2019 Indianapolis Colts season

The 2019 season was the Indianapolis Colts' 67th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 36th in Indianapolis. It was also their second season under head coach Frank Reich and third under the leadership of general manager Chris Ballard.

2019 Indianapolis Colts season
OwnerJim Irsay
General managerChris Ballard
Head coachFrank Reich
Home fieldLucas Oil Stadium
Results
Record7–9
Division place3rd AFC South
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersOLB Shaquille Leonard
G Quenton Nelson
C Ryan Kelly
TE Jack Doyle
AP All-ProsG Quenton Nelson (1st team)
LB Shaquille Leonard (2nd team)
Uniform

For the first time since 2011, quarterback Andrew Luck was not on the roster, as he announced his retirement on August 24, 2019. A four-time Pro Bowler and the top pick in the 2012 Draft, Luck led the Colts to four playoff appearances (2012–2014, 2018), an appearance in the AFC Championship Game in the 2014 season (the franchise's only time doing so in the post-Peyton Manning era), and won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 2018. A four-year cycle of injuries and rehab that dated back to 2015 had "taken his joy of this game away," which led to his decision of retiring. This would also mark kicker Adam Vinatieri's last season in the NFL, after playing 24 years in the league, as he would spend the entire 2020 season in free agency before retiring on May 26, 2021. A four-time Super Bowl champion with the Colts and New England Patriots, Vinatieri is considered one of the greatest kickers of all time and made memorable game-winning plays with the Patriots in games such as the Tuck Rule Game and Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII. Vinatieri was also the last remaining active player whose career began in the 1990s.

Despite a strong 5–2 start, the Colts would suffer a late-season collapse, losing 7 of their next 9 games, and were eliminated from playoff contention after a Week 15 loss to the New Orleans Saints. This was partially a result of injuries to key skill players such as QB Jacoby Brissett, WR T. Y. Hilton, RB Marlon Mack and TE Eric Ebron. They also failed to improve or match their 10–6 record from the previous season.

Despite the disappointing season, the Colts managed to defeat the eventual Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs and limit the Chiefs offense to only 13 points, which at the time was the least points allowed to the Chiefs since Patrick Mahomes became the starter.

Draft
Main article: 2019 NFL Draft
2019 Indianapolis Colts Draft
Round Selection Player Position College Notes
234 Rock Ya-SinCBTempleFrom New York Jets
49 Ben BanoguLBTCUFrom Cleveland Browns
59 Parris CampbellWROhio State
389 Bobby OkerekeLBStanford
4109 Khari WillisSMSU
5144 Marvell TellSUSCFrom Cleveland Browns
164 E. J. SpeedLBTarleton State
6199 Gerri GreenDEMississippi State
7240 Jackson BartonTUtah
246 Javon PattersonCOle Miss

Notes

  • As the result of a negative differential of free agent signings and departures that the Colts experienced during the 2018 free agency period, the team was awarded one compensatory selection for the 2019 draft.[1]
  • The Colts acquired the Raiders' fourth-round pick (109th) in exchange for their two fourth-round picks (129th and 135th)

Staff
2019 Indianapolis Colts staff
Front office
  • Owner – Jim Irsay
  • General manager – Chris Ballard
  • Assistant general manager – Ed Dodds
  • Vice president of player personnel – Vacant
  • Director of football administration – Mike Bluem
  • Director of pro personnel – Kevin Rogers Jr.
  • Director of college scouting – Morocco Brown
  • Assistant director of pro scouting – Jon Shaw
  • Assistant director of college scouting – Matt Tarpening
  • Senior player personnel scout – Todd Vasvari
  • Director of player development – Brian Decker

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Director of sports performance – Rusty Jones
  • Sports science/conditioning – Ryan Podell
  • Head strength and conditioning – Richard Howell
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Doug McKenney
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Zane Fakes

Final roster
2019 Indianapolis Colts final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Rookies in italics
 45 active, 7 inactive

Preseason

The team was rocked by the decision August 24 by starting quarterback Andrew Luck that he would immediately retire from professional football due to chronic injury problems and the emotional and mental strain they had extracted. Luck, the 2018 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, had been battling a mysterious and slow-healing leg injury, described by the team variously as a "calf strain" and a "high ankle issue."[2]

Luck, a 7-year professional with four appearances in the NFL Pro Bowl, indicated that he had been contemplating leaving the game for a week-and-a-half or two weeks prior to his announcement; he had been speaking with team officials about the matter all week.[2] In a news conference Luck indicated that his recurring injuries had "taken my joy of this game away.... After 2016, I played in pain and was unable to practice, I said I wouldn't go through that again."[2]

The team moved forward with former New England Patriots backup Jacoby Brissett, a third-year Colt, as its designated starting quarterback.[2]

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 8 at Buffalo Bills L 16–24 0–1 New Era Field Recap
2 August 17 Cleveland Browns L 18–21 0–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
3 August 24 Chicago Bears L 17–27 0–3 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
4 August 29 at Cincinnati Bengals W 13–6 1–3 Paul Brown Stadium Recap

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 8 at Los Angeles Chargers L 24–30 (OT) 0–1 Dignity Health Sports Park Recap
2 September 15 at Tennessee Titans W 19–17 1–1 Nissan Stadium Recap
3 September 22 Atlanta Falcons W 27–24 2–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
4 September 29 Oakland Raiders L 24–31 2–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
5 October 6 at Kansas City Chiefs W 19–13 3–2 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
6 Bye
7 October 20 Houston Texans W 30–23 4–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
8 October 27 Denver Broncos W 15–13 5–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
9 November 3 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 24–26 5–3 Heinz Field Recap
10 November 10 Miami Dolphins L 12–16 5–4 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
11 November 17 Jacksonville Jaguars W 33–13 6–4 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
12 November 21 at Houston Texans L 17–20 6–5 NRG Stadium Recap
13 December 1 Tennessee Titans L 17–31 6–6 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
14 December 8 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 35–38 6–7 Raymond James Stadium Recap
15 December 16 at New Orleans Saints L 7–34 6–8 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
16 December 22 Carolina Panthers W 38–6 7–8 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
17 December 29 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 20–38 7–9 TIAA Bank Field Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Week 1: at Los Angeles Chargers
Week One: Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Colts 0 6 108024
Chargers 7 10 70630

at Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California

Game information

Week 2: at Tennessee Titans
Week Two: Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 7 6 0619
Titans 0 7 10017

at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Game information

Week 3: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week Three: Atlanta Falcons at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 3 71424
Colts 10 10 0727

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Week 4: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week Four: Oakland Raiders at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 14 7 3731
Colts 7 3 01424

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Week 5: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week Five: Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 7 6 0619
Chiefs 3 7 0313

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 7: vs. Houston Texans
Week Seven: Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Texans 0 9 7723
Colts 7 7 14230

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Week 8: vs. Denver Broncos
Week Eight: Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 6 7013
Colts 0 3 9315

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Week 9: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week Nine: Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 3 13 2624
Steelers 3 10 7626

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: November 3
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 48 °F (9 °C)
  • Game attendance: 61,116
  • Referee: Brad Allen
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts and Evan Washburn
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Adam Vinatieri missed a potential game-winning field goal late in the fourth quarter, resulting in a narrow two-point loss.

Week 10: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week Ten: Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 3 7 0616
Colts 0 0 6612

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: November 10
  • Game time: 4:05 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 60,510
  • Referee: Clay Martin
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Trent Green and Melanie Collins
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 11: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week Eleven: Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Jaguars 7 0 0613
Colts 7 3 14933

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: November 17
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 61,986
  • Referee: Shawn Hochuli
  • TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon, James Lofton and Michael Grady
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

The Colts would defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars for the team's 300th win in the Indianapolis era with a record of 300–267.[3]

Week 12: at Houston Texans
Week Twelve: Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 10 7017
Texans 0 10 3720

at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Game information

Week 13: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week Thirteen: Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Titans 7 0 101431
Colts 7 3 7017

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: December 1
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 60,361
  • Referee: Carl Cheffers
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon and Jay Feely
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 14: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Fourteen: Indianapolis Colts at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 10 17 8035
Buccaneers 14 7 71038

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

  • Date: December 8
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 78 °F (26 °C)
  • Game attendance: 50,232
  • Referee: Tony Corrente
  • TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 15: at New Orleans Saints
Week Fifteen: Indianapolis Colts at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 0 077
Saints 3 17 14034

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

The loss eliminated the Colts from postseason contention.

Week 16: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week Sixteen: Carolina Panthers at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 3 306
Colts 14 7 31438

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Week 17: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week Seventeen: Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 10 10 0020
Jaguars 3 13 81438

at TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Florida

  • Date: December 29
  • Game time: 4:25 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 58,472
  • Referee: Brad Allen
  • TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Division
AFC South
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(4) Houston Texans 10 6 0 .625 4–2 8–4 378 385 L1
(6) Tennessee Titans 9 7 0 .563 3–3 7–5 402 331 W1
Indianapolis Colts 7 9 0 .438 3–3 5–7 361 373 L1
Jacksonville Jaguars 6 10 0 .375 2–4 6–6 300 397 W1

Conference
AFC
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division leaders
1 Baltimore Ravens North 14 2 0 .875 5–1 10–2 .494 .484 W12
2[lower-alpha 1] Kansas City Chiefs West 12 4 0 .750 6–0 9–3 .510 .477 W6
3[lower-alpha 1] New England Patriots East 12 4 0 .750 5–1 8–4 .469 .411 L1
4 Houston Texans South 10 6 0 .625 4–2 8–4 .520 .488 L1
Wild Cards
5 Buffalo Bills East 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 .461 .363 L2
6 Tennessee Titans South 9 7 0 .563 3–3 7–5 .488 .465 W1
Did not qualify for the postseason
7 Pittsburgh Steelers North 8 8 0 .500 3–3 6–6 .502 .324 L3
8[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3] Denver Broncos West 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 .510 .406 W2
9[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5] Oakland Raiders West 7 9 0 .438 3–3 5–7 .482 .335 L1
10[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5] Indianapolis Colts South 7 9 0 .438 3–3 5–7 .492 .500 L1
11[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 4] New York Jets East 7 9 0 .438 2–4 4–8 .473 .402 W2
12[lower-alpha 6] Jacksonville Jaguars South 6 10 0 .375 2–4 6–6 .484 .406 W1
13[lower-alpha 6] Cleveland Browns North 6 10 0 .375 3–3 6–6 .533 .479 L3
14[lower-alpha 7] Los Angeles Chargers West 5 11 0 .313 0–6 3–9 .514 .488 L3
15[lower-alpha 7] Miami Dolphins East 5 11 0 .313 2–4 4–8 .484 .463 W2
16 Cincinnati Bengals North 2 14 0 .125 1–5 2–10 .553 .406 W1
Tiebreakers[lower-alpha 8]
  1. Kansas City finished ahead of New England based on head-to-head victory.
  2. Denver finished ahead of Indianapolis and NY Jets based on conference record. Division tiebreak was initially used to eliminate Oakland (see below).
  3. Denver finished ahead of Oakland based on conference record.
  4. Oakland and Indianapolis finished ahead of NY Jets based on conference record.
  5. Oakland finished ahead of Indianapolis based on head-to-head victory.
  6. Jacksonville finished ahead of Cleveland based on record against common opponents. Jacksonville's cumulative record against Cincinnati, Denver, NY Jets, and Tennessee was 4–1, compared to Cleveland's 2–3 cumulative record against the same four teams.
  7. LA Chargers finished ahead of Miami based on head-to-head victory.
  8. 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
  1. "NFL announces list of 32 compensatory draft choices". NFL.com. February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  2. Joel A. Erickson and Jim Ayello, "Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is retiring: 'This is the hardest decision of my life,'" Indianapolis Star, Aug. 24, 2019.
  3. Colts Communications (November 17, 2019). "By The Numbers: Colts 33, Jaguars 13". Colts.com. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
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