The 2014 season was the Indianapolis Colts' 62nd in the National Football League (NFL), their 31st in Indianapolis, and their third under head coach Chuck Pagano, general manager Ryan Grigson and quarterback Andrew Luck.
The Colts entered the 2014 season as the defending AFC South champions, after compiling an 11–5 record during the previous season and falling to the New England Patriots in the divisional round of the playoffs. They clinched their second straight division title with a 17–10 win over the Houston Texans in Week 15. They also went 6–0 in their division for the second straight year. In the postseason, the Colts would defeat both the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos before losing to the eventual Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. The 2014 Colts failed to join the 2010 New York Jets and 2012 Baltimore Ravens as the only teams to beat both Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in the playoffs.
Behind former first overall draft pick Andrew Luck, the Colts became the first team since the AFL–NFL merger in 1970 to pass for 300 or more yards in eight consecutive games.Pro-Football-Reference.com: From 1970 to 2015, any team, vs. any team, in the regular season, streaks of games with at least 300 Passing Yards
As of today, this is the deepest postseason run the Colts have ever had in the post-Peyton Manning era, and the only season since 2009 where they have made the AFC Championship Game. This also represents the most recent AFC South title for the Colts.
Draft
Draft trades The Colts traded their original seventh-round selection (No. 241 overall) to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for cornerback Josh Gordy. The Colts acquired this seventh-round selection (No. 232 overall) in a trade that sent center A. Q. Shipley to the Baltimore Ravens.
Roster moves
Departures Position Player 2014 Team Notes SS Antoine Bethea UFA San Francisco 49ers Signed by San Francisco on March 11, 2014. RB Donald Brown UFA San Diego Chargers Signed by San Diego on March 12, 2014. LB Kavell Conner UFA San Diego Chargers Signed by San Diego on March 13, 2014. G Jeff Linkenbach UFA Kansas City Chiefs Signed by Kansas City on March 12, 2014.G Mike McGlynn UFA Washington Redskins Signed by Washington on March 28, 2014. WR Darrius Heyward-Bey UFA Pittsburgh Steelers Signed by Pittsburgh on April 2, 2014. CB Cassius Vaughn UFA Detroit Lions Signed by Detroit on April 7, 2014.LB Pat Angerer UFA Atlanta Falcons Signed by Atlanta on July 22, 2014.
Additions Position Player 2013 Team Notes T Jack Breckner UFA Iowa Barnstormers Signed by Indianapolis on February 5, 2014. LB Henoc Muamba UFA Winnipeg Blue Bombers Signed by Indianapolis on February 6, 2014. S David Sims UFA Philadelphia Eagles Signed by Indianapolis on February 10, 2014.LB D'Qwell Jackson UFA Cleveland Browns Signed by Indianapolis on March 6, 2014. DE Arthur Jones UFA Baltimore Ravens Signed by Indianapolis on March 11, 2014. C Phil Costa UFA Dallas Cowboys Signed by Indianapolis on March 13, 2014. (retired on April 21, 2014) WR Hakeem Nicks UFA New York Giants Signed by Indianapolis on March 15, 2014. FB Cameron White UFA None Signed by Indianapolis on April 17, 2014.S Colt Anderson UFA Philadelphia Eagles Signed by Indianapolis on April 21, 2014. CB Johnny Adams UFA Oakland Raiders Signed by Indianapolis on June 4, 2014.CB Brandon Burton WVR Cincinnati Bengals Claimed off of Waivers on June 12, 2014.S Mike Adams UFA Denver Broncos Signed by Indianapolis on June 16, 2014. NT Brandon McKinney UFA Indianapolis Colts Signed by Indianapolis on June 19, 2014. G Chad Anderson UFA Los Angeles Kiss Signed by Indianapolis on July 16, 2014. RB Davin Meggett UFA Winnipeg Blue Bombers Signed by Indianapolis on July 27, 2014.RB Phillip Tanner UFA Dallas Cowboys Signed by Indianapolis on July 29, 2014.LB Shawn Loiseau UFA Los Angeles Kiss Signed by Indianapolis on August 4, 2014.OLB Phillip Hunt UFA Philadelphia Eagles Signed by Indianapolis on August 5, 2014.
Undrafted free agents Position Player College QB Seth Lobato Northern Colorado RB Zurlon Tipton Central Michigan WR Eric Thomas TroyWR Ryan Lankford IllinoisWR Tony Washington Appalachian StateWR Greg Moore Lane CollegeWR Aaron Burks Boise StateWR Nu'Keese Richardson Upike TE Erik Swoope Miami C Jonotthan Harrison FloridaC FN Lutz Indiana State G Marcus Hall Ohio StateG Josh Walker Middle Tennessee T Eric Pike TowsonT Matt Hall Belhaven DE Tyler Hoover Michigan StateDE Nnamdi Obukwelu HarvardDE Gannon Conway Arizona StateNT Zach Kerr Delaware LB Jonathon Sharpe North Greenville CB Qua Cox Jackson StateCB Keon Lyn SyracuseCB Loucheiz Purifoy FloridaCB Kameron Jackson Cal S Dewey McDonald Calvulcans K Cody Parkey Auburn
Suspensions
Robert Mathis On May 16, it was announced the outside linebacker Robert Mathis was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. It was reported that Mathis took the drug Clomid, a male fertility drug. Greg Aiello, a spokesperson for the league said that the drug was not approved for fertility use in males by the FDA and has been banned by the league for years. It was announced on May 20 that the league would not hear Mathis' appeal on the suspension.
LaRon Landry On September 29, it was announced the safety LaRon Landry was suspended for four games of the season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.
Injuries July 25: Running back Vick Ballard suffered a torn left Achilles tendon on the second day of training camp and was later placed on the injured reserve. July 31: Left guard Donald Thomas suffered a torn right quad during training camp, which required season ending surgery. September 8: Outside linebacker Robert Mathis suffered a torn Achilles tendon during a personal workout. Mathis, who was suspended the first four game of the season, was later placed on the injured reserve and ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Staff/Coaches
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at New York Jets L 10–13 0–1 MetLife Stadium Recap 2 New York Giants L 26–27 0–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 3 New Orleans Saints L 17–23 0–3 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 4 at Cincinnati Bengals L 7–35 0–4 Paul Brown Stadium Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 7 at Denver Broncos L 24–31 0–1 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Recap 2 Philadelphia Eagles L 27–30 0–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 3 September 21 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 44–17 1–2 EverBank Field Recap 4 September 28 Tennessee Titans W 41–17 2–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 5 October 5 Baltimore Ravens W 20–13 3–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 6 at Houston Texans W 33–28 4–2 NRG Stadium Recap 7 October 19 Cincinnati Bengals W 27–0 5–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 8 October 26 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 34–51 5–3 Heinz Field Recap 9 at New York Giants W 40–24 6–3 MetLife Stadium Recap 10Bye 11 November 16 New England Patriots L 20–42 6–4 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 12 November 23 Jacksonville Jaguars W 23–3 7–4 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 13 November 30 Washington Redskins W 49–27 8–4 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 14 December 7 at Cleveland Browns W 25–24 9–4 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 15 December 14 Houston Texans W 17–10 10–4 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 16 December 21 at Dallas Cowboys L 7–42 10–5 AT&T Stadium Recap 17 December 28 at Tennessee Titans W 27–10 11–5 LP Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Postseason
Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card January 4 Cincinnati Bengals (5) W 26–10 1–0 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap Divisional January 11 at Denver Broncos (2) W 24–13 2–0 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Recap AFC Championship January 18 at New England Patriots (1) L 7–45 2–1 Gillette Stadium Recap
Game summaries
Regular season
Week 1: at Denver Broncos
The Colts began the season on the road against the defending AFC champion Denver Broncos. The Colts began the game on offense, driving down to the Broncos' 36-yard line. However, following a delay of game penalty, they were forced to punt. Peyton Manning led the Broncos' offense on a 16-play drive, but would settle only for a field goal, giving Denver a 3–0 lead. An Andrew Luck interception on the Colts' ensuing offensive possession set the Broncos up at midfield and would lead to a touchdown on a pass from Manning to Julius Thomas to give the Broncos a 10–0 lead. After a three and out from the Colts' offense, Manning and the Broncos again take advantage and drive 83-yard to score on another Thomas touchdown reception. Late in the second quarter, the Broncos again scored on a touchdown pass from Manning to Thomas and extended Denver's lead to 24–0 with two minutes remaining in the half. The Colts put together an 8-play, 80-yard drive to end the half and scored their first points on a 9-yard run from Luck, making the score 24–7 in favor of Denver at halftime.
The Broncos' began the second half on offense, though they were eventually forced to punt. After driving into the red zone on their first offensive possession of the half, the Colts' failed to convert a fourth down on the goal line and turned the ball over on downs. The Colts' next offensive possession would again stall in the red zone, with the Colts settling for an Adam Vinatieri field goal, cutting the Bronco lead to 24–10. A 48-yard drive early in the fourth quarter gave the Broncos as 31–10 lead after a Montee Ball touchdown run. The Colts would respond on their next drive with a touchdown pass from Luck to Dwayne Allen, cutting the Broncos' lead down to two scores. The Colts failed to take advantage of a recovered onside kick, after Luck threw an interception in Broncos' territory. After the Colts defense forced a three and out, Luck again drove the Colts down to the goal line, eventually scoring on a touchdown pass to Hakeem Nicks. After again stopping the Broncos' offense, the Colts received the ball with a little under three minutes remaining in the game and a change to tie the game. Though the Colts would drive into Bronco territory, the drive would end after a failed fourth down pass attempt from Luck to Reggie Wayne. With the loss, the Colts began the season with an 0–1 record.
Week 2: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
After losing to the Broncos in the season opener, the Colts faced the Philadelphia Eagles in their first home game of the season on Monday night. After a three and out on the Colts' opening possession, the Eagles, led by quarterback Nick Foles, drove down the field and settled for a 31-yard field goal to give them an early 3–0 lead. On their ensuing offensive drive, the Colts drove 72 yards in nine plays and scored on an Andrew Luck touchdown pass to Ahmad Bradshaw, giving the Colts their first lead at 7–3. The Colts extended their lead early in the second quarter on a 46-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal to 10–3. Later in the second quarter, the Eagles closed the gap after a 23-yard field goal from Cody Parkey. The next Colts possession ended in a Luck touchdown pass to Jack Doyle, extending their lead to 17–6 at halftime.