The 2018 season was the Indianapolis Colts' 66th in the National Football League (NFL), their 35th in Indianapolis, and their 11th playing their home games at Lucas Oil Stadium. It was also their first season under head coach Frank Reich and second under the leadership of general manager Chris Ballard. Despite a 1–5 start, the Colts managed to improve on their injury-plagued 4–12 campaign from the year prior with a 38–10 victory over the Tennessee Titans, and a 5-game winning streak. On Week 16, the Colts achieved their first winning season since 2014 with a 28–27 win against the New York Giants. The next week, they beat the Tennessee Titans in a win or go home match-up to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2014 and became the third team in NFL history to qualify for the playoffs after a 1–5 start and first since the 2015 Chiefs.
In the wild-card round, the Colts defeated the Houston Texans 21–7, but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round 31–13, ending their season. To date, this is the most recent season the Colts have won a playoff game.
This would be the last season that the Colts would have franchise quarterback Andrew Luck, as he would retire following the season, citing his continuous struggle with injuries and no longer enjoying the game.
Offseason Coaching changes On December 31, 2017, the Colts parted ways with head coach Chuck Pagano, who had led the team for six seasons. After two interviews, it was widely reported that the Colts would hire New England Patriots' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to replace him, after McDaniels fulfilled his obligations to the Patriots in Super Bowl LII. The Colts announced on the team website that they had agreed to terms with McDaniels and scheduled a press conference with McDaniels for February 5, 2018. However, one day later, McDaniels unexpectedly withdrew from the agreement in principle to become the Colts' head coach. On February 11, 2018, after interviewing multiple candidates, including Leslie Frazier and Dan Campbell, the Colts announced the hiring of Frank Reich, formerly the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive coordinator.
Draft
2018 Indianapolis Colts Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 6 Quenton Nelson Guard Notre Dame From NY Jets 2 36 Shaquille Leonard Linebacker South Carolina State 37 Braden Smith Guard Auburn From NY Jets 52 Kemoko Turay Defensive end Rutgers From Baltimore via Philadelphia 64 Tyquan Lewis Defensive end Ohio State From Philadelphia via Cleveland 4 104 Nyheim Hines Running back NC State 5 159 Daurice Fountain Wide receiver Northern Iowa From Kansas City via Cleveland, New England, and Oakland 169 Jordan Wilkins Running back Ole Miss From Philadelphia 6 185 Deon Cain Wide receiver Clemson From Oakland 7 221Matthew Adams Linebacker Houston 235 Zaire Franklin Linebacker Syracuse From Seattle via NY Jets
Draft trades The Colts traded their first-round selection (3rd overall) to the Jets in exchange for the Jets' first-round selection (6th overall), two second-round selections (37th and 49th overall), and their second-round selection in 2019. The Colts traded a second-round selection they received from the Jets (49th overall) to the Eagles in exchange for the Eagles' second-round selection (52nd overall) and fifth-round selection (169th overall). The Colts traded their third-round selection (67th overall) and their sixth-round selection (178th overall) to the Browns in exchange for the Browns' second-round selection (64th overall). The Colts traded their fifth-round selection (140th overall) to the Raiders in exchange for the Raiders' fifth-round selection (159th overall) and sixth-round selection (185th overall). The Colts traded defensive end Henry Anderson to the Jets in exchange for the Jets' seventh-round pick previously acquired from Seattle (235th overall).
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Seattle Seahawks W 19–17 1–0 CenturyLink Field Recap 2 Baltimore Ravens L 19–20 1–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 3 San Francisco 49ers W 23–17 2–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 4 at Cincinnati Bengals W 27–26 3–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule The Colts' 2018 schedule was announced on April 19.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 9 Cincinnati Bengals L 23–34 0–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 2 September 16 at Washington Redskins W 21–9 1–1 FedEx Field Recap 3 September 23 at Philadelphia Eagles L 16–20 1–2 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 4 September 30 Houston Texans L 34–37 1–3 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 5 at New England Patriots L 24–38 1–4 Gillette Stadium Recap 6 October 14 at New York Jets L 34–42 1–5 MetLife Stadium Recap 7 October 21 Buffalo Bills W 37–5 2–5 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 8 October 28 at Oakland Raiders W 42–28 3–5 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 9Bye 10 November 11 Jacksonville Jaguars W 29–26 4–5 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 11 November 18 Tennessee Titans W 38–10 5–5 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 12 November 25 Miami Dolphins W 27–24 6–5 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 13 December 2 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 0–6 6–6 TIAA Bank Field Recap 14 December 9 at Houston Texans W 24–21 7–6 NRG Stadium Recap 15 December 16 Dallas Cowboys W 23–0 8–6 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 16 December 23 New York Giants W 28–27 9–6 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 17 December 30 at Tennessee Titans W 33–17 10–6 Nissan Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Despite leading 23–10 in the second half, the Colts allowed the Bengals to come back and win 34–23. While driving late in the game, Jack Doyle lost a fumble that was returned 83 yards for a touchdown, sealing the win for Cincinnati.
The loss snapped the Colts’ eight-game home winning streak against the Bengals and marked their first home defeat to them since the 1997 season.
Week 2: at Washington Redskins With the win, the Colts evened their record at 1-1.
Week 3: at Philadelphia Eagles In a rain-filled affair, the Colts were unable to nurse a late lead, as they lost to the defending champion Eagles 20-16 and fell to 1–2.
Week 4: vs. Houston Texans In a shootout, the Texans were able to pull it out in overtime, winning 37–34, as the Colts fell to 1–3.
Week 5: at New England Patriots
The Colts were seeking their first road win over the Patriots since their 2006 Super Bowl-winning season.
Week 6: at New York Jets
Week 7: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 8: at Oakland Raiders
Week 10: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 11: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 12: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 13: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 14: at Houston Texans
Week 15: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 16: vs. New York Giants
Week 17: at Tennessee Titans
Standings Division
Conference
Postseason
Schedule Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card at Houston Texans (3) W 21–7 1–0 NRG Stadium Recap Divisional at Kansas City Chiefs (1) L 13–31 1–1 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
Game summaries AFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (3) Houston Texans
AFC Divisional Playoffs: at (1) Kansas City Chiefs
This would be Andrew Luck's last game in the NFL, as he retired before the commencement of the 2019 NFL season.
References
External links