The 1997 Indianapolis Colts season was the 45th season for the team in the National Football League and 14th in Indianapolis. The Colts finished the National Football League’s 1997 season with a record of 3 wins and 13 losses, and finished fifth in the AFC East division. The Colts would start horribly, losing their first ten games for their worst start since 1986. They became only the second team to start 0–10 since 1987 after the 1993 Bengals, before an upset home win over eventual NFC Champion Green Bay. That would turn out to be the only good highlight all season for the Colts, as the team fell to a league-worst 3–13 record, and earned the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft, where they selected quarterback Peyton Manning.
Offseason NFL draft
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site Attendance 1 August 31 at Miami Dolphins L 10–16 0–1 Pro Player Stadium 70,813 2 September 7 New England Patriots L 6–31 0–2 RCA Dome 53,632 3 September 14 Seattle Seahawks L 3–31 0–3 RCA Dome 49,194 4 September 21 at Buffalo Bills L 35–37 0–4 Rich Stadium 55,340 5 Bye 6 October 5 New York Jets L 12–16 0–5 RCA Dome 48,295 7 October 12 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 22–24 0–6 Three Rivers Stadium 57,925 8 Buffalo Bills L 6–9 0–7 RCA Dome 61,139 9 October 26 at San Diego Chargers L 19–35 0–8 Jack Murphy Stadium 63,177 10 November 2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 28–31 0–9 RCA Dome 58,512 11 November 9 Cincinnati Bengals L 13–28 0–10 RCA Dome 58,473 12 November 16 Green Bay Packers W 41–38 1–10 RCA Dome 60,928 13 November 23 at Detroit Lions L 10–32 1–11 Pontiac Silverdome 62,803 14 November 30 at New England Patriots L 17–20 1–12 Foxboro Stadium 58,507 15 December 7 at New York Jets W 22–14 2–12 The Meadowlands 61,168 16 December 14 Miami Dolphins W 41–0 3–12 RCA Dome 61,282 17 December 21 at Minnesota Vikings L 28–39 3–13 Metrodome 54,107Note: Intra-divisional opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday, August 31, 1997): at Miami Dolphins
Week 2 (Sunday, September 7, 1997): vs. New England Patriots
Week 3 (Sunday, September 14, 1997): vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 4 (Sunday, September 21, 1997): at Buffalo Bills
Week 5: Bye Week
Week 6 (Sunday, October 5, 1997): vs. New York Jets
Week 7 (Sunday, October 12, 1997): at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 8 (Monday, October 20, 1997): vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 9 (Sunday, October 26, 1997): at San Diego Chargers Although unknown at the time, this game was of significant consequence in NFL history. The loser of this game would have the first pick in the 1998 NFL draft, which for the Colts was Peyton Manning.
Week 10 (Sunday, November 2, 1997): vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 11 (Sunday, November 9, 1997): vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 12 (Sunday, November 16, 1997): vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 13 (Sunday, November 23, 1997): at Detroit Lions
Week 14 (Sunday, November 30, 1997): at New England Patriots
Week 15 (Sunday, December 7, 1997): at New York Jets
Week 16 (Sunday, December 14, 1997): vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 17 (Sunday, December 21, 1997): at Minnesota Vikings
Standings
References
See also History of the Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts seasons Colts–Patriots rivalry