2019 Indianapolis Colts season

The 2019 season was the Indianapolis Colts' 67th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 36th in Indianapolis. It was also their second season under head coach Frank Reich and third under the leadership of general manager Chris Ballard.

2019 Indianapolis Colts season
OwnerJim Irsay
General managerChris Ballard
Head coachFrank Reich
Home fieldLucas Oil Stadium
Results
Record7–9
Division place3rd AFC South
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersOLB Shaquille Leonard
G Quenton Nelson
C Ryan Kelly
TE Jack Doyle
AP All-ProsG Quenton Nelson (1st team)
LB Shaquille Leonard (2nd team)
Uniform

For the first time since 2011, quarterback Andrew Luck was not on the roster, as he announced his retirement on August 24, 2019. A four-time Pro Bowler and the top pick in the 2012 Draft, Luck led the Colts to four playoff appearances (20122014, 2018), an appearance in the AFC Championship Game in the 2014 season (the franchise's only time doing so in the post-Peyton Manning era), and won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 2018. A four-year cycle of injuries and rehab that dated back to 2015 had "taken his joy of this game away," which led to his decision of retiring. This would also mark kicker Adam Vinatieri's last season in the NFL, after playing 24 years in the league, as he would spend the entire 2020 season in free agency before retiring on May 26, 2021. A four-time Super Bowl champion with the Colts and New England Patriots, Vinatieri is considered one of the greatest kickers of all time and made memorable game-winning plays with the Patriots in games such as the Tuck Rule Game and Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII. Vinatieri was also the last remaining active player whose career began in the 1990s.

Despite a strong 5–2 start, the Colts would suffer a late-season collapse, losing 7 of their next 9 games, and were eliminated from playoff contention after a Week 15 loss to the New Orleans Saints. This was partially a result of injuries to key skill players such as QB Jacoby Brissett, WR T. Y. Hilton, RB Marlon Mack and TE Eric Ebron. They also failed to improve or match their 10–6 record from the previous season.

Despite the disappointing season, the Colts managed to defeat the eventual Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs and limit the Chiefs offense to only 13 points, which at the time was the least points allowed to the Chiefs since Patrick Mahomes became the starter.

Draft

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2019 Indianapolis Colts Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
234Rock Ya-SinCBTempleFrom New York Jets
49Ben BanoguLBTCUFrom Cleveland Browns
59Parris CampbellWROhio State
389Bobby OkerekeLBStanford
4109Khari WillisSMSU
5144Marvell TellSUSCFrom Cleveland Browns
164E. J. SpeedLBTarleton State
6199Gerri GreenDEMississippi State
7240Jackson BartonTUtah
246Javon PattersonCOle Miss

Notes

  • Because the Colts lost more compensatory free agents than they signed during the 2018 free agency period, the team was awarded one compensatory selection in the fourth round of the 2019 draft.[1]
  • The Colts acquired the Raiders' fourth-round pick (109th) in exchange for their two fourth-round picks (129th and 135th)

Staff

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2019 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

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2019 Indianapolis Colts final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
53 active, 14 inactive, 8 practice squad

Preseason

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The team was rocked by the decision August 24 by starting quarterback Andrew Luck that he would immediately retire from professional football due to chronic injury problems and the emotional and mental strain they had extracted. Luck, the 2018 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, had been battling a mysterious and slow-healing leg injury, described by the team variously as a "calf strain" and a "high ankle issue."[2]

Luck, a 7-year professional with four appearances in the NFL Pro Bowl, indicated that he had been contemplating leaving the game for a week-and-a-half or two weeks prior to his announcement; he had been speaking with team officials about the matter all week.[2] In a news conference Luck indicated that his recurring injuries had "taken my joy of this game away.... After 2016, I played in pain and was unable to practice, I said I wouldn't go through that again."[2]

The team moved forward with former New England Patriots backup Jacoby Brissett, a third-year Colt, as its designated starting quarterback.[2]

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap
1August 8at Buffalo BillsL 16–240–1New Era FieldRecap
2August 17Cleveland BrownsL 18–210–2Lucas Oil StadiumRecap
3August 24Chicago BearsL 17–270–3Lucas Oil StadiumRecap
4August 29at Cincinnati BengalsW 13–61–3Paul Brown StadiumRecap

Regular season

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Schedule

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WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap
1September 8at Los Angeles ChargersL 24–30 (OT)0–1Dignity Health Sports ParkRecap
2September 15at Tennessee TitansW 19–171–1Nissan StadiumRecap
3September 22Atlanta FalconsW 27–242–1Lucas Oil StadiumRecap
4September 29Oakland RaidersL 24–312–2Lucas Oil StadiumRecap
5October 6at Kansas City ChiefsW 19–133–2Arrowhead StadiumRecap
6Bye
7October 20Houston TexansW 30–234–2Lucas Oil StadiumRecap
8October 27Denver BroncosW 15–135–2Lucas Oil StadiumRecap
9November 3at Pittsburgh SteelersL 24–265–3Heinz FieldRecap
10November 10Miami DolphinsL 12–165–4Lucas Oil StadiumRecap
11November 17Jacksonville JaguarsW 33–136–4Lucas Oil StadiumRecap
12November 21at Houston TexansL 17–206–5NRG StadiumRecap
13December 1Tennessee TitansL 17–316–6Lucas Oil StadiumRecap
14December 8at Tampa Bay BuccaneersL 35–386–7Raymond James StadiumRecap
15December 16at New Orleans SaintsL 7–346–8Mercedes-Benz SuperdomeRecap
16December 22Carolina PanthersW 38–67–8Lucas Oil StadiumRecap
17December 29at Jacksonville JaguarsL 20–387–9TIAA Bank FieldRecap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

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Week 1: at Los Angeles Chargers

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Week One: Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers – Game summary
Period1234OTTotal
Colts06108024
Chargers71070630

at Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California

Game information

Week 2: at Tennessee Titans

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Week Two: Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Period1234Total
Colts760619
Titans0710017

at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Game information

Week 3: vs. Atlanta Falcons

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Week Three: Atlanta Falcons at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period1234Total
Falcons0371424
Colts10100727

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Week 4: vs. Oakland Raiders

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Week Four: Oakland Raiders at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period1234Total
Raiders1473731
Colts7301424

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Week 5: at Kansas City Chiefs

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Week Five: Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period1234Total
Colts760619
Chiefs370313

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 7: vs. Houston Texans

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Week Seven: Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period1234Total
Texans097723
Colts7714230

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Week 8: vs. Denver Broncos

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Week Eight: Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period1234Total
Broncos067013
Colts039315

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Week 9: at Pittsburgh Steelers

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Week Nine: Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Period1234Total
Colts3132624
Steelers3107626

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: November 3
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 48 °F (9 °C)
  • Game attendance: 61,116
  • Referee: Brad Allen
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts and Evan Washburn
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Adam Vinatieri missed a potential game-winning field goal late in the fourth quarter, resulting in a narrow two-point loss.

Week 10: vs. Miami Dolphins

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Week Ten: Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period1234Total
Dolphins370616
Colts006612

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: November 10
  • Game time: 4:05 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 60,510
  • Referee: Clay Martin
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Trent Green and Melanie Collins
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 11: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

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Week Eleven: Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period1234Total
Jaguars700613
Colts7314933

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: November 17
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 61,986
  • Referee: Shawn Hochuli
  • TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon, James Lofton and Michael Grady
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

The Colts would defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars for the team's 300th win in the Indianapolis era with a record of 300–267.[3]

Week 12: at Houston Texans

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Week Twelve: Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans – Game summary
Period1234Total
Colts0107017
Texans0103720

at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Game information

Week 13: vs. Tennessee Titans

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Week Thirteen: Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period1234Total
Titans70101431
Colts737017

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: December 1
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 60,361
  • Referee: Carl Cheffers
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon and Jay Feely
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 14: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Week Fourteen: Indianapolis Colts at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Period1234Total
Colts10178035
Buccaneers14771038

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

  • Date: December 8
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 78 °F (26 °C)
  • Game attendance: 50,232
  • Referee: Tony Corrente
  • TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 15: at New Orleans Saints

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Week Fifteen: Indianapolis Colts at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period1234Total
Colts00077
Saints31714034

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

The loss eliminated the Colts from postseason contention.

Week 16: vs. Carolina Panthers

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Week Sixteen: Carolina Panthers at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period1234Total
Panthers03306
Colts14731438

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Week 17: at Jacksonville Jaguars

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Week Seventeen: Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars – Game summary
Period1234Total
Colts10100020
Jaguars31381438

at TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Florida

  • Date: December 29
  • Game time: 4:25 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 58,472
  • Referee: Brad Allen
  • TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Standings

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Division

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AFC South
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
(4) Houston Texans1060.6254–28–4378385L1
(6) Tennessee Titans970.5633–37–5402331W1
Indianapolis Colts790.4383–35–7361373L1
Jacksonville Jaguars6100.3752–46–6300397W1

Conference

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#TeamDivisionWLTPCTDIVCONFSOSSOVSTK
Division leaders
1Baltimore RavensNorth1420.8755–110–2.494.484W12
2[a]Kansas City ChiefsWest1240.7506–09–3.510.477W6
3[a]New England PatriotsEast1240.7505–18–4.469.411L1
4Houston TexansSouth1060.6254–28–4.520.488L1
Wild Cards
5Buffalo BillsEast1060.6253–37–5.461.363L2
6Tennessee TitansSouth970.5633–37–5.488.465W1
Did not qualify for the postseason
7Pittsburgh SteelersNorth880.5003–36–6.502.324L3
8[b][c]Denver BroncosWest790.4383–36–6.510.406W2
9[c][d][e]Oakland RaidersWest790.4383–35–7.482.335L1
10[b][d][e]Indianapolis ColtsSouth790.4383–35–7.492.500L1
11[b][d]New York JetsEast790.4382–44–8.473.402W2
12[f]Jacksonville JaguarsSouth6100.3752–46–6.484.406W1
13[f]Cleveland BrownsNorth6100.3753–36–6.533.479L3
14[g]Los Angeles ChargersWest5110.3130–63–9.514.488L3
15[g]Miami DolphinsEast5110.3132–44–8.484.463W2
16Cincinnati BengalsNorth2140.1251–52–10.553.406W1
Tiebreakers[h]
  1. ^ a b Kansas City finished ahead of New England based on head-to-head victory.
  2. ^ a b c Denver finished ahead of Indianapolis and NY Jets based on conference record. Division tiebreak was initially used to eliminate Oakland (see below).
  3. ^ a b Denver finished ahead of Oakland based on conference record.
  4. ^ a b c Oakland and Indianapolis finished ahead of NY Jets based on conference record.
  5. ^ a b Oakland finished ahead of Indianapolis based on head-to-head victory.
  6. ^ a b Jacksonville finished ahead of Cleveland based on record against common opponents. Jacksonville's cumulative record against Cincinnati, Denver, NY Jets, and Tennessee was 4–1, compared to Cleveland's 2–3 cumulative record against the same four teams.
  7. ^ a b LA Chargers finished ahead of Miami based on head-to-head victory.
  8. ^ 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.

References

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  1. ^ "NFL announces list of 32 compensatory draft choices". NFL.com. February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Joel A. Erickson and Jim Ayello, "Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is retiring: 'This is the hardest decision of my life,'" Indianapolis Star, Aug. 24, 2019.
  3. ^ Colts Communications (November 17, 2019). "By The Numbers: Colts 33, Jaguars 13". Colts.com. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
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