The 2010 season was the Indianapolis Colts' 58th in the National Football League (NFL), their 27th in Indianapolis and their second under head coach Jim Caldwell. They were looking to defend their AFC Championship title and win it all in Super Bowl XLV to end their four-year championship drought. It was also the final season with Peyton Manning as the team's starting quarterback, as he would sit out the next season due to a neck injury and would be released by Indianapolis on March 7, 2012. Manning's last game as a Colt was on January 8, 2011, a 17–16 loss to the New York Jets in the Wild Card Round and would sign with the Denver Broncos a year later, on March 20, 2012.
The Colts also clinched their ninth consecutive postseason appearance, tying the then all-time record for consecutive postseason appearances by a team with the Dallas Cowboys, who made the playoffs every season from 1975 to 1983. Though the Colts failed to win 12 or more games for the first time since 2002, the team did win the AFC South division title for the seventh time in eight seasons, but were eliminated narrowly in the Wild Card Round by the Jets.
Offseason
Additions
Pos. Player Date Notes G Andy Alleman March 6, 2010 Signed with Colts OL Gerald Cadogan January 20, 2010 Signed with Colts DL John Chick January 8, 2010 Signed with Colts WR Dudley Guice January 6, 2010 Signed with Colts DL Mitch King January 23, 2010 Signed with Colts CB Terrail Lambert February 14, 2010 Signed with Colts WR John Matthews February 14, 2010 Signed with Colts RB Devin Moore January 14, 2010 Signed with Colts LB Brandon Renkart February 14, 2010 Signed with Colts DE J. D. Skolnitsky March 9, 2010 Signed with Colts WR Taj Smith February 14, 2010 Signed with Colts OT Adam Terry March 12, 2010 Signed with Colts OL Jaimie Thomas February 14, 2010 Signed with Colts QB Drew Willy February 14, 2010 Signed with Colts
Departures
Pos. Player Date released Date signed 2010 team Notes DT Raheem Brock March 5, 2010 August 12, 2010 Seahawks Released by Colts, later signed by Seahawks. WR Roy Hall May 3, 2010 May 12, 2010 Saints Released by Colts, later signed by Saints. DE Rudolph Hardie May 4, 2010 Released by Colts. G Ryan Lilja March 8, 2010 March 16, 2010 Chiefs Released by Colts, later signed by Chiefs. TE Jamie Petrowski May 4, 2010 May 18, 2010 Panthers Released by Colts, later signed by Panthers. RB Chad Simpson April 10, 2010 May 11, 2010 Bills Released by Colts, later signed by Bills. QB Jim Sorgi March 5, 2010 March 9, 2010 Giants Released by Colts, later signed by Giants.
Free agents
Pos. Player Free agencytag Date signed 2010 team Notes WR Hank Baskett UFA March 12, 2010 Eagles Colts declined to tender an offer. Later signed by Eagles. FS Antoine Bethea RFA June 11, 2010 Colts Colts offered a first–round tender. Re-signed with Colts. LB Gary Brackett UFA March 5, 2010 Colts Re–signed with Colts. SS Melvin Bullitt RFA April 14, 2010 Colts Colts offered a second–round tender. Re–signed with Colts. OL Daniel Federkeil UFA Colts declined to tender an offer. FS Aaron Francisco UFA April 12, 2010 Panthers Colts declined to tender an offer. Later signed by Panthers. Re-signed by Colts as SS. LB Tyjuan Hagler UFA August 10, 2010 Seahawks Colts declined to tender an offer. Later signed by Seahawks. CB Marlin Jackson UFA March 10, 2010 Eagles Colts declined to tender an offer. Later signed by Eagles. CB Tim Jennings UFA March 16, 2010 Bears Colts declined to tender an offer. Later signed by Bears. DT Antonio Johnson RFA April 17, 2010 Colts Colts offered a second–round tender. Re–signed with Colts. OT Charlie Johnson RFA April 21, 2010 Colts Colts offered a second–round tender. Re–signed with Colts. LB Freddy Keiaho UFA April 27, 2010 Jaguars Colts declined to tender an offer. Later signed by Jaguars. DT Daniel Muir RFA April 14, 2010 Colts Colts offered a second–round tender. Re–signed with Colts. CB T. J. Rushing UFA August 18, 2010 Lions Colts declined to tender an offer. Later signed by Lions.Lions score new kicker K Matt Stover UFA Colts declined to tender an offer. OT Michael Toudouze UFA August 10, 2010 Titans Colts declined to tender an offer. Later signed by Titans.Sports news UFA: Unrestricted free agent; RFA: Restricted free agent; ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent
2010 NFL draft
Having finished the season as the runner–up in the Super Bowl, the Colts held the 31st pick in each round. They had previously traded their sixth–round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for a seventh–round pick in the 2009 NFL draft.
+ Indianapolis Colts 2010 NFL Draft selections Draft order Player Position Height Weight College Contract Notes Round Choice Overall 1 31 31 Jerry Hughes DE 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 255 lb (116 kg) TCU 2 31 63 Pat Angerer ILB 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Iowa 3 30 94 Kevin Thomas CB 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) USC 4 31 129 Jacques McClendon G 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 324 lb (147 kg) Tennessee 5 31 162 Brody Eldridge TE 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 265 lb (120 kg) Oklahoma 6 31 200Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles 7 31 238 Ricardo Mathews DL 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 294 lb (133 kg)Cincinnati 7 33 240 Kavell Conner OLB 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Clemson Compensatory selection 7 39 246 Ray Fisher CB/KR 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 185 lb (84 kg)Indiana Compensatory selection
Undrafted free agents
+ 2010 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeDavid CaldwellSafetyWilliam & MaryJeffrey LinkenbachGuardCincinnatiBrett SwensonKickerMichigan StateBlair WhiteWide ReceiverMichigan State
Staff and roster
Staff Indianapolis Colts 2010 staff Front office Owner/CEO – Jim Irsay President – Bill Polian Vice president/general manager – Chris Polian Director of football administration – Steve Champlin Director of player personnel – Tom Telesco Director of pro player personnel – Clyde Powers Associate director of pro personnel – Kevin Rogers
Head coaches Head coach – Jim Caldwell
Offensive coaches Senior offensive assistant – Tom Moore Offensive coordinator – Clyde Christensen Quarterbacks – Frank Reich Running backs – Gene Huey Wide receivers – Ron Turner Tight ends – Ricky Thomas Offensive line – Pete Metzelaars Assistant offensive line – Ron Prince Offensive assistant – Jim Bob Cooter Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Larry Coyer Defensive line – John Teerlinck Linebackers – Mike Murphy Defensive backs – Alan Williams Special assistant to the defense – Rod Perry Defensive assistant – Bill Teerlinck
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Ray Rychleski
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Jon Torine Assistant strength and conditioning – Richard Howell
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 August 15 San Francisco 49ers L 17–37 0–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 2 at Buffalo Bills L 21–34 0–2 Rogers Centre Recap 3 at Green Bay Packers L 24–59 0–3 Lambeau Field Recap 4 Cincinnati Bengals L 28–30 0–4 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 12 at Houston Texans L 24–34 0–1 Reliant Stadium Recap 2 September 19 New York Giants W 38–14 1–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 3 September 26 at Denver Broncos W 27–13 2–1 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap 4 October 3 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 28–31 2–2 EverBank Field Recap 5 October 10 Kansas City Chiefs W 19–9 3–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 6 October 17 at Washington Redskins W 27–24 4–2 FedExField Recap 7Bye 8 Houston Texans W 30–17 5–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 9 November 7 at Philadelphia Eagles L 24–26 5–3 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 10 November 14 Cincinnati Bengals W 23–17 6–3 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 11 November 21 at New England Patriots L 28–31 6–4 Gillette Stadium Recap 12 November 28 San Diego Chargers L 14–36 6–5 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 13 December 5 Dallas Cowboys L 35–38 6–6 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 14 at Tennessee Titans W 30–28 7–6 LP Field Recap 15 December 19 Jacksonville Jaguars W 34–24 8–6 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 16 December 26 at Oakland Raiders W 31–26 9–6 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 17 January 2 Tennessee Titans W 23–20 10–6 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Game summaries Week 1: at Houston Texans
The Colts began their season at Reliant Stadium in an AFC South duel against the Houston Texans. Indianapolis started the season going 3-and-out on their first offensive possession of the new year. The Texans got good field position with a big punt return from Jacoby Jones to set up a 30-yard field goal to give them a 3–0 lead. The offense continued to struggle throughout the first half, getting two first downs on the next drive, however, eventually having to punt. The Texans continued to show energy on both offense and defense by scoring two more time, a field goal and a touchdown, giving the Texans a 13–0 lead halfway through the second quarter. The Colts eventually got the offense going late in the second quarter by scoring on a touchdown reception by Reggie Wayne, which broke the lead down to one possession. Adam Vinatieri made a 20-yard field goal at the end of the first half and the Colts went into the half trailing 13–10. The momentum was seemingly shifting to Indianapolis, until Houston took almost eight minutes off the third quarter clock on a 15-play drive, 13 rushes, that resulted in one of Arian Foster's rushing touchdowns on the day to give Houston a 20–10 lead. Peyton Manning and the offense struggled throughout the third quarter with missed opportunities and continued to shoot themselves in the foot with penalties. With the start of the fourth quarter Houston scored another touchdown and broke the game open. The Colts would eventually score two touchdowns late in the game, only when there was no chance of a comeback.
With the final score 34–24, the Colts were 0–1 to start a season for the first time since 2008, when they lost to the Chicago Bears.
Week 2: vs. New York Giants
The 2010 meeting between the Indianapolis Colts and the New York Giants marked the second time that the two quarterback brothers of Peyton and Eli Manning met in a football game, the last coming in 2006. The game started out good early for the Colts with a running touchdown from Donald Brown and two separate stops by the defense against the Giants. As the second quarter began the Colts kept rolling on the offensive side of the ball. Two touchdown passes during the second quarter and a field goal from Adam Vinatieri helped the Colts extend a halftime lead of 24–0. With the start of the third quarter the Giants came out and scored early on a touchdown pass to Mario Manningham from Eli Manning. With a 24–7 lead, the Colts continued to pound the Giants on defense, forcing a fumble which was returned for a touchdown. The fourth quarter continued with a touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne while the Giants eventually scored their second touchdown in the last minutes of the quarter. The Colts won the ballgame 38–14 ending their three-game regular season losing streak and improving their record on the season to 1–1.
Week 3: at Denver Broncos