The 2016 Indianapolis Colts season was the franchise's 64th season in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...

and the 33rd in

Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...

. The Colts matched their 8–8 record from 2015, but would miss the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1997–1998. This season would also see the Colts get swept by the

Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division, and play their home ga ...

for the first time in franchise history. As a result, the Colts fired general manager

Ryan Grigson Ryan Grigson (born February 23, 1972) is an American football executive who is the senior vice president of player personnel for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL).. From 2012 to 2016, he served as the general manager of ...

after five seasons with the team. However, head coach

Chuck Pagano Charles David Pagano (born October 2, 1960) is a former American football coach and player. Pagano spent six seasons in the National Football League (NFL) as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2012 to 2017. He also served as the defensiv ...

would return the next year.

Roster changes

Free agents

Undrafted free agents

Sources

Draft

Notes * The Colts traded their sixth-round selection to the

Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team that played in Oakland from its founding in 1960 to 1981 and again from 1995 to 2019 before relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan area where they now play as the Las Vegas Raide ...

in exchange for

linebacker Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and the defensive linemen. They are the "middle ground" of defenders, p ...

Sio Moore Snorsio Alston "Sio" Moore (born May 2, 1990) is a Liberian former American football linebacker. He played college football at Connecticut. Moore was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He also played for the ...

Staff

Final roster

Schedule

Preseason

On February 16, the

NFL The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...

announced that the Colts would play the

Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. It ...

in the

Pro Football Hall of Fame Game The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game is an annual National Football League (NFL) exhibition game in Canton, Ohio, held the weekend of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's induction ceremonies. The game is played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, part ...

. The game would have occurred on Sunday, August 7, at

Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, formerly Fawcett Stadium, is a football stadium and entertainment complex in Canton, Ohio. It is a major component of ''Hall of Fame Village'', located adjacent to the grounds of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The ...

Canton, Ohio Canton () is a city in and the county seat of Stark County, Ohio. It is located approximately south of Cleveland and south of Akron in Northeast Ohio. The city lies on the edge of Ohio's extensive Amish country, particularly in Holmes and ...

, but the game was cancelled due to field conditions. However, the two teams met during the regular season in Green Bay. The remainder of the Colts' preseason opponents and schedule were later announced on April 7.

Regular season

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Detroit Lions

Andrew Luck Andrew Austen Luck (born September 12, 1989) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. One of the most highly touted amateur prospects during his c ...

would march the Colts down the field and score with 39 seconds remaining, but the Lions were able to pull out the win on a field goal by

Matt Prater Matthew Phillip Prater (born August 10, 1984) is an American football placekicker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Regarded as one of the best long distance kickers in NFL history, he held the NFL record for lon ...

with 4 seconds left. The Colts would try the

lateral Lateral is a geometric term of location which may refer to: Healthcare *Lateral (anatomy), an anatomical direction *Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle *Lateral release (surgery), a surgical procedure on the side of a kneecap Phonetics *Lateral cons ...

play on the ensuing kickoff, but it would result in a safety. With the loss, the Colts started 0–1.

Week 2: at Denver Broncos

It was only a 3–3 game at the end of 1 quarter before CJ Anderson scored a 4-yard touchdown to take a 7-point lead. The teams would trade field goals to end the half with a 13–6 advantage for the Broncos. Robert Turbin would score a touchdown from 5 yards out to tie the game at 13. But from there, it was basically all Denver. Indy was outscored 21-7 after Turbin's touchdown, including a pick six by Aqib Talib and a scoop and score by Shane Ray off a

Von Miller Vonnie B'VSean Miller (born March 26, 1989) is an American football outside linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). Miller played college football at Texas A&M, where he earned consensus All-American honors and ...

strip sack of Andrew Luck. Brandon McManus would also kick two field goals in that stretch as the Broncos advanced to 2-0 and the Colts fell to 0–2.

Week 3: vs. San Diego Chargers

Although the Colts took an early lead in the first quarter, the Chargers kept the game close and a

Josh Lambo Joshua Gregory Lambo (born November 19, 1990) is an American football placekicker who is a free agent. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2015 and then signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 17, 2017. H ...

field goal put them ahead midway through the fourth quarter; however, a 63-yard pass from

to T. Y. Hilton restored the Colts' advantage with less than a minute remaining, giving them their first win of the season. With the win, the Colts improved to 1–2.

Week 4: at Jacksonville Jaguars

NFL International Series The NFL International Series is a series of American football games during the National Football League (NFL) NFL regular season, regular season that are List of National Football League games played outside the United States, played outside th ...

With the loss, the Colts fell to 1–3.

Week 5: vs. Chicago Bears

With the win, the Colts improved to 2–3.

Week 6: at Houston Texans

The Colts led 23–9 with less than three minutes to play, but a comeback by the Texans forced overtime, where they would win on a field goal. With the loss, the Colts fell to 2–4.

Week 7: at Tennessee Titans

With the win, the Colts improved to 3–4. They also picked up their 10th straight win over the Titans.

Week 8: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

In a rematch of the 2013 wildcard game, the Chiefs blew out the Colts easily, 30–14. With the loss, the Colts fell to 3–5.

Week 9: at Green Bay Packers

This was the Colts' first victory at Lambeau Field since 1988.

Week 11: vs. Tennessee Titans

With their 11th straight win over the Titans, the Colts improved to 5–5.

Week 12: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Thanksgiving Day game Quarterback Andrew Luck did not play due to a concussion, and his replacement

Scott Tolzien Scott Jeffery Tolzien (born September 4, 1987) is a former American football quarterback and coach who is the quarterbacks coach for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wisconsin. He was signed ...

was unable to prevent a 28–7 defeat, although he did throw a five-yard touchdown pass to

Donte Moncrief Donte Rakeem Moncrief (born August 6, 1993) is an former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Ole Miss, and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. High school career A native ...

early in the second quarter.

Week 13: at New York Jets

With the win, the Colts evened their record at 6-6.

Week 14: vs. Houston Texans

With the loss, the Colts fell to 6–7 and were swept by the Texans for the first time in franchise history.

Week 15: at Minnesota Vikings

With the win, the Colts improved to 7-7 and remained just in the thick of the playoff race.

Week 16: at Oakland Raiders

With the loss, the Colts fell to 7–8 and were officially eliminated from playoff contention for the second year in a row.

Week 17: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars took a 17–0 lead during the second quarter, but the Colts were able to pull it back to 17–17 as the game moved into its final period. The Jaguars regained the lead with a 41-yard Jason Myers field goal inside the two-minute warning, but Andrew Luck led the Colts on a 75-yard drive that culminated with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Jack Doyle with four seconds remaining. With the win, the Colts ended their year 8–8 and snapped their two-game losing streak against the Jaguars.

Standings

Division

Conference

References

External links

* {{2016 NFL season by team

Indianapolis Colts seasons

Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Since the 2008 ...