23rd season in franchise history; final playoff appearance in Baltimore
The 1977 Baltimore Colts season was the 25th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL). Led by third-year head coach Ted Marchibroda, the Colts finished with 10 wins and 4 losses, tied for first in the AFC East division with the Miami Dolphins. The Colts had the tiebreaker over Miami based on better conference record (9–3 to 8–4), and the Dolphins missed the playoffs.[1][2]
This was the final playoff appearance for the Colts as a Baltimore-based franchise (their next came ten years later in 1987, by which time the team moved to Indianapolis). Baltimore's next playoff team was the Ravens in 2000, winners of Super Bowl XXXV.
Offseason
Colts' owner Robert Irsay fired general manager Joe Thomas in January 1977, due to a power struggle he was having with head coach Ted Marchibroda.[3][4][5] The new general manager was former Colts center Dick Szymanski, who was the personnel director and a former scout.[6][7][8]
NFL draft
Personnel
Staff
1977 Baltimore Colts staff | Front office Head coaches Offensive coaches | | | Defensive coaches Special teams coaches - Special Teams – George Boutselis
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Roster
1977 Baltimore Colts roster |
| Quarterbacks Running backs Wide receivers Tight ends | | Offensive linemen Defensive linemen | | Linebackers Defensive backs Special teams | | Reserve lists Practice squad
Rookies in italics |
- Source:[9]
Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
1 | September 18 | at Seattle Seahawks | W 29–14 | 1–0 | Kingdome | 58,991 |
2 | September 25 | at New York Jets | W 20–12 | 2–0 | Giants Stadium | 43,439 |
3 | October 2 | Buffalo Bills | W 17–14 | 3–0 | Memorial Stadium | 49,247 |
4 | October 9 | Miami Dolphins | W 45–28 | 4–0 | Memorial Stadium | 57,829 |
5 | October 16 | at Kansas City Chiefs | W 17–6 | 5–0 | Arrowhead Stadium | 63,076 |
6 | October 23 | at New England Patriots | L 3–17 | 5–1 | Schaefer Stadium | 60,958 |
7 | October 30 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 31–21 | 6–1 | Memorial Stadium | 60,225 |
8 | November 7 | Washington Redskins | W 10–3 | 7–1 | Memorial Stadium | 57,740 |
9 | November 13 | at Buffalo Bills | W 31–13 | 8–1 | Rich Stadium | 39,444 |
10 | November 20 | New York Jets | W 33–12 | 9–1 | Memorial Stadium | 50,957 |
11 | November 27 | at Denver Broncos | L 13–27 | 9–2 | Mile High Stadium | 74,939 |
12 | December 5 | at Miami Dolphins | L 6–17 | 9–3 | Miami Orange Bowl | 68,977 |
13 | December 11 | Detroit Lions | L 10–13 | 9–4 | Memorial Stadium | 45,124 |
14 | December 18 | New England Patriots | W 30–24 | 10–4 | Memorial Stadium | 42,250 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
Week 1
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Colts | 7 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 29 | Seahawks | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | - Date: September 18
- Location: Kingdome, Seattle
- Game start: 4:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Indoors (dome)
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Scoring summary |
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| Q1 | | BAL | McCauley 6 yard run (Linhart kick) | BAL 7–0 | | Q2 | | SEA | Testerman 1 yard pass from Zorn (Leypoldt kick) | Tie 7–7 | | Q2 | | BAL | Leaks 10 yard run (Linhart kick) | BAL 14–7 | | Q3 | | BAL | Safety, Nettles blocked punt out of end zone | BAL 16–7 | | Q3 | | BAL | Linhart 38 yard field goal | BAL 19–7 | | Q4 | | BAL | Linhart 42 yard field goal | BAL 22–7 | | Q4 | | SEA | Beamon 17 yard blocked punt return (Leypoldt kick) | BAL 22–14 | | Q4 | | BAL | Carr 21 yard pass from Jones (Linhart kick) | BAL 29–14 | |
[10]
Week 2 at Jets
Week Two: Baltimore Colts (1–0) at New York Jets (0–1)
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Colts | 7 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 20 |
Jets | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 12 |
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: September 25
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 55 °F or 12.8 °C
- Game attendance: 43,439
- [11]
Game information |
First quarter Second quarter - BAL – Don McCauley 2-yard run (Toni Linhart kick). Colts 14–0. Drive:
- NYJ – Pat Leahy 25-yard field goal. Colts 14–3. Drive:
Third quarter - BAL – Don McCauley 1-yard run (Toni Linhart kick). Colts 21–3. Drive:
Fourth quarter - NYJ – Safety, David Lee ran out of end zone. Colts 21–5.
- NYJ – Charlie White 1-yard run (Pat Leahy kick). Colts 21–12. Drive:
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- BAL – Lydell Mitchell – 26 rushes, 68 yards
- NYJ – Charlie White – 12 rushes, 36 yards, TD
- Top receivers
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Week 3
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Bills | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | • Colts | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 | - Date: October 2
- Location: Memorial Stadium
- Game weather: 72 °F or 22.2 °C, relative humidity 73%, wind 14 miles per hour (23 km/h; 12 kn)
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Week 4
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Dolphins | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 28 | • Colts | 10 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 45 | - Date: October 9
- Location: Memorial Stadium
- Game weather: 63 °F or 17.2 °C, relative humidity 82%, wind 13 miles per hour (21 km/h; 11 kn)
- Referee: Don Wedge
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Week 5
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Colts | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 | Chiefs | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | - Date: October 16
- Location: Arrowhead Stadium
- Game weather: 46 °F or 7.8 °C, relative humidity 72%, wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
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Week 6
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Colts | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | • Patriots | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 17 | - Date: October 23
- Location: Sullivan Stadium
- Game weather: 51 °F or 10.6 °C, relative humidity 45%, wind 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn)
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Week 7
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Steelers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 | • Colts | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 31 | - Date: October 30
- Location: Memorial Stadium
- Game weather: 53 °F or 11.7 °C, relative humidity 54%, wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
- Referee: Red Cashion
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Week 8
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Redskins | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | • Colts | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | - Date: November 7
- Location: Memorial Stadium
- Game weather: 61 °F or 16.1 °C, relative humidity 93%, wind 16 miles per hour (26 km/h; 14 kn)
- Television network: ABC
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Week 9
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Colts | 10 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 31 | Bills | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 | - Date: November 13
- Location: Rich Stadium
- Game weather: 29 °F or −1.7 °C, relative humidity 82%, wind 13 miles per hour (21 km/h; 11 kn), wind chill 18 °F or −7.8 °C
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
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Week 10
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Jets | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 12 | • Colts | 6 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 33 | - Date: November 20
- Location: Memorial Stadium
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 43 °F or 6.1 °C • Wind 6 mph (10 km/h; 5 kn)
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | | NYJ | Pat Leahy 24-yard field goal | Jets 3–0 | | 1 | | BAL | Raymond Chester 53-yard pass from Bert Jones (kick failed) | Colts 6–3 | | 2 | | BAL | Toni Linhart 30-yard field goal | Colts 9–3 | | 2 | | BAL | Toni Linhart 31-yard field goal | Colts 12–3 | | 2 | | BAL | Glenn Doughty 33-yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick) | Colts 19–3 | | 3 | | NYJ | Pat Leahy 22-yard field goal | Colts 19–6 | | 3 | | BAL | Lydell Mitchell 28-yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick) | Colts 26–6 | | 4 | | NYJ | Jerome Barkum 18-yard pass from Matt Robinson (Pat Leahy kick) | Colts 26–12 | | 4 | | BAL | Robert Pratt 21-yard fumble return (Toni Linhart kick) | Colts 33–12 | |
[12]
Week 11
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Colts | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 13 | • Broncos | 7 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 27 | - Date: November 27
- Location: Mile High Stadium
- Game weather: 40 °F or 4.4 °C, relative humidity 48%, wind 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn)
- Referee: Jim Tunney
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Week 12
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Colts | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | • Dolphins | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 | - Date: December 5
- Location: Orange Bowl
- Game weather: 79 °F or 26.1 °C, relative humidity 78%, wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)
- Television network: ABC
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Week 13
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Lions | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 13 | Colts | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 | - Date: December 11
- Location: Memorial Stadium
- Game weather: 22 °F or −5.6 °C, relative humidity 45%, wind 11 miles per hour (18 km/h; 9.6 kn), wind chill 11 °F or −11.7 °C
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan, Johnny Unitas
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Week 14
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Patriots | 0 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 24 | • Colts | 0 | 3 | 13 | 14 | 30 | - Date: December 18
- Location: Memorial Stadium
- Game weather: 41 °F or 5 °C, relative humidity 81%, wind 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn)
- Referee: Fred Silva
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Standings
Playoffs
Baltimore made it to the AFC playoffs as a No. 2 seed and hosted the defending Super Bowl champion Oakland Raiders in the divisional round. The Colts held a 31–28 lead with time running out, when the famous “Ghost to the Post” play to tight end Dave Casper advanced the Raiders to the Baltimore 14-yard line, where Errol Mann kicked the tying field goal to send the contest into overtime.[13] After the first overtime went scoreless, Casper caught a 10-yard touchdown pass 43 seconds into the period to win the game for the Raiders.[14][15]
Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
Divisional | December 24 | Oakland Raiders (4) | L 31–372OT | 0–1 | Memorial Stadium | 60,763 |
Divisional
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | • Raiders | 7 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 37 | Colts | 0 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 31 | - Date:
December 24 - Location: Memorial Stadium
- Game weather: 41 °F or 5 °C, relative humidity 56%, wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
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See also
References
- ^ "Colts win a berth in playoffs". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 19, 1977. p. 1B.
- ^ "Dolphins irate over blown call". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. December 19, 1977. p. 2B.
- ^ "Colt GM Thomas fired". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. January 21, 1977. p. C1.
- ^ "Internal problems get Thomas fired". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 22, 1977. p. 7.
- ^ "Colts dumping Joe Thomas". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 22, 1977. p. 13.
- ^ "Colts realign front office". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. January 24, 1977. p. C6.
- ^ "Shakeup underway in Baltimore". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 25, 1977. p. 12.
- ^ "Baltimore shakeup continues". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. January 25, 1977. p. 2B.
- ^ "1977 Baltimore Colts starters and roster". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
- ^ "Baltimore Colts at Seattle Seahawks — September 18th, 1977". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ "Baltimore Colts at New York Jets — September 25th, 1977". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "New York Jets at Baltimore Colts — November 20th, 1977". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ Reid, Ron (January 2, 1978). "The Ghost to the Post". Sports Illustrated. p. 12.
- ^ Livingston, Pat (December 25, 1977). "Oakland stops Baltimore, 37-31". Pittsburgh Press. p. D1.
- ^ "Suddenly, the Raiders win a 37-31 decision". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire service reports. December 25, 1977. p. 3C.
External links
- John Facenda (narrator), "The 1977 Baltimore Colts Season: Return to Glory," NFL Films via YouTube.com, June 24, 2019 (Video.)
Indianapolis Colts |
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- Founded in 1953
- Played in Baltimore (1953–1983)
- Based and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana
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