1966 Baltimore Colts season

14th season in franchise history; second "Playoff Bowl" win

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The 1966 Baltimore Colts season was the 14th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1966 season with a record of 9 wins and 5 losses and finished second in the Western Conference.

Personnel

Staff/coaches

1966 Baltimore Colts staff
Front office Owner/president and treasurer – Carroll Rosenbloom Vice president/general manager – Joe Campanella Coaching staff Head coach – Don Shula Offensive coaches Receivers/offensive ends – Dick Bielski Offensive backs – Don McCafferty Offensive line coach - John Sandusky		Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator/defensive line - Bill Arnsparger Defensive backfield – Chuck Noll Linebackers coach – Don Shula

1966 Baltimore Colts staff

Front office

Owner/president and treasurer – Carroll Rosenbloom
Vice president/general manager – Joe Campanella

Coaching staff

Head coach – Don Shula

Offensive coaches

Receivers/offensive ends – Dick Bielski
Offensive backs – Don McCafferty
Offensive line coach - John Sandusky

Defensive coaches

Defensive coordinator/defensive line - Bill Arnsparger
Defensive backfield – Chuck Noll
Linebackers coach – Don Shula

Roster

**1966 Baltimore Colts roster**

	Quarterbacks 15 Gary Cuozzo 19 Johnny Unitas Running backs 44 Gerry Allen 45 Jerry Hill 33 Tony Lorick 41 Tom Matte 24 Lenny Moore 34 Bob Baldwin FB Wide receivers 82 Raymond Berry 28 Jimmy Orr 87 Willie Richardson 47 Al Snyder 84 Neal Petties Tight ends 88 John Mackey 86 Butch Wilson 36 Barry Brown		Offensive linemen 77 Jim Parker T 62 Glenn Ressler G 71 Dan Sullivan G 52 Dick Szymanski C 72 Bob Vogel T 73 Sam Ball T 68 Alex Sandusky G 67 Dale Memmelaar G Defensive linemen 81 Ordell Braase DE 85 Roy Hilton DE 76 Fred Miller DT 83 Andy Stynchula DE 74 Billy Ray Smith DT 79 Lou Michaels DE 89 Gino Marchetti DE		Linebackers 55 Jackie Burkett 32 Mike Curtis 53 Dennis Gaubatz 66 Don Shinnick 31 Steve Stonebreaker 35 Ted Davis LLB Defensive backs 40 Bobby Boyd CB 30 Alvin Haymond CB 20 Jerry Logan S 43 Lenny Lyles CB 46 Jim Welch S 42 George Harold 25 Tom Bleick Special teams 49 David Lee P 75 Lou Michaels K		Reserve lists Practice squad Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 10	at Green Bay Packers	L 3–24	0–1	Milwaukee County Stadium	48,650
2	September 18	at Minnesota Vikings	W 38–23	1–1	Metropolitan Stadium	47,426
3	September 25	San Francisco 49ers	W 36–14	2–1	Memorial Stadium	56,715
4	Bye
5	October 9	at Chicago Bears	L 17–27	2–2	Wrigley Field	47,452
6	October 16	Detroit Lions	W 45–14	3–2	Memorial Stadium	60,238
7	October 23	Minnesota Vikings	W 20–17	4–2	Memorial Stadium	60,238
8	October 30	at Los Angeles Rams	W 17–3	5–2	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	57,898
9	November 6	Washington Redskins	W 37–10	6–2	Memorial Stadium	60,238
10	November 13	at Atlanta Falcons	W 19–7	7–2	Atlanta Stadium	58,850
11	November 20	at Detroit Lions	L 14–20	7–3	Tiger Stadium	52,383
12	November 27	Los Angeles Rams	L 7–23	7–4	Memorial Stadium	60,238
13	December 4	Chicago Bears	W 21–16	8–4	Memorial Stadium	60,238
14	December 10	Green Bay Packers	L 10–14	8–5	Memorial Stadium	60,238
15	December 18	at San Francisco 49ers	W 30–14	9–5	Kezar Stadium	40,005
Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFL Western Conference
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Green Bay Packers	12	2	0	.857	10–2	335	163	W5
Baltimore Colts	9	5	0	.643	7–5	314	226	W1
Los Angeles Rams	8	6	0	.571	6–6	289	212	L1
San Francisco 49ers	6	6	2	.500	5–5–2	320	325	L1
Chicago Bears	5	7	2	.417	4–6–2	234	272	W1
Detroit Lions	4	9	1	.308	3–8–1	206	317	L3
Minnesota Vikings	4	9	1	.308	4–7–1	292	304	L1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Game summaries

Week 3: vs San Francisco 49ers

Week Three: San Francisco 49ers (0–0–1) at Baltimore Colts (1–1)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	7	0	0	7	14
Colts	6	10	6	14	36

at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

Date: September 25
Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C)
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

BAL – Lou Michaels 41-yard field goal. Colts 3–0.
SF – Bernie Casey 20-yard pass from John Brodie (Tommy Davis) kick. 49ers 7-3.
BAL – Lou Michaels 37-yard field goal. 49ers 7-6

Second quarter

BAL – Lou Michaels 25-yard field goal. Colts 9-7.
BAL – John Mackey 57-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Lou Michaels kick). Colts 16-7

Third quarter

BAL – Lou Michaels 23-yard field goal. Colts 19–7.
BAL – Lou Michaels 30-yard field goal. Colts 22-7.

Fourth quarter

BAL – Lenny Moore 1-yard run (Lou Michaels kick). Colts 29–7.
BAL – Butch Wilson 7-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Lou Michaels kick). Colts 36–7.
SF – Kent Kramer 17-yard pass from George Mira (Tommy Davis kick). Colts 36–14.

Top passers

49ers – John Brodie – 16/25, 159 yards, TD, INT
Colts – Johnny Unitas – 14/30, 225 yards, 2 TD, INT

Top rushers

49ers – Ken Willard – 10 rushes, 33 yards
Colts – Tony Lorick – 18 rushes, 110 yards

Top receivers

49ers – Dave Parks – 4 receptions, 52 yards
Colts – John Mackey – 3 receptions, 76 yards, TD

Week 5: at Chicago Bears

Week Five: Baltimore Colts (2–1) at Chicago Bears (1–2)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Colts	0	3	7	7	17
Bears	10	0	10	7	27

at Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

Date: Sunday, October 9
Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C), wind 12 mph
Box Score

Game information

First Quarter

CHI – Roger LeClerc 42-yard field goal – Bears 3–0
CHI – Joe Fortunato 24-yard fumble return (Roger LeClerc kick) – Bears 10–0

Second Quarter

BAL – Lou Michaels 13-yard field goal – Bears 10–3

Third Quarter

CHI – Gale Sayers 30-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick) – Bears 17–3
CHI – Roger LeClerc 27-yard field goal – Bears 20–3
BAL – Bobby Boyd 37-yard interception return (Lou Michaels kick) – Bears 20–10

Fourth Quarter

CHI – Gale Sayers 7-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick) – Bears 27–10
BAL – John Mackey 79-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Lou Michaels kick) – Bears 27–17

Top Passers

Colts – Johnny Unitas, 18/38, 274 Yds, TD, 2 INT
Bears – Rudy Bukich, 8/15, 96 Yds, INT

Top Rushers

Colts – Tom Matte, 4 Rush, 57 Yds
Bears – Gale Sayers, 18 Rush, 106 Yds, 2 TD

Top Receivers

Colts – John Mackey, 2 Rec, 89 Yds, TD
Bears – Jimmy Jones, 3 Rec, 64 Yds

Week 6 vs Detroit Lions

Week Six: Detroit Lions (2–3) at Baltimore Colts (2–2)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	0	0	7	7	14
Colts	7	17	7	14	45

at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore

Date: October 16
Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C)
Box Score

Game information

First Quarter

Baltimore– Tony Lorick 5-yard rush (Michaels kick), Colts 7–0.

Second Quarter

Baltimore – Tom Matte 28-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Michaels kick), Colts 14–0.
Baltimore – John Mackey 51-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Michaels kick), Colts 21–0.
Baltimore – Lou Michaels 47-yard field goal, Colts 24–0.

Third Quarter

Detroit – Pat Studstill 4-yard pass from Milt Plum (Walker kick), Colts 24–7.
Baltimore – Jimmy Orr 3-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Michaels kick), Colts 31–7.

Fourth Quarter

Baltimore – Raymond Berry 17-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Michaels kick), Colts 38–7.
Detroit – Pat Studstill 99-yard pass from Karl Sweetan (Walker kick), Colts 38–14.
Baltimore – Willie Richardson 5-yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Michaels kick), Colts 45–14.

Top Passers

Lions – Milt Plum: 16/28, 107 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Colts – Johnny Unitas: 18/27, 218 yds, 4 TD

Top rushers

Lions – Amos Marsh: 11 car, 36 yds
Colts – Tom Matte: 13 car, 73 yds.

Top receivers

Lions – Pat Studstill: 6 rec, 141 yds. 2 TD
Colts – Jimmy Orr: 6 rec, 78 yds. 1 TD

Week 14: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week Fourteen: Green Bay Packers (10–2) at Baltimore Colts (8–4)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	7	0	0	7	14
Colts	0	10	0	0	10

at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

Date: Saturday, December 10
Game weather: 21 °F (−6 °C)
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

GB – Elijah Pitts 42-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick)

Second quarter

BAL – Tony Lorick 1-yard run (Lou Michaels kick)
BAL – Lou Michaels 26-yard field goal

Fourth quarter

GB – Elijah Pitts 2-yard run (Don Chandler kick)

Passing

GB – Bart Starr 7/15, 96 yards, TD
BAL – Johnny Unitas 11/24, 140 yards, 3 INT

Rushing

GB – Elijah Pitts 11 att, 43 yards, TD
Jim Taylor 17 att, 43 yards
BAL – Jerry Hill 25 att, 88 yards

Receiving

GB – Elijah Pitts 4 rec, 79 yards, TD
BAL – Raymond Berry 4 rec, 59 yards

Quarterback Zeke Bratkowski, in relief of Bart Starr, who suffered a muscle spasm in the first half, directed an 80-yard drive in the fourth quarter that resulted in a go-ahead touchdown run by Elijah Pitts for the Packers. John Unitas then led the Colts to the Green Bay 15, but there lost a fumble which came to be known as the 'Million Dollar Fumble', to secure the Packers' win that clinched the Western Conference title for Green Bay.^[1]

Playoff Bowl

Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
Playoff Bowl	January 8, 1967	Philadelphia Eagles	W 20–14	1–0	Miami Orange Bowl	58,088

^[2]

References

^ "THE $1,000,000 FUMBLE". Sports Illustrated. December 19, 1966.
^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 369

v t e Indianapolis Colts
Founded in 1953 Played in Baltimore (1953–1983) Based and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana
Franchise	History in Baltimore relocation to Indianapolis Players Quarterbacks Coaches Seasons Draft First-round draft picks Ring of Honor
Stadiums	Memorial Stadium RCA Dome Lucas Oil Stadium
Culture	Carroll Rosenbloom Robert Irsay Jim Irsay 12th Man AAFC Colts Baltimore Colts Marching Band Blue Cheerleaders Elway to Marino Parks and Recreation
Lore	Dayton Triangles The Greatest Game Ever Played Ghost to the Post Move to Indianapolis 1995 AFC Championship Game Immaculate Redemption/The Tackle Deflategate Colts Catastrophe Snowvertime Minneapolis Miracle II
Rivalries	Houston Texans New England Patriots Brady–Manning rivalry
Division championships (16)	1968 1970 1975 1976 1977 1987 1999 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2013 2014
Conference championships (7)	1958 1959 1964 1968 1970 2006 2009
League championships (5)	1958 1959 1968 1970 (V) 2006 (XLI)
Retired numbers	18 19 22 24 70 77 82 89
Media	Broadcasters WFNI-AM Bob Lamey Jim Sorgi
Current league affiliations	League: National Football League Conference: American Football Conference Division: South Division
Category

v t e Indianapolis Colts seasons
Played in Baltimore (1953–1983)
1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Bold indicates NFL Championship (1920–65) or Super Bowl (1966–present) victory Italics indicates NFL Championship (1920–65) or Super Bowl (1966–present) appearance

1966 NFL season

Eastern Conference	Atlanta	Philadelphia	Baltimore	Los Angeles	Western Conference
	Cleveland	Pittsburgh	Chicago	Minnesota
	Dallas	St. Louis	Detroit	San Francisco
	New York	Washington	Green Bay