1991 Indianapolis Colts season

The 1991 Indianapolis Colts season was the 39th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL) and eighth in Indianapolis. The team was looking to improve on the 7–9 record they had recorded in 1990. Instead, the Colts put together a campaign that ranked as one of the worst in NFL history.[1]

1991 Indianapolis Colts season
OwnerJim Irsay
General managerJim Irsay
Head coachRon Meyer
Rick Venturi (interim)
Home fieldHoosier Dome
Results
Record1–15
Division place5th AFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersNone

The Colts only recorded one victory in sixteen games, becoming the fourth team since the extension of the NFL’s regular season to sixteen games to suffer this ignominy. To date it is their worst full season record in the entire history of the franchise, and the second worst overall record in team history, beaten only by the 1982 Baltimore Colts squad, where the team failed to record a victory in the strike-shortened season and finished at 0–8–1.

The Colts’ poor performance cost sixth-year head coach Ron Meyer his job after the Colts’ fifth consecutive loss to open the season. Meyer had been with the Colts since Week 14 in 1986, when he replaced the fired Rod Dowhower after the Colts had lost their first thirteen games of the season. Defensive coordinator Rick Venturi was promoted to interim head coach; he would lead the team to its only win, a one-point victory over the New York Jets on the road. The 1991 Colts are one of three 1–15 teams to win their lone game by one point; the others are the 1980 New Orleans Saints and 2000 San Diego Chargers.

The Colts scored the fewest points up to that point (143)[note 1] of any team in NFL history in a sixteen-game schedule,[note 2] scoring in the single digits in 11 games. The Colts never scored more than 28 points in any game (doing so in their lone victory), scored less than ten points eleven times, were shut out twice, and failed to score one single touchdown in nine of their sixteen games, which remains the largest proportion of games without scoring a touchdown since the 1977 “Zero Gang” Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not score a touchdown in eight of fourteen games.[2] Statistics site Football Outsiders said of the Colts 1991 season:

It’s the flipside of [Super Bowl champion] Washington; the Colts were the worst offense and defense in the league in the second half of close games, and the worst offense in the league in the first quarter.[3]

Their futility was mentioned in a Thanksgiving edition of Bill Swerski's Superfans, a recurring Saturday Night Live sketch. The four characters, all Chicago Bears fans, commented on how some cities aren't as fortunate as Chicago to have a good football team, citing Indianapolis as an example. Coincidentally, six days before the skit aired, the Bears defeated the Colts 31–17 at Indianapolis.[4] Ironically, however, the Colts would defeat the Bears in Super Bowl XLI, 15 years later.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Round Pick Player Position School/Club Team
2 40 Shane Curry Defensive end Miami (FL)
3 69 Dave McCloughan Defensive back Colorado
4 96 Mark Vander Poel Offensive tackle Colorado
5 125 Kerry Cash Tight end Texas
6 152 Mel Agee Defensive end Illinois
7 181 James Bradley Wide receiver Michigan State
8 208 Tim Bruton Tight end Missouri
9 236 Howard Griffith Running back Illinois
10 263 Frank Giannetti Nose tackle Penn State
11 292 Jerry Crafts Offensive tackle Louisville
12 319 Rob Luedeke Center Penn State

Personnel

Staff

1991 Indianapolis Colts staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams – Brad Seely

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Tom Zupancic

Roster

1991 Indianapolis Colts final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
47 active, 12 inactive, 3 practice squad

Preseason

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 August 2 at Denver Broncos L 3–10 0–1 Mile High Stadium 75,375
2 August 10 Seattle Seahawks L 7–17 0–2 Hoosier Dome 47,943
3 August 17 New Orleans Saints W 34–28 1–2 Hoosier Dome 45,963
4 August 23 at Philadelphia Eagles L 21–23 1–3 Veterans Stadium 52,687

[5]

Regular season

The Colts were victorious only once in the regular season, finishing last in the AFC East, and their fifteen losses tied an NFL record that was initially set by the 1980 New Orleans Saints and tied by the 1989 Dallas Cowboys and 1990 New England Patriots in the previous two NFL seasons. The 1991 Colts had a much weaker schedule to play than either the 1990 Patriots or 1989 Cowboys, playing eleven games against teams with non-winning records,[6] as against only five for the 1990 Patriots and four for the 1989 Cowboys.[7] The Colts lost nine consecutive games to start the season before rallying to defeat the playoff-bound New York Jets by a single point in Week 11. The win against their division rivals came at Giants Stadium; the Colts went 0–8 in the Hoosier Dome. (Incidentally, the Jets would become the next team to finish 1–15, doing so five years later.)

Since the Colts finished with the worst record in the NFL, they won the right to draft Steve Emtman, a defensive lineman from Washington whose career was derailed by injuries. It would take them until 1995 to reach the playoffs again, and the Colts did not become consistently successful until Peyton Manning joined the team near the end of the 1990s.

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 1 New England Patriots L 7–16 0–1 Hoosier Dome 49,961
2 September 8 at Miami Dolphins L 6–17 0–2 Joe Robbie Stadium 51,155
3 September 15 at Los Angeles Raiders L 0–16 0–3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 40,287
4 September 22 Detroit Lions L 24–33 0–4 Hoosier Dome 53,396
5 September 29 at Seattle Seahawks L 3–31 0–5 Kingdome 56,656
6 October 6 Pittsburgh Steelers L 3–21 0–6 Hoosier Dome 55,383
7 October 13 at Buffalo Bills L 6–42 0–7 Rich Stadium 79,015
8 October 20 New York Jets L 6–17 0–8 Hoosier Dome 53,025
9 Bye
10 November 3 Miami Dolphins L 6–10 0–9 Hoosier Dome 55,899
11 November 10 at New York Jets W 28–27 1–9 Giants Stadium 44,792
12 November 17 Chicago Bears L 17–31 1–10 Hoosier Dome 60,519
13 November 24 at Green Bay Packers L 10–14 1–11 Milwaukee County Stadium 42,132
14 December 1 Cleveland Browns L 0–31 1–12 Hoosier Dome 57,539
15 December 8 at New England Patriots L 17–23 (OT) 1–13 Foxboro Stadium 20,131
16 December 15 Buffalo Bills L 7–35 1–14 Hoosier Dome 48,286
17 December 22 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 3–17 1–15 Tampa Stadium 28,043
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Week 1: vs. New England Patriots

Week One: New England Patriots (0–0) at Indianapolis Colts (0–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Patriots 7 3 3316
Colts 7 0 007

at Hoosier Dome

  • Date: Sunday, September 1, 1991
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m., EST
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • Referee: Dale Hamer
  • [8]
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NWE PassingTommy Hodson13/18, 136 yards, TD
RushingLeonard Russell24 rushes, 72 yards
ReceivingIrving Fryar4 receptions, 57 yards
IND PassingJeff George27/42, 301 yards, TD, 2 INT
RushingEric Dickerson15 rushes, 64 yards
ReceivingBill Brooks4 receptions, 89 yards, TD

Week 2: at Miami Dolphins

Week Two: Indianapolis Colts (0–1) at Miami Dolphins (0–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 3 036
Dolphins 3 0 7717

at Joe Robbie Stadium

  • Date: Sunday, September 8, 1991
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m., EST
  • Game weather: 82 °F (27.8 °C), relative humidity 77%, wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
  • [9]
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
IND PassingJeff George17/31, 98 yards
RushingEric Dickerson19 rushes, 60 yards
ReceivingAlbert Bentley7 receptions, 42 yards
MIA PassingDan Marino14/25, 147 yards, TD, INT
RushingMark Higgs27 rushes, 111 yards
ReceivingTony Paige5 receptions, 53 yards

Week 3: at Los Angeles Raiders

Week Three: Indianapolis Colts (0–2) at Los Angeles Raiders (1–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 0 000
Raiders 0 13 3016

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

  • Date: Sunday, September 15, 1991
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m., EST
  • Game weather: 66 °F (18.9 °C), relative humidity 77%, wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
  • [10]
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
IND PassingJeff George21/32, 220 yards
RushingEric Dickerson20 rushes, 77 yards
ReceivingAnthony Johnson10 receptions, 89 yards
RAI PassingJay Schroeder13/22, 181 yards, TD
RushingRoger Craig19 rushes, 57 yards
ReceivingMervyn Fernandez7 receptions, 90 yards, TD

Week 4: vs. Detroit Lions

Week Four: Detroit Lions (2–1) at Indianapolis Colts (0–3)
Period 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 7 161033
Colts 10 0 01424

at Hoosier Dome

  • Date: Sunday, September 22, 1991
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m., EST
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • [11]
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
DET PassingRodney Peete17/23, 167 yards, 2 INT
RushingBarry Sanders30 rushes, 179 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingBrett Perriman6 receptions, 63 yards
IND PassingJeff George29/40, 348 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingEric Dickerson13 rushes, 17 yards, TD
ReceivingAnthony Johnson9 receptions, 105 yards

Week 5: at Seattle Seahawks

Week Five: Indianapolis Colts (0–4) at Seattle Seahawks (1–3)
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 3 003
Seahawks 7 10 7731

at Kingdome

  • Date: Sunday, September 29, 1991
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • [12]
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
IND PassingJeff George17/31, 144 yards, 2 INT
RushingEric Dickerson13 rushes, 42 yards
ReceivingClarence Verdin4 receptions, 44 yards
SEA PassingJeff Kemp7/10, 56 yards, TD
RushingJohn L. Williams17 rushes, 80 yards, TD
ReceivingJohn L. Williams5 receptions, 41 yards

Week 6: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week Six: Pittsburgh Steelers (2–2) at Indianapolis Colts (0–5)
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 0 71421
Colts 0 3 003

at Hoosier Dome

  • Date: Sunday, October 6, 1991
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m., EST
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • [13]
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PIT PassingBubby Brister13/16, 181 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingBarry Foster12 rushes, 49 yards
ReceivingChris Calloway3 receptions, 71 yards
IND PassingJeff George22/28, 191 yards
RushingEric Dickerson13 rushes, 24 yards
ReceivingBill Brooks6 receptions, 79 yards

Week 7: at Buffalo Bills

Week Seven: Indianapolis Colts (0–6) at Buffalo Bills (5–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 6 006
Bills 14 14 7742

at Rich Stadium

  • Date: Sunday, October 13, 1991
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 44 °F (6.7 °C), relative humidity 78%, wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)
  • [14]
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
IND PassingJeff George22/33, 168 yards, INT
RushingKen Clark19 rushes, 44 yards
ReceivingJessie Hester5 receptions, 59 yards
BUF PassingFrank Reich6/7, 76 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingThurman Thomas20 rushes, 117 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingKeith McKeller3 rushes, 34 yards, TD

Week 8: vs. New York Jets

Week Eight: New York Jets (3–4) at Indianapolis Colts (0–7)
Period 1 2 34Total
Jets 7 7 3017
Colts 0 6 006

at Hoosier Dome

  • Date: Sunday, October 20, 1991
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • [15]
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NYJ PassingKen O'Brien14/19, 205 yards, TD, INT
RushingBrad Baxter20 rushes, 59 yards, TD
ReceivingRob Moore4 receptions, 96 yards, TD
IND PassingJeff George14/22, 107 yards
RushingAnthony Johnson10 rushes, 51 yards
ReceivingBill Brooks4 receptions, 31 yards

Week 10: vs. Miami Dolphins

Week Ten: Miami Dolphins (3–5) at Indianapolis Colts (0–8)
Period 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 10 0 0010
Colts 0 3 306

at Hoosier Dome

  • Date: Sunday, November 3, 1991
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • [16]
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MIA PassingDan Marino21/37, 231 yards, TD
RushingSammie Smith14 rushes, 49 yards
ReceivingMark Duper3 receptions, 64 yards, TD
IND PassingJeff George18/34, 189 yards, INT
RushingEric Dickerson17 rushes, 63 yards
ReceivingJessie Hester7 receptions, 90 yards

Week 11: at New York Jets

Week Eleven: Indianapolis Colts (0–9) at New York Jets (5–4)
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 7 21028
Jets 7 7 7627

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: Sunday, November 10, 1991
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Rain, 40 °F (4.4 °C), wind 22 miles per hour (35 km/h; 19 kn), wind chill 31 °F or −0.6 °C
  • [17]
Game information

Week 12: vs. Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears (8–2) at Indianapolis Colts (1–9)
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 7 3 14731
Colts 7 3 0717

at Hoosier Dome

  • Date: Sunday, November 17, 1991
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • [18]
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
CHI PassingJim Harbaugh18/32, 287 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingBrad Muster15 receptions, 101 yards, TD
ReceivingAnthony Morgan1 reception, 84 yards, TD
IND PassingJeff George16/33, 176 yards, 2 TD
RushingKen Clark11 rushes, 67 yards
ReceivingBill Brooks7 rushes, 106 yards, TD

Week 13: at Green Bay Packers

Week Thirteen: Indianapolis Colts (1–10) at Green Bay Packers (2–9)
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 3 0710
Packers 7 0 7014

at Milwaukee County Stadium

  • Date: November 24, 1991
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 28 °F (−2.2 °C), relative humidity 80%, wind 18 miles per hour (29 km/h; 16 kn), wind chill 16 °F (−8.9 °C)
  • [19]
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
IND PassingJeff George21/40, 184 yards, TD, INT
RushingKen Clark19 rushes, 51 yards
ReceivingBill Brooks10 receptions, 70 yards, TD
GNB PassingMike Tomczak5/17, 50 yards
RushingDarrell Thompson15 rushes, 63 yards
ReceivingJackie Harris1 reception, 19 yards

Week 14: vs. Cleveland Browns

Week Fourteen: Cleveland Browns (5–7) at Indianapolis Colts (1–11)
Period 1 2 34Total
Browns 3 28 0031
Colts 0 0 000

at Hoosier Dome

  • Date: Sunday, December 1, 1991
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • [20]
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
CLE PassingBernie Kosar18/23, 189 yards, TD
RushingKevin Mack9 rushes, 69 yards, TD
ReceivingLeroy Hoard6 receptions, 74 yards
IND PassingJeff George10/21 100 yards, 2 INT
RushingEric Dickerson16 rushes, 117 yards
ReceivingJessie Hester4 receptions, 66 yards

Week 15: at New England Patriots

Week Fifteen: Indianapolis Colts (1–12) at New England Patriots (4–9)
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Colts 0 14 30017
Patriots 3 0 014623

at Foxboro Stadium

  • Date: Sunday, December 8, 1991
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 44 °F (6.7 °C), relative humidity 66%, wind 14 miles per hour (23 km/h; 12 kn)
  • [21]
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
IND PassingJeff George15/24, 159 yards, TD
RushingEric Dickerson30 rushes, 53 yards, TD
ReceivingBill Brooks6 receptions, 85 yards
NWE PassingHugh Millen21/40, 330 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingLeonard Russell20 rushes, 82 yards
ReceivingGreg McMurtry8 receptions, 119 yards

Week 16: vs. Buffalo Bills

Week 16: Buffalo Bills (12–2) at Indianapolis Colts (1–13)
Period 1 2 34Total
Bills 21 7 0735
Colts 0 0 077

at Hoosier Dome

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
BUF PassingJim Kelly9/11, 119 yards, 3 TD
RushingKenneth Davis22 rushes, 90 yards, TD
ReceivingAndre Reed4 receptions, 65 yards, TD
IND PassingMark Herrmann11/19, 137 yards, 3 INT
RushingKen Clark21 rushes, 74 yards
ReceivingJessie Hester5 receptions, 77 yards

Jim Kelly and Frank Reich managed just thirteen completions, but four of them were touchdowns as the Bills romped in 35–7. Jeff George was benched after completing just 83 yards and Mark Herrmann was even worse, throwing three interceptions. The win secured the #1 playoff seed for the Bills.

Week 17: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week Seventeen: Indianapolis Colts (1–14) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2–13)
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 3 003
Buccaneers 0 7 7317

at Tampa Stadium

  • Date: Sunday, December 22, 1991
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 63 °F (17.2 °C), relative humidity 72%, wind 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h; 4.3 kn)
  • [23]
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
IND PassingJeff George20/37, 203 yards
RushingTim Manoa4 rushes, 30 yards
ReceivingBill Brooks7 receptions, 76 yards
TB PassingVinny Testaverde15/31, 168 yards, TD, 3 INT
RushingReggie Cobb24 rushes, 87 yards
ReceivingMark Carrier3 receptions, 60 yards, TD

Standings

AFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(1) Buffalo Bills 13 3 0 .813 7–1 10–2 458 318 L1
(6) New York Jets 8 8 0 .500 4–4 6–6 314 293 W1
Miami Dolphins 8 8 0 .500 4–4 5–7 343 349 L2
New England Patriots 6 10 0 .375 4–4 5–9 211 305 L1
Indianapolis Colts 1 15 0 .063 1–7 1–11 143 381 L6

See also

Notes

  1. The 1991 Colts’ total is now second-lowest of all-time, behind the 140 points the Seattle Seahawks put up in 1992.
  2. The league switched from a 14- to a 16-game schedule in 1978.

References

  1. "The 25 Worst NFL Teams of All Time". Complex Networks.
  2. "In a single season, from 1940 to 2017, in the Regular Season, requiring Touchdowns = 0, sorted by most games in season matching criteria". Pro Football Reference.
  3. Schatz, Aaron. "1991 DVOA Ratings and Commentary". Football Outsiders. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023.
  4. Bill Swerski's Super Fans: Thanksgiving - SNL (Video). Saturday Night Live. September 25, 2013. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  5. "1991 Indianapolis Colts (NFL)". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  6. 1991 Indianapolis Colts against opponent with non-winning record
  7. 1989 Dallas Cowboys against opponent with non-winning record
  8. "New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts — September 1st, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  9. "Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins — September 8th, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  10. "Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Raiders — September 15th, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  11. "Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts — September 22nd, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  12. "Indianapolis Colts at Seattle Seahawks — September 29th, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  13. "Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts — October 6th, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  14. "Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills — October 13th, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  15. "New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts — October 20th, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  16. "Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts — November 3rd, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  17. "Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets — November 10th, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  18. "Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts — November 17th, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  19. "Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers — November 24th, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  20. "Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts — December 1st, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  21. "Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots — December 8th, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  22. "Buffalo Bills at Indianapolis Colts — December 15th, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  23. "Indianapolis Colts at Tampa Bay Buccaneers — December 22nd, 1991". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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