The 1995 Indianapolis Colts season was the 43rd season for the team in the National Football League and 12th in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Colts finished the National Football League's 1995 season with a record of 9 wins and 7 losses, and finished tied for second in the AFC East division with the Miami Dolphins. However, the Colts finished ahead of Miami based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).
The Colts' 9–7 record was good enough to get them into the playoffs for the first time since 1987, largely due to the insertion of Jim Harbaugh into the starting quarterback role. It was only the second playoff appearance for the franchise since it moved from Baltimore in 1984, and was its first playoff appearance in a non-strike year since 1977. They defeated the defending conference champion San Diego Chargers in their first playoff game (their first playoff win since 1971, when the team was still located in Baltimore), then upset the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Playoffs. The Colts would fall short in the AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in a game that came down to the final play.
Offseason
Expansion draft
+ Indianapolis Colts selected during the expansion draft Round Overall Name Position Expansion team1326Dewell BrewerRunning BackCarolina Panthers2754Paul ButcherLinebackerCarolina Panthers
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1995 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeBen BronsonWide receiverBaylorConrad ClarksDefensive backNortheast LouisianaSteve MorrisonLinebackerMichiganMarcus PollardTight endBradley
Transactions July 29: The Indianapolis Colts signed wide receiver Wendell Davis
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 Cincinnati Bengals L 21–34 0–1 RCA Dome 39,946 2 at Seattle Seahawks W 20–17 1–1 Kingdome 38,006 3 at Green Bay Packers W 20–17 2–1 Lambeau Field 55,624 4 Chicago Bears W 29–7 3–1 RCA Dome 45,626
Game summaries
Week P1: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week P2: at Seattle Seahawks
Week P3: at Green Bay Packers
Week P4: vs. Chicago Bears
Regular season
Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site Attendance Recap 1 September 3 Cincinnati Bengals L 21–24 0–1 RCA Dome 42,445 Recap 2 September 10 at New York Jets W 27–24 1–1 Giants Stadium 65,134 Recap 3 September 17 at Buffalo Bills L 14–20 1–2 Rich Stadium 62,499 Recap 4 Bye 5 October 1 St. Louis Rams W 21–18 2–2 RCA Dome 58,616 Recap 6 October 8 at Miami Dolphins W 27–24 3–2 Joe Robbie Stadium 68,471 Recap 7 October 15 San Francisco 49ers W 18–17 4–2 RCA Dome 60,273 Recap 8 October 22 at Oakland Raiders L 17–30 4–3 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,543 Recap 9 October 29 New York Jets W 17–10 5–3 RCA Dome 49,250 Recap 10 November 5 Buffalo Bills L 10–16 5–4 RCA Dome 59,612 Recap 11 November 12 at New Orleans Saints L 14–17 5–5 Louisiana Superdome 44,122 Recap 12 November 19 at New England Patriots W 24–10 6–5 Foxboro Stadium 59,544 Recap 13 November 26 Miami Dolphins W 36–28 7–5 RCA Dome 60,414 Recap 14 December 3 at Carolina Panthers L 10–13 7–6 Memorial Stadium 49,841 Recap 15 December 10 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 41–31 8–6 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 66,099 Recap 16 December 17 San Diego Chargers L 24–27 8–7 RCA Dome 55,318 Recap 17 December 23 New England Patriots W 10–7 9–7 RCA Dome 54,685 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 2 at Jets
Week 3: at Buffalo Bills
Week 5: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week 6: at Miami Dolphins
Week 7: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 8: at Oakland Raiders
Week 9: vs. New York Jets
Week 10: at Buffalo Bills
Week 11: at New Orleans Saints
Week 12: at New England Patriots
Week 13: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 14: at Carolina Panthers
Week 15: at Jacksonville Jaguars
On the opening kickoff, Colts return specialist Aaron Bailey, found a gap and sprinted 95 yards for a touchdown. The Jaguars countered by moving the ball to the Colts' 9–yard line; however, Mike Hollis' 27–yard field goal attempt was blocked. In response, the Colts scored another touchdown, with Bailey catching a 14–yard pass. A 45–yard completion to wide receiver Willie Jackson contributed to a Jaguars touchdown, cutting the Colts lead to 7 early in the second quarter. After a Colts punt, Cedric Tillman fumbled the ball during the return, with the Colts' Derwin Gray recovering the ball, which set up another Colts touchdown. On the following drive, Jaguars' quarterback Mark Brunell was intercepted by cornerback Eugene Daniel, who returned it to Jacksonville's 3–yard line. Nevertheless, the Colts were unable to score a touchdown and opted for a field goal, concluding the first half with the Colts leading 24–7. The Jaguars commenced the second half with a successful field goal drive, which the Colts promptly matched with a field goal of their own. As the fourth quarter began, the Jaguars executed a touchdown drive, reducing the Colts lead to 10. They attempted an onside kick, but the Colts recovered, leading to a subsequent touchdown for the Colts. In response, the Jaguars quickly scored a touchdown in just four plays, highlighted by a 31–yard pass to Jackson. The Jaguars attempted another onside kick, but the Colts recovered once more and added another touchdown to their tally. In the closing minutes, the Jaguars mounted a drive where Brunell connected with Jackson for another touchdown. They made a third attempt at an onside kick, but the Colts again recovered, ultimately securing a 41–31 victory in their inaugural matchup.
Week 16: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 17: vs. New England Patriots
Standings
Playoffs The team received a Wild-Card playoff berth for the playoffs and traveled to San Diego to play the Chargers. They went on to beat the Chargers, their first playoff win in 24 years and first since moving to Indianapolis. They also won their Divisional Round game against the #1 seed Kansas City Chiefs but would fall short in the AFC Championship game to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Schedule Playoff Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Game Site Attendance Recap Wild Card December 31, 1995 at San Diego Chargers (4) W 35–20 1–0 Jack Murphy Stadium Recap Divisional January 7, 1996 at Kansas City Chiefs (1) W 10–7 2–0 Arrowhead Stadium Recap Conference Championship January 14, 1996 at Pittsburgh Steelers (2) L 16–20 2–1 Three Rivers Stadium Recap
Game summaries
AFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (4) San Diego Chargers
AFC Divisional Playoffs: at (1) Kansas City Chiefs
AFC Championship Game: at (2) Pittsburgh Steelers
Awards and records Jim Harbaugh, NFL Passing Leader, (Passer Rating 100.7)NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, , p. 450 Jim Harbaugh, NFL Comeback Player of the Year
See also History of the Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts seasons Colts–Patriots rivalry 1995 AFC Championship game
References