The 2004 Indianapolis Colts season was the 52nd season for the team in the National Football League (NFL) and 21st in Indianapolis. The 2004 Colts season began with the team trying to maintain or improve on their 12–4 record from 2003, and advance further into the playoffs. The Colts finished the season 12–4, and defeated the Denver Broncos for the second straight time in the playoffs, but they were halted in the Divisional round by the defending and eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, their second straight loss in the playoffs to them.
Peyton Manning had one of the best seasons ever by an NFL quarterback (and the best season of his Indianapolis career), throwing 49 touchdown passes and breaking the previous record of 48 held by Dan Marino. At season's end, Peyton Manning was named the NFL MVP. For the season the Colts set an NFL record with 51 total touchdown passes. The Colts led the NFL with 522 points scored. The Colts tallied more points in the first half of each of their games of the 2004 season (277 points) than seven other NFL teams managed in the entire season.
Despite throwing 49 touchdown passes, Peyton Manning attempted fewer than 500 passes for the first time in his NFL career. Sports statistics site Football Outsiders calculates that Manning had the best-ever season by a quarterback, play-for-play, in 2004.Football Outsiders: QUARTERBACKS 2004Football Outsiders: Final 2011 DVOA Ratings Stats calculated from 1992–2011
The 2004 Colts are the only team in NFL history to convert five or more passing touchdowns in a game four different times during the regular season.Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the NFL, in the regular season, requiring Passing TD >= 5, sorted by most games in season matching criteria.
Offseason Free Agency During Free Agency, the Colts failed to re-sign linebacker Marcus Washington and cornerback Walt Harris. Both signed with the Washington Redskins in free agency.
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 2004 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeJosh ThomasDefensive endSyracuseBen UtechtTight endMinnesota
Roster Indianapolis Colts 2004 final roster Quarterbacks Travis Brown Peyton Manning Jim Sorgi
Running backs Edgerrin James James Mungro Dominic Rhodes
Wide receivers Marvin Harrison Aaron Moorehead Brad Pyatt Brandon Stokley Troy Walters Reggie Wayne
Tight ends Dallas Clark Ben Hartsock Marcus Pollard Offensive linemen Rick DeMulling C Ryan Diem OT Makoa Freitas OT Tarik Glenn OT Trevor Hutton G Ryan Lilja G Tupe Peko G Jeff Saturday C Jake Scott G
Defensive linemen Raheem Brock DE Dwight Freeney DE Robert Mathis DE Montae Reagor DT Brad Scioli DE Larry Tripplett DT Josh Williams DT Linebackers Gary Brackett MLB Gilbert Gardner OLB Cato June OLB Rob Morris MLB Kendyll Pope OLB Nick Rogers OLB David Thornton OLB
Defensive backs Waine Bacon CB Idrees Bashir FS Cory Bird SS Jason David CB Mike Doss SS Anthony Floyd FS Nick Harper CB Von Hutchins CB Joseph Jefferson CB Bob Sanders SS Gerome Sapp SS
Special teams Martin Gramatica K Hunter Smith P Justin Snow LS Mike Vanderjagt K Reserve lists Thomas Houchin DE (IR) Jim Nelson LB (IR) Donald Strickland CB (IR) Josh Thomas DE (IR) Ben Utecht TE (PUP) Patrick Venzke T (IR) Keyon Whiteside LB (IR)
Practice squad Tom Arth QB Ran Carthon RB Bryan Fletcher TE Eric Hill WR (IR) Tom Lopienski FB Andre Sommersell LB John Standeford WR Jason Stewart DT Jarrell Weaver S
Rookies in italics 53 active, 8 inactive, 8 practice squad
Preseason Date Opponent Result Game Site NFL Recap August 14, 2004 at San Diego Chargers W 21–17 Qualcomm Stadium Recap August 21, 2004 New York Jets L 7–31 RCA Dome Recap August 28, 2004 Buffalo Bills W 30–17 RCA Dome Recap September 3, 2004 at Cincinnati Bengals L 13–16 Paul Brown Stadium Recap
Regular season
Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site NFL Recap 1 September 9 at New England Patriots L 24–27 0–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 2 September 19 at Tennessee Titans W 31–17 1–1 The Coliseum Recap 3 September 26 Green Bay Packers W 45–31 2–1 RCA Dome Recap 4 October 3 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 24–17 3–1 Alltel Stadium Recap 5 October 10 Oakland Raiders W 35–14 4–1 RCA Dome Recap 6 Bye 7 October 24 Jacksonville Jaguars L 24–27 4–2 RCA Dome Recap 8 October 31 at Kansas City Chiefs L 35–45 4–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 9 Minnesota Vikings W 31–28 5–3 RCA Dome Recap 10 November 14 Houston Texans W 49–14 6–3 RCA Dome Recap 11 November 21 at Chicago Bears W 41–10 7–3 Soldier Field Recap 12 November 25 at Detroit Lions W 41–9 8–3 Ford Field Recap 13 December 5 Tennessee Titans W 51–24 9–3 RCA Dome Recap 14 December 12 at Houston Texans W 23–14 10–3 Reliant Stadium Recap 15 December 19 Baltimore Ravens W 20–10 11–3 RCA Dome Recap 16 December 26 San Diego Chargers W 34–31 12–3 RCA Dome Recap 17 January 2 at Denver Broncos L 14–33 12–4 Invesco Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1: at New England Patriots
Week 2: at Tennessee Titans
Week 3: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 4: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 5: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 7: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
A fumble by Colts' TE Dallas Clark allowed the Jaguars to capitalize with a field goal, giving them a 16–14 lead as the fourth quarter began. In response, Manning led the Colts down the field to score a field goal, reclaiming the lead. On the subsequent drive, Leftwich connected with Smith for a 25–yard touchdown and then successfully targeted WR Ernest Wilford for a two–point conversion. The Colts quickly answered back, with Manning finding Harrison for a 39–yard touchdown that leveled the score. During the Jaguars' next possession, Leftwich completed two passes of over 10 yards, advancing into Indianapolis territory. On a 3rd–and–7, Leftwich located Wilford, which positioned the Jaguars within field goal range. K Josh Scobee then successfully converted a 53–yard field goal, allowing the Jaguars to take the lead with under a minute left in the game. With no timeouts left, the Colts were unable to mount a comeback, resulting in a 27–24 victory for the Jaguars, marking their first win in Indianapolis. This win propelled them to the top of the AFC South standings. This would ultimately be the Colts' sole defeat in their RCA Dome that season.
Week 8: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 9: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 10: vs. Houston Texans
Week 11: at Chicago Bears
Week 12: at Detroit Lions
Week 13: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 14: at Houston Texans
Week 15: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 16: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 17: at Denver Broncos
Postseason schedule
Playoff round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Host stadium NFL recap Wild Card January 9 Denver Broncos (6) W 49–24 1–0 RCA Dome Recap Divisional January 16 at New England Patriots (2) L 3–20 1–1 Gillette Stadium Recap
Postseason results
AFC Wild-Card Playoff Game: vs. Denver Broncos
AFC Divisional Playoff game: at New England Patriots
Awards and records Peyton Manning, Bert Bell AwardMaxwell Football Club – Bert Bell Award Past Recipients
See also History of the Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts seasons Colts–Patriots rivalry
References