30th season in franchise history; second winless season since AFL/NFL merger
The 1982 Baltimore Colts season National Football League (NFL), and the Colts’ penultimate season in Baltimore . It was their first under former Arizona State coach Frank Kush , who was hired to replace Mike McCormack after he recorded a 2–14 record in 1981.
The Colts finished the NFL's strike-shortened 1982 season without a victory, finishing with eight losses and one tie in their nine games. The Colts became the third team since the league’s expansion era began in 1960, after the 1960 Dallas Cowboys and the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers , and the second team since the AFL-NFL merger to finish a regular season winless. Since then, the 2008 Detroit Lions and the 2017 Cleveland Browns have posted winless seasons; the Colts are the only one of these five teams that did not do so in a full, uninterrupted season (the Cowboys played twelve games, the Buccaneers fourteen, and the Lions and Browns sixteen, as per the league standards of the time). The Colts are also the only winless team to not have a winning percentage of .000 due to the tie giving them a percentage of .056 which is the worst non-zero win percentage for a team in post-1900s North American sports history. It would be the final season the Colts tied a game for 40 years . This record is only breakable by an NFL team going 0–16–1 (.029) in a season, an MLB team going 8–154 or worse, an NBA team going 4–78 or worse, or by an NHL team finishing with 9 points or fewer.
As mentioned above, the NFL's 1982 season was disrupted by a strike by the league's players . In the Colts’ first game after the end of the strike on November 21, they were shut out by the New York Jets 37–0. The following week, they were shut out by the Buffalo Bills 20–0, in a game in which the Colts’ offense never crossed the 50-yard line. Nevertheless, the week after that, they lost by only three points to the playoff-bound and defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals .
Offseason
NFL draft
Main article: 1982 NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
Personnel
Staff
1982 Baltimore Colts staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Special Teams – Bob Valesente
Roster
Regular season
Schedule
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Record
Venue
Attendance
1
September 12
New England Patriots L 13–24
0–1
Memorial Stadium
39,055
2
September 19
at Miami Dolphins
L 20–24
0–2
Miami Orange Bowl
51,999
NFLPA strike
3
November 21
at New York Jets
L 0–37
0–3
Shea Stadium
46,970
4
November 28
at Buffalo Bills
L 0–20
0–4
Rich Stadium
33,985
5
December 5
Cincinnati Bengals
L 17–20
0–5
Memorial Stadium
23,598
6
December 12
at Minnesota Vikings
L 10–13
0–6
Metrodome
53,981
7
December 19
Green Bay Packers
T 20–20 (OT)
0–6–1
Memorial Stadium
25,920
8
December 26
at San Diego Chargers
L 26–44
0–7–1
Jack Murphy Stadium
49,711
9
January 2, 1983
Miami Dolphins L 7–34
0–8–1
Memorial Stadium
19,073
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. New England Patriots
Week 1: New England Patriots at Baltimore Colts – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Patriots 3
7
7 7 24
Colts
3
7
3 0 13
at Memorial Stadium , Baltimore, Maryland
Date : September 12Game time : 2:00 p.m. EDT Game weather : 73 °F (23 °C)Game attendance : 39,055Box score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
BAL – Mike Wood 30-yard field goal. Colts 13–10.
NE – Ken Toler 30-yard pass from Matt Cavanaugh (Rex Robinson kick). Patriots 17–13. Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
NE – Tony Collins – 4 receptions, 56 yards, TD
BAL – Matt Bouza – 6 receptions, 76 yards
Week 2: at Miami Dolphins
Week 2: Baltimore Colts at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Colts
0
17
0 3 20
Dolphins 14
0
10 0 24
at Miami Orange Bowl , Miami, Florida
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
BAL – Ray Butler 53-yard pass from Mike Pagel (Mike Wood kick). Dolphins 14–7.
BAL – Mike Wood 51-yard field goal. Dolphins 14–10.
BAL – Barry Krauss 5-yard pass from Mike Wood (Mike Wood kick). Colts 17–14. Third quarter
MIA – Tommy Vigorito 33-yard run (Uwe von Schamann kick). Dolphins 21–17.
MIA – Uwe von Schamann 29-yard field goal. Dolphins 24–17. Fourth quarter
BAL – Mike Wood 48-yard field goal. Dolphins 24–20.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 3: at New York Jets
Week 3: Baltimore Colts at New York Jets – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Colts
0
0
0 0 0
Jets 10
17
7 3 37
at Shea Stadium , Flushing, New York
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
NYJ – Mike Augustyniak 1-yard run (Pat Leahy kick). Jets 17–0.
NYJ – Lam Jones 23-yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick). Jets 24–0.
NYJ – Pat Leahy 37-yard field goal. Jets 27–0. Third quarter
NYJ – Freeman McNeil 32-yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick). Jets 34–0. Fourth quarter
NYJ – Pat Leahy 19-yard field goal. Jets 37–0.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 4: at Buffalo Bills
Week 4: Baltimore Colts at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Colts
0
0
0 0 0
Bills 3
14
0 3 20
at Rich Stadium , Orchard Park, New York
Date : November 28Game time : 1:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : 27 °F (−3 °C)Game attendance : 33,985Box score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
BUF – Roosevelt Leaks 1-yard run (Efren Herrera kick). Bills 10–0.
BUF – Roosevelt Leaks 1-yard run (Efren Herrera kick). Bills 17–0. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
BUF – Efren Herrera 41-yard field goal. Bills 20–0.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 5: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 5: Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Colts – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Bengals 0
6
7 7 20
Colts
7
3
0 7 17
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Date : December 5Game time : 4:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : 61 °F (16 °C)Game attendance : 23,598Box score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
CIN – M. L. Harris 2-yard pass from Ken Anderson (Jim Breech kick). Bengals 20–10.
BAL – Pat Beach 4-yard pass from Mike Pagel (Mike Wood kick). Bengals 20–17.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 6: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 6: Baltimore Colts at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Colts
0
3
7 0 10
Vikings 7
0
3 3 13
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome , Minneapolis, Minnesota
Date : December 12Game time : 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST Game weather : None (played indoors)Game attendance : 53,981Referee : Jerry Markbreit Box score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
BAL – Mike Wood 39-yard field goal. Vikings 7–3. Third quarter
BAL – Jim Burroughs 94-yard interception return (Mike Wood kick). Colts 10–7.
MIN – Rick Danmeier 23-yard field goal. Tied 10–10. Fourth quarter
MIN – Rick Danmeier 40-yard field goal. Vikings 13–10.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 7: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 7: Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Colts – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 OT Total
Packers
0
10
3 7 0 20
Colts
3
0
3 14 0 20
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Date : December 19Game time : 2:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : 29 °F (−2 °C)Game attendance : 25,920Box score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
BAL – Dan Miller 40-yard field goal. Packers 10–6.
GB – Jan Stenerud 25-yard field goal. Packers 13–6. Fourth quarter
Overtime
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 8: at San Diego Chargers
Week 8: Baltimore Colts at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Colts
0
3
10 13 26
Chargers 7
16
14 7 44
at Jack Murphy Stadium , San Diego, California
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SD – Rolf Benirschke 45-yard field goal. Chargers 10–0.
SD – Wes Chandler 41-yard pass from Dan Fouts (kick failed). Chargers 16–0.
SD – Kellen Winslow 13-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick). Chargers 23–0.
BAL – Dan Miller 46-yard field goal. Chargers 23–3. Third quarter
BAL – Matt Bouza 15-yard pass from Mike Pagel (Dan Miller kick). Chargers 23–10.
BAL – Dan Miller 58-yard field goal. Chargers 23–13.
SD – James Brooks 8-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick). Chargers 30–13.
SD – Wes Chandler 44-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick). Chargers 37–13. Fourth quarter
BAL – Curtis Dickey 1-yard run (pass failed). Chargers 37–19.
SD – Kellen Winslow 28-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick). Chargers 44–19.
BAL – Tim Sherwin 0-yard fumble return (Rolf Benirschke kick). Chargers 44–26.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 9: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 9: Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Colts – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Dolphins 10
7
17 0 34
Colts
0
7
0 0 7
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Date : January 2, 1983Game time : 2:00 p.m.Game weather : 37 °F (3 °C)Game attendance : 19,073Box score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
MIA – Andra Franklin 1-yard run (Uwe von Schamann kick). Dolphins 24–7.
MIA – Uwe von Schamann 25-yard field goal. Dolphins 27–7.
MIA – Bruce Hardy 4-yard pass from David Woodley (Uwe von Schamann kick). Dolphins 34–7. Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Standings
AFC
#
Team
W
L
T
PCT
PF
PA
STK
Seeded postseason qualifiers
1
Los Angeles Raiders
8
1
0
.889
260
200
W5
2
Miami Dolphins
7
2
0
.778
198
131
W3
3
Cincinnati Bengals
7
2
0
.778
232
177
W2
4
Pittsburgh Steelers
6
3
0
.667
204
146
W2
5
San Diego Chargers
6
3
0
.667
288
221
L1
6
New York Jets
6
3
0
.667
245
166
L1
7
New England Patriots
5
4
0
.556
143
157
W1
8
Cleveland Browns
4
5
0
.444
140
182
L1
Did not qualify for the postseason
9
Buffalo Bills
4
5
0
.444
150
154
L3
10
Seattle Seahawks
4
5
0
.444
127
147
W1
11
Kansas City Chiefs
3
6
0
.333
176
184
W1
12
Denver Broncos
2
7
0
.222
148
226
L3
13
Houston Oilers
1
8
0
.111
136
245
L7
14
Baltimore Colts
0
8
1
.056
113
236
L2
Tiebreakers
^
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See also
References
Lowman, Wayne (December 22, 1981). "McCormack's Fall Traced to Chaos in Front Office". The Evening Sun . Hanover, Pennsylvania . p. 8.
"Against Bills, Colts Have No Offense". Los Angeles Times
Indianapolis Colts
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