The 2017 season was the Indianapolis Colts' 65th in the National Football League (NFL), the 34th in Indianapolis and the tenth playing their home game at Lucas Oil Stadium. It was also the sixth and final season under head coach Chuck Pagano, who was fired at the end of the season. It was also the first under new general manager Chris Ballard, the former Kansas City Chiefs' Director of Football Operations, following the dismissal of Ryan Grigson. The Colts were looking to improve on their 8–8 record from last year and make the playoffs for the first time since 2014. However, star quarterback Andrew Luck suffered a shoulder injury before the regular season began, was placed on the injured reserve list, and missed the remainder of the season that paralleled the 2011 season, when then-starting quarterback Peyton Manning sat out the entire season to undergo neck surgeries and coincidentally, the Colts lost at least 12 games.

After an ineffective performance by backup Scott Tolzien in Week 1 against the Rams, the Colts put Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback for the rest of the season. However, Brissett could not save the team as they finished 4–12 for their first losing season since 2011, and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Roster changes

Free agents Position Player 2017 Team Notes S Mike Adams UFA Carolina Panthers signed on March 10 WR Quan Bray ERFA Indianapolis Colts signed on April 17 CB Darius Butler UFA Indianapolis Colts signed on March 17 OLB Chris Carter UFA Washington Redskins signed on March 16 OLB Trent Cole UFA TE Jack Doyle UFA Indianapolis Colts signed on March 7 C Jonotthan Harrison RFA New York Jetssigned on March 28 DE Zach Kerr RFA Denver Broncos signed on March 12 OLB Robert Mathis UFA Retired P Pat McAfee UFA Retired ILB Josh McNary RFA Jacksonville Jaguars signed on March 16 OT Joe Reitz UFA Retired TE Erik Swoope ERFA Indianapolis Colts signed on April 17 G Hugh Thornton UFA Atlanta Falcons signed on March 28 RB Jordan Todman UFA New York Jets signed on June 13 RB Robert Turbin UFA Indianapolis Colts signed on March 13 OLB Erik Walden UFA Tennessee Titans signed on July 27 Player re-signed by the Colts Player signed with a different team Player retired

Draft

2017 Indianapolis Colts Draft Round Selection Player Position College 1 15 Malik Hooker FS Ohio State 2 46 Quincy Wilson CB Florida 3 80 Tarell Basham OLB Ohio 4 137 Zach Banner OT USC 143 Marlon Mack RB South Florida 144 Grover Stewart DT Albany State 5 158 Nate Hairston CB Temple 161 Anthony Walker Jr. ILB Northwestern Notes The Colts received one compensatory selection — No. 144 overall. The Colts traded their seventh-round selection (No. 233 overall) to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for defensive end Billy Winn. The Colts traded Dwayne Allen and their sixth-round selection (No. 200 overall) to the New England Patriots for their fourth-round selection (No. 137 overall).

Undrafted free agents Sources PositionPlayerCollegeNotesOGDeyshawn BondCincinnatimade final roster, placed on injured reserve October 3RBDalton CrossanNew Hampshirewaived August 15TEDarrell DanielsWashingtonmade final rosterWRTrey GriffeyArizonawaived June 12LSThomas HennessyDuketraded to the New York Jets August 28TEBug HowardNorth Carolinawaived September 2TEColin JeterLSUwaived July 30WRJerome LaneAkronwaived May 15CBChris LylesMississippi Collegewaived May 15OGChristopher MullerRutgerswaived May 15WRJoJo NatsonAkronwaived September 2CBReggie PorterUtahwaived June 12RBBrandon RadcliffLouisvillewaived June 1PRigoberto SanchezHawaiimade final rosterOLBGarrett SickelsPenn Statewaived from practice squad September 12DEJhaustin ThomasIowa Statewaived September 2OTJerry UgokweWilliam & Marywaived August 2QBPhillip WalkerTempleadded to practice squad September 3

Staff

Final roster

Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 August 13 Detroit Lions L 10–24 0–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 2 at Dallas Cowboys L 19–24 0–2 AT&T Stadium Recap 3 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 19–15 1–2 Heinz Field Recap 4 Cincinnati Bengals W 7–6 2–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap

Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 10 at Los Angeles Rams L 9–46 0–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap 2 September 17 Arizona Cardinals L 13–16 0–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 3 September 24 Cleveland Browns W 31–28 1–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 4 October 1 at Seattle Seahawks L 18–46 1–3 CenturyLink Field Recap 5 October 8 San Francisco 49ers W 26–23 2–3 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 6 at Tennessee Titans L 22–36 2–4 Nissan Stadium Recap 7 October 22 Jacksonville Jaguars L 0–27 2–5 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 8 October 29 at Cincinnati Bengals L 23–24 2–6 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 9 November 5 at Houston Texans W 20–14 3–6 NRG Stadium Recap 10 November 12 Pittsburgh Steelers L 17–20 3–7 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 11Bye 12 November 26 Tennessee Titans L 16–20 3–8 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 13 December 3 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 10–30 3–9 EverBank Field Recap 14 December 10 at Buffalo Bills L 7–13 3–10 New Era Field Recap 15 Denver Broncos L 13–25 3–11 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 16 at Baltimore Ravens L 16–23 3–12 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 17 December 31 Houston Texans W 22–13 4–12 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries Week 1: at Los Angeles Rams

The first regular season game of the Colts ended in disaster. The offense allowed two pick-sixes and a safety, the defense were unable to stop Sean McVay's high-powered Rams offense, and the special teams missed one field goal.

Week 2: vs. Arizona Cardinals The Colts allowed 2 Phil Dawson field goals late in the game, with the 2nd one turning out to be the game winner. The 2nd one came after a Jacoby Brissett interception on the first play of overtime. The Colts fell to 0–2, their third straight such start.

Week 3: vs. Cleveland Browns In a battle of 0–2 teams, the Colts took a 28–14 lead at halftime, then halted a Browns comeback in the second half. The Colts improved to 1–2.

Week 4: at Seattle Seahawks Despite being tied at 18 in the 3rd quarter, the Colts allowed 28 straight Seattle points to fall to 1–3.

Week 5: vs. San Francisco 49ers Despite allowing the 49ers to rally from a 23–9 deficit in the 2nd half, the Colts won in overtime on an Adam Vinatieri field goal to improve to 2–3 while going 1–3 against the NFC West.

Week 6: at Tennessee Titans Despite leading 19–9 in the third quarter, the Colts were outscored 27–3 the rest of the way, resulting in their first loss to the Titans since 2011, snapping their 11-game winning streak in the series. The Colts fell to 2–4.

Week 7: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville dominated the entire game, and beat the Colts in Indianapolis for the first time since 2012. The Colts fell to 2–5. The Colts were also shut out at home for the first time since 1993.

Week 8: at Cincinnati Bengals Despite leading for a good portion of the game, a late pick 6 by Jacoby Brissett did the Colts in, as they fell to 2–6.

Week 9: at Houston Texans Against the equally disappointing Texans, the Colts improved to 3–6 and snapped their 3-game losing streak to the Texans.

Week 10: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Despite leading 17–3 in the 3rd quarter, the Colts lost to the Steelers 20–17 to fall to 3–7, their 5th straight loss to Pittsburgh.

Week 12: vs. Tennessee Titans Despite a 16–6 lead in the 3rd quarter, the Titans managed to pull off the comeback to win 20–16 and send the Colts to 3–8. It was the first time since 2002 that the Colts had been swept by the Titans.

Week 13: at Jacksonville Jaguars For the second time this season, the Jaguars managed to dominate Indianapolis, winning this game 30–10 and sending the Colts to 3–9, their 3rd straight road loss to the Jaguars.

Week 14: at Buffalo Bills The game in Buffalo, called the "Snow Bowl" by the media, was notable for being held in the midst of a lake-effect snow storm that left over a foot of snow on the stadium's turf in similar weather conditions to games such as the Snowplow Game. The Colts and Bills played a low-scoring affair, tied at 7 by the end of regulation thanks to a fourth quarter touchdown pass from Jacoby Brissett to Jack Doyle. However, LeSean McCoy managed to win the game for the Bills with a 21-yard touchdown run in overtime. The Colts fell to 3–10 and were officially eliminated from playoff contention.

Week 15: vs. Denver Broncos The Colts lost at home to the Broncos, who were also on a downspiral season, to fall to 3–11. It was their first loss at home to the Broncos since 2003, ending their 6-game home winning streak against them.

Week 16: at Baltimore Ravens The Colts played a close matchup with the playoff-bound Ravens, but it was not enough as the Colts lost and fell to 3–12.

Week 17: vs. Houston Texans In a battle for the basement, the Colts defeated the Texans 22–13 and swept the Texans for the first time since 2014. The win also secured the Colts third place in the division. Head coach Chuck Pagano was fired just hours after the win.

Standings Division

Conference

References

External links