The
2018 season was the
Indianapolis Colts' 66th in the
National Football League and their 35th in
Indianapolis. It was also their first season under
head coachFrank Reich and second under the leadership of general manager
Chris Ballard. Despite a 1–5 start, the Colts managed to improve on their 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.
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.[1]
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.[2] 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.[3][4] 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.[5]
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).
Despite leading 23–10 in the second half, the Bengals managed to pull off a comeback to win 34–23. The Colts had a chance to win the game late. However, while driving down the field, Jack Doyle lost a fumble which was returned 83 yards for a touchdown, putting the game away. This was the Colts 4th straight opening day loss.
Week 2: at Washington Redskins
Week Two: Indianapolis Colts at Washington Redskins – Game summary
^
abKansas City finished ahead of LA Chargers based on division record.
^
abNew England finished ahead of Houston based on head-to-head victory.
^
abcDenver finished ahead of Cincinnati and Buffalo based on strength of victory. Cincinnati finished ahead of Buffalo based on record vs. common opponents. Cincinnati's cumulative record against Baltimore, Indianapolis, the Los Angeles Chargers and Miami was 3–2, compared to Buffalo's 1–4 cumulative record against the same four teams.
^
abNY Jets finished ahead of Oakland based on strength of victory.
^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.
The
2018 season was the
Indianapolis Colts' 66th in the
National Football League and their 35th in
Indianapolis. It was also their first season under
head coachFrank Reich and second under the leadership of general manager
Chris Ballard. Despite a 1–5 start, the Colts managed to improve on their 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.
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.[1]
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.[2] 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.[3][4] 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.[5]
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).
Despite leading 23–10 in the second half, the Bengals managed to pull off a comeback to win 34–23. The Colts had a chance to win the game late. However, while driving down the field, Jack Doyle lost a fumble which was returned 83 yards for a touchdown, putting the game away. This was the Colts 4th straight opening day loss.
Week 2: at Washington Redskins
Week Two: Indianapolis Colts at Washington Redskins – Game summary
^
abKansas City finished ahead of LA Chargers based on division record.
^
abNew England finished ahead of Houston based on head-to-head victory.
^
abcDenver finished ahead of Cincinnati and Buffalo based on strength of victory. Cincinnati finished ahead of Buffalo based on record vs. common opponents. Cincinnati's cumulative record against Baltimore, Indianapolis, the Los Angeles Chargers and Miami was 3–2, compared to Buffalo's 1–4 cumulative record against the same four teams.
^
abNY Jets finished ahead of Oakland based on strength of victory.
^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.