The 2016 Indianapolis Colts season was the franchise's 64th season in the
National Football League and the 33rd in
Indianapolis. The Colts matched their 8–8 record from 2015, but would miss the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1997–1998. This season would also see the Colts get swept by the
Houston Texans for the first time in franchise history. As a result, the Colts fired general manager
Ryan Grigson after five seasons with the team. However, head coach
Chuck Pagano would return the next year.[3]
Andrew Luck would march the Colts down the field and score with 39 seconds remaining, but the Lions were able to pull out the win on a field goal by
Matt Prater with 4 seconds left. The Colts would try the
lateral play on the ensuing kickoff, but it would result in a safety. With the loss, the Colts started 0–1.
Week 2: at Denver Broncos
Week Two: Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos – Game summary
It was only a 3–3 game at the end of 1 quarter before CJ Anderson scored a 4-yard touchdown to take a 7-point lead. The teams would trade field goals to end the half with a 13–6 advantage for the Broncos. Robert Turbin would score a touchdown from 5 yards out to tie the game at 13. But from there, it was basically all Denver. Indy was outscored 21-7 after Turbin's touchdown, including a pick six by Aqib Talib and a scoop and score by Shane Ray off a
Von Miller strip sack of Andrew Luck. Brandon McManus would also kick two field goals in that stretch as the Broncos advanced to 2-0 and the Colts fell to 0–2.
Week 3: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week Three: San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Chargers
0
13
6
3
22
Colts
10
3
7
6
26
at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Date: September 25
Game time: 4:25 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
Although the Colts took an early lead in the first quarter, the Chargers kept the game close and a
Josh Lambo field goal put them ahead midway through the fourth quarter; however, a 63-yard pass from
Andrew Luck to
T. Y. Hilton restored the Colts' advantage with less than a minute remaining, giving them their first win of the season. With the win, the Colts improved to 1–2.
The Colts led 23–9 with less than three minutes to play, but a comeback by the Texans forced overtime, where they would win on a field goal. With the loss, the Colts fell to 2–4.
Week 7: at Tennessee Titans
Week Seven: Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Quarterback Andrew Luck did not play due to a concussion, and his replacement
Scott Tolzien was unable to prevent a 28–7 defeat, although he did throw a five-yard touchdown pass to
Donte Moncrief early in the second quarter.
Week 13: at New York Jets
Week Thirteen: Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets – Game summary
The Jaguars took a 17–0 lead during the second quarter, but the Colts were able to pull it back to 17–17 as the game moved into its final period. The Jaguars regained the lead with a 41-yard Jason Myers field goal inside the two-minute warning, but Andrew Luck led the Colts on a 75-yard drive that culminated with a 1-yard touchdown pass to
Jack Doyle with four seconds remaining. With the win, the Colts ended their year 8–8 and snapped their two-game losing streak against the Jaguars.
^
abKansas City clinched the
AFC West division over Oakland based on head-to-head sweep.
^
abHouston clinched the
AFC South division title over Tennessee based on record vs. division opponents.
^
abTennessee finished ahead of Denver based on head-to-head victory.
^
abBaltimore finished ahead of Indianapolis based on record vs. conference opponents.
^
abThe New York Jets finished ahead of San Diego based record vs. common opponents — the Jets' cumulative record against Cleveland, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Miami was 1–4, while San Diego's cumulative record against the same four teams was 0–5.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
References
^"Indianapolis Colts Team Capsule"(PDF). 2015 National Football League Record and Fact Book. National Football League. July 21, 2015. Archived from
the original(PDF) on November 6, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
The 2016 Indianapolis Colts season was the franchise's 64th season in the
National Football League and the 33rd in
Indianapolis. The Colts matched their 8–8 record from 2015, but would miss the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1997–1998. This season would also see the Colts get swept by the
Houston Texans for the first time in franchise history. As a result, the Colts fired general manager
Ryan Grigson after five seasons with the team. However, head coach
Chuck Pagano would return the next year.[3]
Andrew Luck would march the Colts down the field and score with 39 seconds remaining, but the Lions were able to pull out the win on a field goal by
Matt Prater with 4 seconds left. The Colts would try the
lateral play on the ensuing kickoff, but it would result in a safety. With the loss, the Colts started 0–1.
Week 2: at Denver Broncos
Week Two: Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos – Game summary
It was only a 3–3 game at the end of 1 quarter before CJ Anderson scored a 4-yard touchdown to take a 7-point lead. The teams would trade field goals to end the half with a 13–6 advantage for the Broncos. Robert Turbin would score a touchdown from 5 yards out to tie the game at 13. But from there, it was basically all Denver. Indy was outscored 21-7 after Turbin's touchdown, including a pick six by Aqib Talib and a scoop and score by Shane Ray off a
Von Miller strip sack of Andrew Luck. Brandon McManus would also kick two field goals in that stretch as the Broncos advanced to 2-0 and the Colts fell to 0–2.
Week 3: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week Three: San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Chargers
0
13
6
3
22
Colts
10
3
7
6
26
at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Date: September 25
Game time: 4:25 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
Although the Colts took an early lead in the first quarter, the Chargers kept the game close and a
Josh Lambo field goal put them ahead midway through the fourth quarter; however, a 63-yard pass from
Andrew Luck to
T. Y. Hilton restored the Colts' advantage with less than a minute remaining, giving them their first win of the season. With the win, the Colts improved to 1–2.
The Colts led 23–9 with less than three minutes to play, but a comeback by the Texans forced overtime, where they would win on a field goal. With the loss, the Colts fell to 2–4.
Week 7: at Tennessee Titans
Week Seven: Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Quarterback Andrew Luck did not play due to a concussion, and his replacement
Scott Tolzien was unable to prevent a 28–7 defeat, although he did throw a five-yard touchdown pass to
Donte Moncrief early in the second quarter.
Week 13: at New York Jets
Week Thirteen: Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets – Game summary
The Jaguars took a 17–0 lead during the second quarter, but the Colts were able to pull it back to 17–17 as the game moved into its final period. The Jaguars regained the lead with a 41-yard Jason Myers field goal inside the two-minute warning, but Andrew Luck led the Colts on a 75-yard drive that culminated with a 1-yard touchdown pass to
Jack Doyle with four seconds remaining. With the win, the Colts ended their year 8–8 and snapped their two-game losing streak against the Jaguars.
^
abKansas City clinched the
AFC West division over Oakland based on head-to-head sweep.
^
abHouston clinched the
AFC South division title over Tennessee based on record vs. division opponents.
^
abTennessee finished ahead of Denver based on head-to-head victory.
^
abBaltimore finished ahead of Indianapolis based on record vs. conference opponents.
^
abThe New York Jets finished ahead of San Diego based record vs. common opponents — the Jets' cumulative record against Cleveland, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Miami was 1–4, while San Diego's cumulative record against the same four teams was 0–5.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
References
^"Indianapolis Colts Team Capsule"(PDF). 2015 National Football League Record and Fact Book. National Football League. July 21, 2015. Archived from
the original(PDF) on November 6, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.