| Team: | Indianapolis Colts |
| Year: | 2013 |
| Record: | 11–5 |
| Division Place: | 1st AFC South |
| Coach: | Chuck Pagano |
| Owner: | Jim Irsay |
| General Manager: | Ryan Grigson |
| Stadium: | Lucas Oil Stadium |
| Playoffs: | Won Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Chiefs) 45–44 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Patriots) 22–43 |
| Pro Bowlers: | QB Andrew Luck OLB Robert Mathis LS Matt Overton |
| Shortnavlink: | Colts seasons |
The Indianapolis Colts season was the franchise's 61st season in the National Football League (NFL), the 30th in Indianapolis and the second season under head coach Chuck Pagano, who missed most of the 2012 season due to treatment for leukemia. The Colts matched their 2012 record of 11–5, and went undefeated within the division during the season. The Colts hoped to advance further than the Wild Card round in the playoffs than in 2012, where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Ravens. They did so after overcoming a 28-point deficit to the Chiefs in the opening round, coming back to win 45–44. However, the Colts were defeated by the New England Patriots in the divisional round, by a score of 43–22.
On March 7, 2013, Jeff Saturday signed a one-day contract in order to retire as a member of the Indianapolis Colts.
For the second consecutive season, the Colts held the final pick in the NFL draft, number 254, which is famously known as Mr. Irrelevant. In 2012, the final player selected was Chandler Harnish. The 2013 season's Mr. Irrelevant was Justice Cunningham.
Throughout the season, the Colts wore a patch to recognize the 30th season since their move to Indianapolis.
On October 20, 2013, Peyton Manning made his first return to Indianapolis since being released by the Indianapolis Colts in March 2012 and signed by the Denver Broncos, a game in which commentator Al Michaels dubbed "the War of 1812" (referring to Peyton Manning's number of 18 and Colts quarterback Andrew Luck's number of 12). The Colts won the game 39–33.
While losing their Week 14 match-up against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Colts overall record as well as a 4–0 record within the division was enough to earn them their 15th division title after the Denver Broncos defeated the Tennessee Titans and their first since 1987 without Peyton Manning. The Colts became the first team of the 2013 season to win their division, securing a home playoff game.[1]
With the Titans' loss to the Cardinals in Week 15, the Colts were the only AFC South team to make the playoffs.
In the AFC wild card game against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Colts rallied to turn a 38–10 Chiefs' lead into a 45–44 victory for the second largest comeback in NFL playoff history. It is behind the Bills who rallied from a 32-point deficit in the 1993 AFC Wild Card Game. As of 2023, this represents the most recent season where the Colts won their opening game.
See main article: article and 2013 NFL Draft.
Notes
| Position | Player | College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmett Cleary | Boston College | |||
| Temple | ||||
| Dan Moore | Montana | |||
| Running back | RB | Denodus O'Bryant | Lindenwood | |
| UCLA | ||||
| Wagner | ||||
| Rodrick Rumble | Idaho State | |||
| Wide receiver | WR | Lanear Sampson | Baylor | |
| Cornerback | CB | Daxton Swanson | Sam Houston State | |
| Cornerback | CB | Nigel Malone | Kansas State |
| Position | Player | 2013 Team | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFA | Signed by San Francisco on August 2, 2013.[2] | |||||
| UFA | Signed by San Diego on May 18, 2013.[3] | |||||
| UFA | Signed by Arizona on March 13, 2013.[4] | |||||
| UFA | Arizona Cardinals | Signed by Arizona on March 13, 2013.[5] | ||||
| UFA | Signed by Kansas City on March 13, 2013.[6] | |||||
| UFA | Signed by Tennessee on March 13, 2013.[7] | |||||
| UFA | Signed by Chicago on March 23, 2013.[8] | |||||
| Linebacker | LB | Trade | Traded away on April 29, 2013.[9] | |||
| Alvester Alexander | UFA | Waived on April 30, 2013.[10] | ||||
| Center | C | Trade | Traded away on May 9, 2013.[11] |
| Position | Player | 2012 team | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied with Franchise Tag on March 1, 2013.[12] | |||||
| UFA | Indianapolis Colts | Re-signed on March 4, 2013.[13] | |||
| UFA | Indianapolis Colts | Re-signed on March 12, 2013.[14] | |||
| UFA | Signed on March 12, 2013.[15] | ||||
| Cornerback | CB | UFA | Signed on March 12, 2013.[16] | ||
| UFA | Signed on March 12, 2013.[17] | ||||
| UFA | Signed on March 12, 2013.[18] | ||||
| Outside linebacker | OLB | UFA | Signed on March 12, 2013.[19] | ||
| UFA | Signed on March 13, 2013.[20] | ||||
| Defensive End | DE | UFA | Signed on March 14, 2013.[21] | ||
| Cornerback | CB | RFA | Indianapolis Colts | Re-signed on March 18, 2013.[22] | |
| UFA | Signed on March 19, 2013.[23] | ||||
| Guard (American and Canadian football) | G | ERFA | Indianapolis Colts | Re-signed on March 20, 2013.[24] | |
| Tackle (American and Canadian football) | NT | UFA | Signed on March 20, 2013. | ||
| Tackle (American and Canadian football) | NT | ERFA | Indianapolis Colts | Re-signed on March 22, 2013.[25] | |
| Trade | Traded for on March 28, 2013.[26] | ||||
| Tackle (American and Canadian football) | T | ERFA | Indianapolis Colts | Re-signed on March 28, 2013.[27] | |
| UFA | Signed on April 1, 2013.[28] | ||||
| UFA | No team in 2012 | Signed on April 11, 2013.[29] | |||
| Cornerback | CB | ERFA | Indianapolis Colts | Re-signed on April 15, 2013.[30] | |
| Linebacker | LB | Trade | Traded for on April 29, 2013.[31] | ||
| UFA | Signed on June 11, 2013.[32] | ||||
| Trade | Traded for on September 18, 2013 [33] |
| Position | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Luck | ||
| Robert Mathis | ||
| Adam Vinatieri |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 11 | Buffalo Bills | L 20–44 | 0–1 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
| 2 | August 18 | at New York Giants | W 20–12 | 1–1 | MetLife Stadium | Recap | |
| 3 | August 24 | Cleveland Browns | W 27–6 | 2–1 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
| 4 | August 29 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 10–27 | 2–2 | Paul Brown Stadium | Recap |
For the first time since the 2002 season, the Colts did not play the New England Patriots during the regular season. The Colts–Patriots rivalry had become one of the most known in modern era sports. However, they did play each other in playoffs.
One highlight of the 2013 Colts season was a trip to San Francisco to play the 49ers. This game marked the return of starting quarterback Andrew Luck to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he played three seasons of college football at Stanford University, which for his first two years there was coached by Jim Harbaugh, then-coach of the 49ers. Luck got the better of his old coach with a 27–7 statement victory.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 8 | Oakland Raiders | W 21–17 | 1–0 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
| 2 | September 15 | Miami Dolphins | L 20–24 | 1–1 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
| 3 | September 22 | at San Francisco 49ers | W 27–7 | 2–1 | Candlestick Park | Recap | |
| 4 | September 29 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | W 37–3 | 3–1 | EverBank Field | Recap | |
| 5 | October 6 | Seattle Seahawks | W 34–28 | 4–1 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
| 6 | at San Diego Chargers | L 9–19 | 4–2 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap | ||
| 7 | October 20 | Denver Broncos | W 39–33 | 5–2 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
| 8 | Bye | ||||||
| 9 | November 3 | at Houston Texans | W 27–24 | 6–2 | Reliant Stadium | Recap | |
| 10 | November 10 | St. Louis Rams | L 8–38 | 6–3 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
| 11 | at Tennessee Titans | W 30–27 | 7–3 | LP Field | Recap | ||
| 12 | November 24 | at Arizona Cardinals | L 11–40 | 7–4 | University of Phoenix Stadium | Recap | |
| 13 | December 1 | Tennessee Titans | W 22–14 | 8–4 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
| 14 | December 8 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 28–42 | 8–5 | Paul Brown Stadium | Recap | |
| 15 | December 15 | Houston Texans | W 25–3 | 9–5 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
| 16 | December 22 | at Kansas City Chiefs | W 23–7 | 10–5 | Arrowhead Stadium | Recap | |
| 17 | December 29 | Jacksonville Jaguars | W 30–10 | 11–5 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
The Colts began their 2013 season at home, for the first time since 2009, against the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders, who received the opening kickoff, would turn the ball over on a Terrelle Pryor interception by Colts cornerback Greg Toler. The interception would allow Andrew Luck and the Colts offense to drive down the field and score the first touchdown of the season on a pass from Luck to Reggie Wayne. Heading into the second quarter, the Colts defense would continue to prevent the Raiders from scoring, forcing Oakland to punt on second drive of the game. Luck would again lead the Colts down the field in an eight play, 69-yard drive that would result in a touchdown pass from Luck to tight end Dwayne Allen, giving the Colts an early 14–0 lead.[34] Pryor and the Raiders would respond for the first time on their next offensive drive, which ended in a touchdown run from Darren McFadden. Defensive stops by both the Colts and the Raiders would ensure no further scoring in the half and would allow Indianapolis to head into halftime with the 14–7 lead. Indianapolis was forced to punt on their first offensive possession of the second half, while the Raiders would drive down to the Colts 20-yard line and would score on a Sebastian Janikowski field goal, cutting the Colts lead to 14–10 lead. The Raiders would again begin to drive down the field and would score the go ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter on a pass from Denarius Moore from Terrelle Pryor, giving the Raiders a 17–14 lead.[35] Andrew Luck, on the next Colts offensive drive, would lead the team down the field, 71 yards in 11 plays, with Luck himself scoring the game-winning touchdown on a 19-yard run.[36] Pryor and the Raiders would drive down to the Colts 24-yard line, though the drive would end with an interception by Antoine Bethea, sealing the Colts victory.
With the win, the Colts went to 1–0 on the season and extended their home winning streak to seven games.
The Colts faced the Miami Dolphins in week two, a rematch of the 23–20 Colts victory during the 2012 season. This game also marked the second meeting between Andrew Luck of the Colts and Ryan Tannehill of the Dolphins, both sophomore quarterbacks.[37] Indianapolis, who received the opening kickoff, were unable to score on their first drive, unlike the Dolphins who drove down 58 yards in six plays, while scoring on a Tannehill pass to wide receiver Mike Wallace, giving the Dolphins an early 7–0 lead. The Colts would respond with a long drive of their own, however they would be able to put it into the endzone, settling instead for an Adam Vinatieri field goal.[38] The Dolphins would strike again, this time scoring in just two plays following a Tannehill 67-yard pass and a Lamar Miller touchdown run. The Colts, who entered the second quarter trailing 14–3, quickly scored their first touchdown on the day with an Andrew Luck pass to tight end Coby Fleener. After trading possessions, the Indianapolis offense would strike again, scoring their second touchdown of the quarter and taking the first lead of the day, though it would be taken away by a Caleb Sturgis field goal to end the half, with the teams going into halftime tied at 17. Indianapolis would drive down on their first possession of the second half, though a touchdown would be nullified by an illegal shift penalty and forcing the Colts to settle for a field goal. Midway through the third quarter, the Dolphins would score the go ahead touchdown on a Charles Clay run, putting them ahead 24–20. On their last offensive possession of the day, Luck and the Colts would drive down to the Miami 23-yard line, though the comeback would fall short following a sack of Luck on fourth down.[39]
With the loss, the Colts went to 1–1 on the season and lost their first home game since September 23, 2012.
The Colts fell behind 21–3 before rallying to defeat the Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football 27–24.
With the loss, the Colts dropped to 8–5, however, they clinched the AFC South division title after the Broncos defeated the Titans later in the evening.
With the win, the Colts improved to 9–5 and 12–0 at home against the Texans.
With the win, the Colts were the only team during the 2013 season to sweep all of their division rivals.
See main article: article and 2013–14 NFL playoffs.
| Playoff round | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Card | Kansas City Chiefs (5) | W 45–44 | 1–0 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | ||
| Divisional | at New England Patriots (2) | L 22–43 | 1–1 | Gillette Stadium | Recap |