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. 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 [ edit ] 1995 Expansion Draft [ edit ] NFL draft [ edit ] Undrafted free agents [ edit ] Transactions [ edit ] Personnel [ edit ] 1995 Indianapolis Colts staff 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
Defensive coaches Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
Strength and conditioning – Tom Zupancic
1995 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 53 active, 4 inactive, 1 practice squad
Pre season [ edit ] Schedule [ edit ] Preseason Game summaries [ edit ] Preseason Week 1: Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 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, 1995Game time : 7:30 p.m. EST Game attendance : 39,946TV : WTTV
Team Category Player Statistics CIN Passing Rushing Receiving IND Passing Rushing Receiving
Bengals Game Statistics Colts First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Week P2 (Saturday, August 12, 1995): at Seattle Seahawks [ edit ] Preseason Week 2: Indianapolis Colts at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Colts 3 0 7 10 20 Seahawks 0 0 3 14 17
at Kingdome • Seattle, Washington
Date : August 12, 1995Game time : 9:00 p.m. EST Game attendance : 38,006TV : WTTV
Team Category Player Statistics IND Passing Rushing Receiving SEA Passing Rushing Receiving
Colts Game Statistics Seahawks First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Preseason Week 3: Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Period 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, 1995Game time : 12 Noon EST Game attendance : 55,624TV : WTTV
Team Category Player Statistics IND Passing Rushing Receiving GB Passing Rushing Receiving
Colts Game Statistics Packers First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Week P4 (Thursday, August 24, 1995): vs. Chicago Bears [ edit ] Regular season [ edit ] Schedule [ edit ] Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site Attendance Recap 1 September 3 Cincinnati Bengals L 21–24 (OT) 0–1 RCA Dome 42,445 Recap 2 September 10 at New York Jets W 27–24 (OT) 1–1 Giants Stadium 65,134 Recap 3 September 17 at Buffalo Bills L 14–20 1–2 Rich Stadium 62,499 Recap 4 Bye 5 October 1 St. Louis Rams W 21–18 2–2 RCA Dome 58,616 Recap 6 October 8 at Miami Dolphins W 27–24 (OT) 3–2 Joe Robbie Stadium 68,471 Recap 7 October 15 San Francisco 49ers W 18–17 4–2 RCA Dome 60,273 Recap 8 October 22 at Oakland Raiders L 17–30 4–3 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,543 Recap 9 October 29 New York Jets W 17–10 5–3 RCA Dome 49,250 Recap 10 November 5 Buffalo Bills L 10–16 5–4 RCA Dome 59,612 Recap 11 November 12 at New Orleans Saints L 14–17 5–5 Louisiana Superdome 44,122 Recap 12 November 19 at New England Patriots W 24–10 6–5 Foxboro Stadium 59,544 Recap 13 November 26 Miami Dolphins W 36–28 7–5 RCA Dome 60,414 Recap 14 December 3 at Carolina Panthers L 10–13 7–6 Memorial Stadium 49,841 Recap 15 December 10 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 41–31 8–6 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 66,099 Recap 16 December 17 San Diego Chargers L 24–27 8–7 RCA Dome 55,318 Recap 17 December 23 New England Patriots W 10–7 9–7 RCA Dome 54,685 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries [ edit ] [2]
Week 1: Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 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
Team Category Player Statistics CIN Passing Rushing Receiving IND Passing Rushing Receiving
Bengals Game Statistics Colts First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Week 2 at Jets [ edit ] Game information 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. Top passers Top rushers Top receivers IND – Sean Dawkins – 5 receptions, 60 yards, TD NYJ – Adrian Murrell – 4 receptions, 68 yards
Week 3 (Sunday, September 17, 1995): at Buffalo Bills [ edit ] [3]
Team Category Player Statistics IND Passing Rushing Receiving BUF Passing Rushing Receiving
Colts Game Statistics Bills First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Week 4: BYE WEEK [ edit ] Week 5 (Sunday, October 1, 1995): vs. St. Louis Rams [ edit ] [4]
Week 5: St. Louis Rams at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 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
Team Category Player Statistics STL Passing Rushing Receiving IND Passing Rushing Receiving
Rams Game Statistics Colts First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Week 6 (Sunday, October 8, 1995): at Miami Dolphins [ edit ] [5]
Team Category Player Statistics IND Passing Rushing Receiving MIA Passing Rushing Receiving
Colts Game Statistics Dolphins First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
[6]
Week 7: San Francisco 49ers at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 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
Team Category Player Statistics SF Passing Rushing Receiving IND Passing Rushing Receiving
49ers Game Statistics Colts First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Week 8 (Sunday, October 22, 1995): at Oakland Raiders [ edit ] [7]
Team Category Player Statistics IND Passing Rushing Receiving OAK Passing Rushing Receiving
Colts Game Statistics Raiders First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Week 9 (Sunday, October 29, 1995): vs. New York Jets [ edit ] [8]
Week 9: New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 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
Team Category Player Statistics NYJ Passing Rushing Receiving IND Passing Rushing Receiving
Jets Game Statistics Colts First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Week 10 (Sunday, November 5, 1995): at Buffalo Bills [ edit ] [9]
Week 10: Buffalo Bills at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 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
Team Category Player Statistics BUF Passing Rushing Receiving IND Passing Rushing Receiving
Bills Game Statistics Colts First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
[10]
Team Category Player Statistics IND Passing Rushing Receiving NO Passing Rushing Receiving
Colts Game Statistics Saints First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
[11]
Team Category Player Statistics IND Passing Rushing Receiving NE Passing Rushing Receiving
Colts Game Statistics Patriots First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Week 13 (Sunday, November 26, 1995): vs. Miami Dolphins [ edit ] [12]
Week 13: Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 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
Team Category Player Statistics MIA Passing Rushing Receiving IND Passing Rushing Receiving
Dolphins Game Statistics Colts First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
[13]
Team Category Player Statistics IND Passing Rushing Receiving CAR Passing Rushing Receiving
Colts Game Statistics Panthers First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
[14]
Team Category Player Statistics IND Passing Rushing Receiving JAX Passing Rushing Receiving
Colts Game Statistics Jaguars First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
[15]
Week 16: San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 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
Team Category Player Statistics SD Passing Rushing Receiving IND Passing Rushing Receiving
Chargers Game Statistics Colts First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
[16]
Week 17: New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 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
Team Category Player Statistics NE Passing Rushing Receiving IND Passing Rushing Receiving
Patriots Game Statistics Colts First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Standings [ edit ] Playoffs [ edit ] The team received Wild-Card playoff berth for the playoffs and traveled to San Diego to play the Chargers. They went on to beat the Chargers, their 1st playoff win in 24 years and 1st in Indianapolis. They also won their Divisional Round game against the No. 1 seed Kansas City Chiefs but would fall short in the AFC Championship game to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This game indirectly led to the adoption of instant replay.
Playoff Game summaries [ edit ] AFC Wild Card Playoffs (Sunday, December 31, 1995): at (A4) San Diego Chargers [ edit ] [17]
Team Category Player Statistics IND Passing Rushing Receiving SD Passing Rushing Receiving
Colts Game Statistics Chargers First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
AFC Divisional Playoffs (Sunday, January 7, 1996): at (A1) Kansas City Chiefs [ edit ] [18]
Team Category Player Statistics IND Passing Rushing Receiving KC Passing Rushing Receiving
Colts Game Statistics Chiefs First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
AFC Championship Game (Sunday, January 14, 1996): at (A2) Pittsburgh Steelers [ edit ] [19]
Team Category Player Statistics IND Passing Rushing Receiving PIT Passing Rushing Receiving
Colts Game Statistics Steelers First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Awards and records [ edit ] See also [ edit ]
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Division championships (16) Conference championships (7) League championships (5) Retired numbers Media Current league affiliations
Played in Baltimore (1953–1983)
References [ edit ]