contents

Marchibroda, the reigning NFL coach of the year, resigned a week before the regular season opener, due to a power struggle with general manager Joe Thomas and owner Robert Irsay. [2] Baltimore had won its first two preseason games, then dropped the final four. [2] Several Colts assistant coaches threatened to leave the team, and quarterback Bert Jones publicly came to his coach's defense. [3] Thomas and Irsay quickly made amends with the coach before the season started. [4] [5] [6] [7] (Thomas would be fired by the team shortly after the season.)

The Colts’ offense was dominant in 1976: they led the league in scoring with 417 points (29.7 per game). Jones was named league MVP after passing for a league-best 3,104 yards, 9.27 yards-per-attempt, and a passer rating of 102.5, second best in the NFL. Running back Lydell Mitchell also had a spectacular year, rushing for 1,200 yards, [8] and catching 60 passes. Wide receiver Roger Carr proved to be a valuable deep threat in the passing game, leading the league with 1,112 receiving yards and 25.9 yards per reception. [9] All three offensive players made the Pro Bowl team.

Offseason

Draft

1976 Baltimore Colts draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
120 Ken Novak   Defensive tackle Purdue
381 Ed Simonini   Linebacker Texas A&M
390 Ron Lee   Running back West Virginia
5134 Sanders Shiver  Linebacker Carson–Newman
5143 Mike Kirkland   Quarterback Arkansas Played for Colts in 1978
8228 Ricky Thompson   Wide receiver Baylor
9258Stu Levenick  Tackle Illinois
10283 Tim Baylor   Defensive back Morgan State
11310Rick Gibney Defensive tackle Georgia Tech
12340Frank Stavroff  Placekicker Indiana
14394Jeremiah Cummings  Defensive end Albany State
15424Gary Alexander Tackle Clemson
16449Mike Fuhrman  Tight end Memphis State
16451Steve Ludwig  Center Miami (FL)
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[10]

Personnel

Staff/Coaches

1976 Baltimore Colts staff
Front office

Coaching staff

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams – George Boutselis

Final roster

1976 Baltimore 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

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 12at New England Patriots W 27–131–0 Schaefer Stadium 43,512
2September 19 Cincinnati Bengals W 28–272–0 Memorial Stadium 50,374
3September 26at Dallas Cowboys L 27–302–1 Texas Stadium 64,237
4October 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 42–173–1Memorial Stadium40,053
5October 10 Miami Dolphins W 28–144–1Memorial Stadium58,832
6October 17at Buffalo Bills W 31–135–1 Rich Stadium 71,009
7October 24at New York Jets W 20–06–1 Shea Stadium 59,576
8November 1 Houston Oilers W 38–147–1Memorial Stadium60,020
9November 7at San Diego Chargers W 37–218–1 San Diego Stadium 42,827
10November 14 New England Patriots L 14–218–2Memorial Stadium58,226
11November 22at Miami Dolphins W 17–169–2 Miami Orange Bowl 62,104
12November 28 New York Jets W 33–1610–2Memorial Stadium44,023
13December 4at St. Louis Cardinals L 17–2410–3 Busch Memorial Stadium 48,282
14December 12 Buffalo Bills W 58–2011–3Memorial Stadium50,451
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 6

1234Total
• Colts31401431
Bills3100013
Scoring summary
1BUFGeorge Jakowenko 32 yard field goalBills 3–0
1BAL Toni Linhart 21 yard field goalTie 3–3
2BAL Don McCauley 2 yard run (Toni Linhart kick)Colts 10–3
2BUFGeorge Jakowenko 44 yard field goalColts 10–6
2BUF O. J. Simpson 33 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (George Jakowenko kick)Bills 13–10
2BAL Lydell Mitchell 6 yard run (Toni Linhart kick)Colts 17–13
4BAL Glenn Doughty 9 yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick)Colts 24–13
4BALDon McCauley 3 yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick)Colts 31–13

[11]

Standings

AFC East
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Baltimore Colts (2)1130.7867–111–1417246W1
New England Patriots (4)1130.7866–210–2376236W6
Miami Dolphins 680.4295–36–6263264L1
New York Jets 3110.2142–63–9169383L4
Buffalo Bills 2120.1430–82–10245363L10

Postseason

The team returned to the playoffs as a No. 2 seed and hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round. The Colts fell behind 26–7 at the half, and lost 40–14. [12] This game is better remembered for the post-game crash of a private plane into an unoccupied section of Memorial Stadium. [13] [14] [15] [16]

RoundDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
DivisionalDecember 19 Pittsburgh Steelers (3)L 14–400–1 Memorial Stadium 60,020

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indianapolis Colts</span> National Football League franchise in Indiana

The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Since the 2008 season, the Colts have played their games in Lucas Oil Stadium. Previously, the team had played for over two decades (1984–2007) at the RCA Dome. Since 1987, the Colts have served as the host team for the NFL Scouting Combine.

The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to finish a championship season undefeated and untied when they beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII. The Dolphins not only led the NFL in points scored, while their defense led the league in fewest points allowed, the roster also featured two running backs who gained 1,000 rushing yards in the same season.

Robert Irsay was an American professional football team owner. He owned the National Football League (NFL)'s Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts franchise from 1972 until his death in 1997. He was the father of current Colts owner Jim Irsay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Marchibroda</span> American football player and coach (1931–2016)

Theodore Joseph Marchibroda was an American professional football player and head coach in the National Football League (NFL). He played four years in the NFL as a quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Cardinals (1957). He was later head coach of the Colts in two different cities and decades, first in Baltimore during the 1970s and then Indianapolis during the 1990s. Upon joining the Baltimore Ravens in a similar capacity in 1996, he became the only individual to serve as head coach with both of Baltimore's NFL teams and gained the unusual distinction of having three stints as an NFL head coach for two franchises in two cities, but with no two of those tenures being for the same franchise in the same city. His career coaching record was 87–98–1 (.470) and 2–4 in the playoffs.

The 1958 NFL Championship Game was the 26th NFL championship game, played on December 28 at Yankee Stadium in New York City. It was the first NFL playoff game to be decided in sudden death overtime. The Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants 23–17 in what soon became widely known as "the Greatest Game Ever Played". Its legendary status in the pantheon of historic NFL games was again confirmed by a nationwide poll of 66 media members in 2019, who voted it the best game in the league's first 100 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy Jefferson</span> American football player (born 1943)

Roy Lee Jefferson is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Colts, and Washington Redskins. He played college football for the Utah Utes. During 162 regular season games in the NFL, he had 451 receptions for 7,539 yards and 52 touchdowns.

Roger Dale Carr is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons, primarily with the Baltimore Colts. Carr led the NFL in receiving yards in 1976, earning a Pro Bowl selection. He played college football at Louisiana Tech.

The 1972 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 35th year with the National Football League and the 27th season in Los Angeles. The Rams looked to improve on their 8–5–1 record from 1971 and make the playoffs for the first time since 1969. After a win against the New Orleans Saints at home, the Rams tied the Chicago Bears, 13–13, their third straight season with a tie. This was followed by an embarrassing loss to the Atlanta Falcons, 31–3. However, the Rams would then pick up their winning ways, beating the San Francisco 49ers 31–7 at home, the Philadelphia Eagles 34–3 in Philly, and the Cincinnati Bengals 15–12 at home. However, following this three-game winning streak, the Rams struggled, losing several close games, including an embarrassing 19-16 setback to the woeful New Orleans Saints, as they lost five of their last six to end the season 6–7–1. This was the last time the Rams missed the playoffs until 1981, as they started a dynasty the next season that won the NFC West seven consecutive times, from 1973–1979. They also finished in second place in 1980.

The 1992 Indianapolis Colts season was the 40th season for the team in the National Football League and ninth in Indianapolis. The Colts looked to improve on their dismal 1991 season, where they finished 1–15.

The 1964 Green Bay Packers season was their 46th season overall and their 44th season in the National Football League. The team was led by sixth-year head coach Vince Lombardi, and tied for second place in the Western Conference at 8–5–1.

The 1978 Baltimore Colts season was the 26th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL). Under fourth-year head coach Ted Marchibroda, the Colts finished with 5 wins and 11 losses, tied for fourth in the AFC East division with the Buffalo Bills. Baltimore lost the tiebreaker to Buffalo based on head-to-head series (0–2). This was the first time under Marchibroda that Baltimore did not make the postseason.

The 1977 Baltimore Colts season was the 25th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL). Led by third-year head coach Ted Marchibroda, the Colts finished with 10 wins and 4 losses, tied for first in the AFC East division with the Miami Dolphins. The Colts had the tiebreaker over Miami based on better conference record, and the Dolphins missed the playoffs.

The 1975 Baltimore Colts season was the 23rd season for the team in the National Football League. Under first-year head coach Ted Marchibroda, the Colts finished the 1975 season with 10 wins and 4 losses, and tied for first in the AFC East division with the Miami Dolphins; Baltimore won the division tiebreaker based on a head-to-head sweep of Miami — the first sweep of the Dolphins in their six years under head coach Don Shula.

The 1972 Baltimore Colts season was the 20th season for the team in the National Football League. They finished with 5 wins and 9 losses, third in the AFC East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971 Baltimore Colts season</span> 19th season in franchise history; final one under ownership of Carroll Rosenbloom

The 1971 Baltimore Colts season was the 19th season for the team in the National Football League. Led by second-year head coach Don McCafferty, the Colts appeared to be on the verge of winning the AFC East again after beating the Miami Dolphins 14–3 in the penultimate game of the regular season. However, the Colts lost the final game of the season at home to the New England Patriots, dropping them to 10–4 and the wild card berth. They lost to the Dolphins in the AFC Championship game. The Baltimore defense gave up a total of 140 points for 14 regular season games, an average of ten points a game. In their four defeats, they lost by a combined total of 15 points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1970 Baltimore Colts season</span> 18th season in franchise history; first in the AFC East and first Super Bowl win

The 1970 Baltimore Colts season was the 18th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL). Led by first-year head coach Don McCafferty, the Colts finished the 1970 season with a regular season record of 11 wins, 2 losses, and 1 tie to win the first AFC East title. The Colts completed the postseason in Miami with a victory over the Cowboys in Super Bowl V, their first Super Bowl title and third world championship. The Baltimore Colts did not return to any further championship games.

The 1969 Baltimore Colts season was the 17th season for the team in the National Football League. The Colts finished the National Football League's 1969 season with a record of 8 wins, 5 losses and 1 tie. Led by seventh-year head coach Don Shula, Baltimore finished second in the Western Conference's Coastal division, well behind the Los Angeles Rams (11–3).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1953 Baltimore Colts season</span> Inaugural season for the current Colts franchise

The 1953 Baltimore Colts season was officially the first season for the team as a member club of the National Football League. The Colts had a record of 3 wins and 9 losses and finished fifth in the Western Conference.

The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the South Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The organization began play in 1953 as the Baltimore Colts with the team located in Baltimore, Maryland; it relocated to Indianapolis following the 1983 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baltimore Colts</span> Professional American football team in Baltimore, Maryland, from 1953 to 1983

The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team that played in Baltimore from 1953 to 1983, when owner Robert Irsay moved the franchise to Indianapolis. The team was named for Baltimore's history of horse breeding and racing. It was the second incarnation of the Baltimore Colts, the first having played for three years in the All-America Football Conference and one in the National Football League (NFL). This Baltimore Colts played their home games at Memorial Stadium.

References

  1. ↑ "A romp in Baltimore sets up playoff scene". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 13, 1976. p. 18.
  2. 1 2 "Marchibroda quits Colts". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. September 6, 1976. p. 1, part 2.[ permanent dead link ]
  3. ↑ "Colts claim front office ruined team". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. September 7, 1976. p. 1, part 2.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. ↑ "Marchibroda back; Colts' standoff over". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. September 8, 1976. p. 23.
  5. ↑ "Marchibroda is back with Colts". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. September 8, 1976. p. 1, part 2.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. ↑ Lea, Bud (September 8, 1976). "Irsay bows to pressure". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 2.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. ↑ Neft, David S.; Cohen, Richard M.; and Korch, Rich The Sports Encyclopedia: Pro Football, 12th Edition, p.306, Martin’s Press, August 1994, ISBN   0-312-11073-1
  8. ↑ fourth-best in the NFL, second-best in the NFC behind O. J. Simpson
  9. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1976 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards
  10. ↑ "1976 Baltimore Colts Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  11. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com
  12. ↑ "Pittsburgh's easy victory averts tragedy". Milwaukee Journal. press dispatches. December 20, 1976. p. 13, part 2.
  13. ↑ "A year in sports". Sports Illustrated. February 17, 1977. p. 47.{{cite magazine}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  14. ↑ "Rout was a blessing when plane crashed". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. December 20, 1976. p. 1B.
  15. ↑ "Touch Down". Milwaukee Journal. (Washington Star Service). December 20, 1976. p. 13, part 2.
  16. ↑ "Small plane crashes into stand minutes after 60,000 leave". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). Associated Press. December 20, 1976. p. 1.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.