43rd season in franchise history
The 1995 Indianapolis Colts season was the 43rd season for the team in the National Football League and 12th in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Colts finished the National Football League's 1995 season with a record of 9 wins and 7 losses, and finished tied for second in the AFC East division with the Miami Dolphins. However, the Colts finished ahead of Miami based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).
The Colts' 9–7 record was good enough to get them into the playoffs for the first time since 1987, largely due to the insertion of Jim Harbaugh into the starting quarterback role. It was only the second playoff appearance for the franchise since it moved from Baltimore in 1984, and was its first playoff appearance in a non-strike year since 1977. They defeated the defending conference champion San Diego Chargers in their first playoff game (their first playoff win since 1971, when the team was still located in Baltimore), then upset the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Playoffs. The Colts would fall short in the AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in a game that came down to the final play.
Offseason
Expansion draft
Main article: 1995 NFL expansion draft
NFL draft
Main article: 1995 NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
Transactions
- July 29: The Indianapolis Colts signed wide receiver Wendell Davis
Personnel
Staff
1995 Indianapolis Colts staff
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Front office
- President/treasurer – Robert Irsay
- Vice president/general manager – Jim Irsay
- Vice president/director of football operations – Bill Tobin
- Assistant general manager – Bob Terpening
- Director of pro player personnel – Clyde Powers
- Director of college player personnel – George Boone
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
- Strength and conditioning – Tom Zupancic
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Roster
Preseason
Schedule
Game summaries
Week P1: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Preseason Week 1: Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Bengals |
7 |
10 |
10 | 7 | 34 |
| Colts |
3 |
8 |
0 | 10 | 21 |
at Hoosier Dome • Indianapolis, Indiana
- Date: August 4, 1995
- Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 39,946
- TV: WTTV
Week P2: at Seattle Seahawks
Preseason Week 2: Indianapolis Colts at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts |
3 |
0 |
7 | 10 | 20 |
| Seahawks |
0 |
0 |
3 | 14 | 17 |
at Kingdome • Seattle, Washington
- Date: August 12, 1995
- Game time: 9:00 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 38,006
- TV: WTTV
Week P3: at Green Bay Packers
Preseason Week 3: Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Colts |
6 |
0 |
3 | 8 | 3 | 20 |
| Packers |
0 |
17 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
at Lambeau Field • Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: August 19, 1995
- Game time: 12 Noon EST
- Game attendance: 55,624
- TV: WTTV
Week P4: vs. Chicago Bears
Regular season
Schedule
| Week
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Date
|
Opponent
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Result
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Record
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Game Site
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Attendance
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Recap
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| 1
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September 3
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Cincinnati Bengals
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L 21–24 (OT)
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0–1
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RCA Dome
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42,445
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Recap
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| 2
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September 10
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at New York Jets
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W 27–24 (OT)
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1–1
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Giants Stadium
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65,134
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Recap
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| 3
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September 17
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at Buffalo Bills
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L 14–20
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1–2
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Rich Stadium
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62,499
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Recap
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| 4
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Bye
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| 5
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October 1
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St. Louis Rams
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W 21–18
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2–2
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RCA Dome
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58,616
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Recap
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| 6
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October 8
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at Miami Dolphins
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W 27–24 (OT)
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3–2
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Joe Robbie Stadium
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68,471
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Recap
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| 7
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October 15
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San Francisco 49ers
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W 18–17
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4–2
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RCA Dome
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60,273
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Recap
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| 8
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October 22
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at Oakland Raiders
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L 17–30
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4–3
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Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
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53,543
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Recap
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| 9
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October 29
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New York Jets
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W 17–10
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5–3
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RCA Dome
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49,250
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Recap
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| 10
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November 5
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Buffalo Bills
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L 10–16
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5–4
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RCA Dome
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59,612
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Recap
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| 11
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November 12
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at New Orleans Saints
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L 14–17
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5–5
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Louisiana Superdome
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44,122
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Recap
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| 12
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November 19
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at New England Patriots
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W 24–10
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6–5
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Foxboro Stadium
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59,544
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Recap
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| 13
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November 26
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Miami Dolphins
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W 36–28
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7–5
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RCA Dome
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60,414
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Recap
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| 14
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December 3
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at Carolina Panthers
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L 10–13
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7–6
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Memorial Stadium
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49,841
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Recap
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| 15
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December 10
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at Jacksonville Jaguars
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W 41–31
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8–6
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Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
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66,099
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Recap
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| 16
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December 17
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San Diego Chargers
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L 24–27
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8–7
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RCA Dome
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55,318
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Recap
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| 17
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December 23
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New England Patriots
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W 10–7
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9–7
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RCA Dome
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54,685
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Recap
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| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
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Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 1: Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Bengals (1–0) |
3 |
10 |
8 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
| Colts (0–1) |
7 |
3 |
0 | 11 | 0 | 21 |
at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana
Week 2 at Jets
Week Two: Indianapolis Colts (0–1) at New York Jets (0–1)
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Colts |
0 |
3 |
7 | 14 | 3 | 27 |
| Jets |
14 |
3 |
7 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- NYJ – Nick Lowery 28-yard field goal, 11:41. Jets 17–0. Drive: 8 plays, 64 yards.
- IND – Mike Cofer 20-yard field goal, 0:27. Jets 17–3. Drive: 11 plays, 73 yards.
Third quarter
- NYJ – Wayne Chrebet 5-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Nick Lowery kick), 13:14. Jets 24–3. Drive: 4 plays, 24 yards.
- IND – Tony Bennett 32-yard fumble return (Mike Cofer kick), 2:11. Jets 24–10.
Fourth quarter
- IND – Sean Dawkins 15-yard pass from Jim Harbaugh (Mike Cofer kick), 8:46. Jets 24–17. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards.
- IND – Marshall Faulk 14-yard pass from Jim Harbaugh (Mike Cofer kick), 2:38. Tie 24–24. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards.
Overtime
- IND – Mike Cofer 52-yard field goal, 10:33. Colts 27–24. Drive: 7 plays, 48 yards.
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- IND – Sean Dawkins – 5 receptions, 60 yards, TD
- NYJ – Adrian Murrell – 4 receptions, 68 yards
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Week 3: at Buffalo Bills
Week 3: Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts (1–2) |
7 |
7 |
0 | 0 | 14 |
| Bills (2–1) |
7 |
7 |
3 | 3 | 20 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Week 5: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week 5: St. Louis Rams at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams (4–1) |
7 |
3 |
0 | 8 | 18 |
| Colts (2–2) |
7 |
7 |
7 | 0 | 21 |
at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana
Week 6: at Miami Dolphins
Week 6: Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Colts (3–2) |
0 |
3 |
7 | 14 | 3 | 27 |
| Dolphins (4–1) |
14 |
10 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Week 7: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 7: San Francisco 49ers at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| 49ers (4–2) |
0 |
7 |
7 | 3 | 17 |
| Colts (4–2) |
3 |
3 |
9 | 3 | 18 |
at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana
Week 8: at Oakland Raiders
Week 8: Indianapolis Colts at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts (4–3) |
3 |
7 |
7 | 0 | 17 |
| Raiders (6–2) |
7 |
3 |
17 | 3 | 30 |
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
Week 9: vs. New York Jets
Week 9: New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Jets (2–7) |
3 |
0 |
0 | 7 | 10 |
| Colts (5–3) |
3 |
14 |
0 | 0 | 17 |
at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana
Week 10: at Buffalo Bills
Week 10: Buffalo Bills at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills (6–3) |
10 |
6 |
0 | 0 | 16 |
| Colts (5–4) |
7 |
0 |
3 | 0 | 10 |
at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana
Week 11: at New Orleans Saints
Week 11: Indianapolis Colts at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts (5–5) |
0 |
7 |
0 | 7 | 14 |
| Saints (4–6) |
0 |
7 |
7 | 3 | 17 |
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Week 12: at New England Patriots
Week 11: Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts (6–5) |
0 |
17 |
0 | 7 | 24 |
| Patriots (4–7) |
3 |
0 |
7 | 0 | 10 |
at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Week 13: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 13: Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Dolphins (6–6) |
0 |
6 |
8 | 14 | 28 |
| Colts (7–5) |
14 |
10 |
2 | 10 | 36 |
at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana
Week 14: at Carolina Panthers
Week 14: Indianapolis Colts at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts (7–6) |
10 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 10 |
| Panthers (6–7) |
0 |
10 |
0 | 3 | 13 |
at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
Week 15: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 15: Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts |
14 |
10 |
3 | 14 | 41 |
| Jaguars |
0 |
7 |
3 | 21 | 31 |
at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
On the opening kickoff, Colts return specialist Aaron Bailey, found a gap and sprinted 95 yards for a touchdown. The Jaguars countered by moving the ball to the Colts' 9–yard line; however, Mike Hollis' 27–yard field goal attempt was blocked. In response, the Colts scored another touchdown, with Bailey catching a 14–yard pass. A 45–yard completion to wide receiver Willie Jackson contributed to a Jaguars touchdown, cutting the Colts lead to 7 early in the second quarter. After a Colts punt, Cedric Tillman fumbled the ball during the return, with the Colts' Derwin Gray recovering the ball, which set up another Colts touchdown. On the following drive, Jaguars' quarterback Mark Brunell was intercepted by cornerback Eugene Daniel, who returned it to Jacksonville's 3–yard line. Nevertheless, the Colts were unable to score a touchdown and opted for a field goal, concluding the first half with the Colts leading 24–7. The Jaguars commenced the second half with a successful field goal drive, which the Colts promptly matched with a field goal of their own. As the fourth quarter began, the Jaguars executed a touchdown drive, reducing the Colts lead to 10. They attempted an onside kick, but the Colts recovered, leading to a subsequent touchdown for the Colts. In response, the Jaguars quickly scored a touchdown in just four plays, highlighted by a 31–yard pass to Jackson. The Jaguars attempted another onside kick, but the Colts recovered once more and added another touchdown to their tally. In the closing minutes, the Jaguars mounted a drive where Brunell connected with Jackson for another touchdown. They made a third attempt at an onside kick, but the Colts again recovered, ultimately securing a 41–31 victory in their inaugural matchup.
Week 16: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 16: San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Chargers (8–7) |
7 |
0 |
7 | 13 | 27 |
| Colts (8–7) |
3 |
7 |
0 | 14 | 24 |
at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana
Week 17: vs. New England Patriots
Week 17: New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Patriots (6–10) |
0 |
7 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
| Colts (9–7) |
0 |
0 |
7 | 3 | 10 |
at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana
Standings
Playoffs
The team received a Wild-Card playoff berth for the playoffs and traveled to San Diego to play the Chargers. They went on to beat the Chargers, their first playoff win in 24 years and first since moving to Indianapolis. They also won their Divisional Round game against the #1 seed Kansas City Chiefs but would fall short in the AFC Championship game to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Schedule
Game summaries
AFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (4) San Diego Chargers
AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts |
0 |
14 |
7 | 14 | 35 |
| Chargers |
3 |
7 |
7 | 3 | 20 |
at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California
AFC Divisional Playoffs: at (1) Kansas City Chiefs
AFC Divisional Playoffs: Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts |
0 |
7 |
3 | 0 | 10 |
| Chiefs |
7 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
AFC Championship Game: at (2) Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC Championship Game: Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts |
3 |
3 |
3 | 7 | 16 |
| Steelers |
3 |
7 |
3 | 7 | 20 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Awards and records
See also
| Indianapolis Colts |
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| Franchise |
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| Stadiums |
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| Culture |
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| Lore |
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| Rivalries |
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| Division championships (16) |
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| Conference championships (7) |
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| League championships (5) |
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| Retired numbers |
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| Media |
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| Current league affiliations |
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References
- "1995 NFL Transactions. Trades - July". National Football League. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 450
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