The 1965 Baltimore Colts season was the 13th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1965 season with a record of 10 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie, which tied for first in the Western Conference with the Green Bay Packers. No tie-breaking system was in place, and a playoff game was required to determine the Western Conference champion, who would host the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Browns for the NFL title.
The Colts were victims of the alleged Sports Illustrated cover jinx after linebacker Dennis Gaubatz was featured in late November. According to the article on the team's defense, the 9–1 Colts would soon clinch the Western title. But the team was beset with numerous obstacles from that point on, not the least of which were serious injuries to both of their quarterbacks, future Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas and back-up Gary Cuozzo.
After it was ruled that veteran free agent Ed Brown had been acquired too late for inclusion on the postseason roster, halfback Tom Matte (who had played quarterback at Ohio State for Woody Hayes) was pressed into service behind center. Yet the Colts were a remarkably resilient bunch, and if not for a blown call in the playoff game, they would have advanced to the league championship game, which they would have hosted at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.
Offseason NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1965 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeJim MurphyQuarterbackAir Force
Personnel
Staff/coaches 1965 Baltimore Colts staff Front office Owner/president – Carroll Rosenbloom Vice president/general manager – Red Kellett
Coaching staff Head coach – Don Shula Offensive coaches Receivers/offensive ends – Dick Bielski Offensive backs – Don McCafferty Offensive line coach – John Sandusky Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator/defensive line - Bill Arnsparger Defensive backfield – Charley Winner Linebackers coach – Don Shula
Roster
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 19 Minnesota Vikings W 35–16 1–0 Memorial Stadium 56,562 2 September 26 at Green Bay Packers L 17–20 1–1 Milwaukee County Stadium 48,130 3 October 3 San Francisco 49ers W 27–24 2–1 Memorial Stadium 58,609 4 October 10 Detroit Lions W 31–7 3–1 Memorial Stadium 60,238 5 October 17 at Washington Redskins W 38–7 4–1 D.C. Stadium 50,405 6 October 24 Los Angeles Rams W 35–20 5–1 Memorial Stadium 60,238 7 October 31 at San Francisco 49ers W 34–28 6–1 Kezar Stadium 45,827 8 November 7 at Chicago Bears W 26–21 7–1 Wrigley Field 45,656 9 November 14 at Minnesota Vikings W 41–21 8–1 Metropolitan Stadium 47,426 10 November 21 Philadelphia Eagles W 34–24 9–1 Memorial Stadium 60,238 11 November 25 at Detroit Lions T 24–24 9–1–1 Tiger Stadium 55,036 12 December 5 Chicago Bears L 0–13 9–2–1 Memorial Stadium 60,238 13 December 12 Green Bay Packers L 27–42 9–3–1 Memorial Stadium 60,238 14 at Los Angeles Rams W 20–17 10–3–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 46,636 Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Postseason The Western Conference playoff game was played at Lambeau Field in Green Bay the day after Christmas and the Colts led the Packers 10–0 at halftime. The Packers, with back-up quarterback Zeke Bratkowski in for injured Bart Starr, tied it up late in the fourth quarter on Don Chandler's controversial 22-yard field goal. Video replays appeared to show the kicked ball sailed well wide of the right upright—and the reaction of Chandler confirmed as much. The kick resulted in 1) a re-design of the goalposts, and 2) changing the placement of an official directly under each upright on field-goal attempts for the 1966 season.
Despite evidence to the contrary, the official in question, Jim Tunney (later known as "Dean of NFL Referees"), refused to admit his mistake, claiming that the flight of the ball over the goalpost had been affected by the wind before it veered to the right. The Packers won the game 13–10 in overtime with a 25-yard field goal. The following week the Packers defeated the Cleveland Browns for the NFL title, their third of five under head coach Vince Lombardi and first of three straight.
Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap Conference December 26 at Green Bay Packers L 10–13 Lambeau Field 50,484 Recap Playoff Bowl January 9, 1966 Dallas Cowboys W 35–3 Orange Bowl 65,569 -
See also History of the Baltimore Colts Indianapolis Colts seasons 1965 NFL playoffs
References
External links 1965 Baltimore Colts at Pro-Football-Reference.com 1965 Baltimore Colts at JT-SW.com Chuck Thompson (narrator), Colts: 1965 Season: "One For the Book", YouTube.com, Nov. 22, 2022 (Video.)