The 2022 season was the Indianapolis Colts' 70th in the National Football League (NFL), their 39th in Indianapolis, their 15th playing their home games at Lucas Oil Stadium, their sixth under the leadership of general manager Chris Ballard and their fifth and final season under head coach Frank Reich.
In the offseason, the Colts acquired former MVP quarterback Matt Ryan in exchange for a third-round pick.
After a 3–5–1 start, head coach Reich was fired from the team with former Colts offensive lineman Jeff Saturday being named the interim head coach. Saturday won his first game with the Colts against the Raiders, but did not win any more games, as the team finished the season on a 7–game losing streak. On December 17, the Colts were defeated by the Minnesota Vikings in a game that was notable for being the biggest blown lead in NFL history, as the Colts squandered a 33–0 halftime lead to lose 39–36 in overtime. This loss, coupled with the Jacksonville Jaguars win over the New York Jets the following Thursday, eliminated the Colts from playoff contention.
Despite the Colts' poor season, one highlight was a week three 20–17 upset win over the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Draft
2022 Indianapolis Colts Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 16 Traded to Philadelphia 2 42 Traded to Minnesota from Washington 47 Traded to Washington 53 Alec Pierce Wide receiver Cincinnati from Las Vegas via Green Bay and Minnesota 3 73 Jelani Woods Tight end Virginia from Washington 77 Bernhard Raimann Offensive tackle Central Michigan from Minnesota 82 Traded to Atlanta 96 Nick Cross Safety Maryland from LA Rams via Denver 4 122 Traded to Minnesota 5 159 Eric Johnson Defensive tackle Missouri State 179 Traded to Denver Compensatory selection 6 192 Drew Ogletree Tight end Youngstown State from Minnesota 194 Traded to Philadelphia 216 Curtis Brooks Defensive tackle Cincinnati Compensatory selection 7 239 Rodney Thomas II Safety Yale 240 Traded to Washington from Philadelphia Draft trades
+ 2022 Indianapolis Colts undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Max Borghi RB Washington State Jack Coan QB Notre Dame Kekoa Crawford WR California Marcel Dabo S No college (IPPP) Trevor Denbow SMU JoJo Domann LB Nebraska Ethan Fernea WR UCLA Dallis Flowers CB Pittsburg State Wesley French C Western Michigan Alex Mollette Marshall Samson Nacua WR BYU Scott Patchan DE Colorado State D'Vonte Price RB FIU Forrest Rhyne LB Villanova Josh Seltzner G Wisconsin James Skalski LB Clemson Ryan Van Demark OT UConn CJ Verdell RB Oregon Sterling Weatherford LB Miami (OH) Cullen Wick DE Tulsa McKinley Williams III DT Syracuse Michael Young Jr. WR Cincinnati
Staff
Final roster
Preseason The Colts' preseason opponents and schedule were announced in the spring.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Buffalo Bills L 24–27 0–1 Highmark Stadium Recap 2 Detroit Lions L 26–27 0–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 27–10 1–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 11 at Houston Texans T 20–20 0–0–1 NRG Stadium Recap 2 September 18 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 0–24 0–1–1 TIAA Bank Field Recap 3 September 25 Kansas City Chiefs W 20–17 1–1–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 4 October 2 Tennessee Titans L 17–24 1–2–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 5 at Denver Broncos W 12–9 2–2–1 Empower Field at Mile High Recap 6 October 16 Jacksonville Jaguars W 34–27 3–2–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 7 October 23 at Tennessee Titans L 10–19 3–3–1 Nissan Stadium Recap 8 October 30 Washington Commanders L 16–17 3–4–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 9 November 6 at New England Patriots L 3–26 3–5–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 10 November 13 at Las Vegas Raiders W 25–20 4–5–1 Allegiant Stadium Recap 11 November 20 Philadelphia Eagles L 16–17 4–6–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 12 Pittsburgh Steelers L 17–24 4–7–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 13 December 4 at Dallas Cowboys L 19–54 4–8–1 AT&T Stadium Recap 14Bye 15 at Minnesota Vikings L 36–39 4–9–1 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap 16 Los Angeles Chargers L 3–20 4–10–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 17 January 1 at New York Giants L 10–38 4–11–1 MetLife Stadium Recap 18 January 8 Houston Texans L 31–32 4–12–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Houston Texans
This was the Colts first tie game since the 1982 season when they were based in Baltimore. Because the Browns won their season opener for the first time since 2004, coupled with this game, the Colts now hold the NFL's longest active season opener winless streak, not having won a season opener since 2013.
Week 2: at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Colts failed to capitalize on offense, and were shutout for the first time since week 13 of the 2018 season, which was also against the Jaguars. This was also their eighth consecutive loss in Jacksonville.
Week 3: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 4: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 5: at Denver Broncos
Neither side scored a touchdown as Russell Wilson and Matt Ryan struggled throughout the game. Stephon Gilmore helped win with an interception in the endzone and a mishap by Russell Wilson that he threw to Courtland Sutton while he was covered by Gilmore and ended up being incomplete on 4th down, missing a wide open K. J. Hamler. With the win, the Colts improved to 2–2–1.
Week 6: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 7: at Tennessee Titans
Week 8: vs. Washington Commanders
Week 9: at New England Patriots
After the game, head coach Frank Reich was fired after a 3-5-1 start, and was replaced by former Colts center Jeff Saturday, who had no coaching experience above the high school level.
Week 10: at Las Vegas Raiders
Week 11: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 12: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 13: at Dallas Cowboys
Week 15: at Minnesota Vikings
The Colts blew a 33–0 lead and ending up losing in overtime. After the game, Jeff Saturday benched Matt Ryan in favor of Nick Foles for next week's game.
Week 16: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The Colts were eliminated after the loss.
Week 17: at New York Giants
Week 18: vs. Houston Texans
Standings
Division
Conference
References
External links