| Team: | Indianapolis Colts |
| Year: | 2017 |
| Record: | 4–12 |
| Division Place: | 3rd AFC South |
| Coach: | Chuck Pagano |
| Owner: | Jim Irsay |
| General Manager: | Chris Ballard |
| Stadium: | Lucas Oil Stadium |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers: | WR T. Y. Hilton TE Jack Doyle |
| Uniform: | File: Colts football uniforms.png |
| Shortnavlink: | Colts seasons |
The 2017 Indianapolis Colts season was the franchise's 65th season in the National Football League (NFL), the 34th in Indianapolis and the tenth playing their home game at Lucas Oil Stadium. It was also the sixth and final season under head coach Chuck Pagano, who was fired at the end of the season. It was also the first under new general manager Chris Ballard, the former Kansas City Chiefs' Director of Football Operations, following the dismissal of Ryan Grigson. The Colts were looking to improve on their 8–8 record from last year and make the playoffs for the first time since 2014. However, star quarterback Andrew Luck suffered a shoulder injury before the regular season began, was placed on the injured reserve list, and missed the remainder of the season that paralleled the 2011 season, when then-starting quarterback Peyton Manning sat out the entire season to undergo neck surgeries and coincidentally, the Colts lost at least 12 games.
After an ineffective performance by backup Scott Tolzien in Week 1 against the Rams, the Colts put Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback for the rest of the season. However, Brissett could not save the team as they finished 4–12 for their first losing season since 2011, and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
| Position | Player | 2017 Team | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFA | signed on March 10 | |||
| ERFA | Indianapolis Colts | signed on April 17 | ||
| UFA | Indianapolis Colts | signed on March 17 | ||
| UFA | signed on March 16 | |||
| UFA | ||||
| UFA | Indianapolis Colts | signed on March 7 | ||
| RFA | New York Jets | signed on March 28 | ||
| RFA | signed on March 12 | |||
| UFA | Retired | |||
| UFA | Retired | |||
| RFA | signed on March 16 | |||
| UFA | Retired | |||
| ERFA | Indianapolis Colts | signed on April 17 | ||
| UFA | signed on March 28 | |||
| UFA | signed on June 13 | |||
| UFA | Indianapolis Colts | signed on March 13 | ||
| UFA | signed on July 27 | |||
| Player re-signed by the Colts | Player signed with a different team | Player retired |
See main article: 2017 NFL draft.
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Ohio State | |||
| 2 | 46 | Florida | ||
| 3 | 80 | Ohio | ||
| 4 | 137 | USC | ||
| 143 | South Florida | |||
| 144 | Albany State | |||
| 5 | 158 | Temple | ||
| 161 | Northwestern |
Sources[1]
| Position | Player | College | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OG | Deyshawn Bond | Cincinnati | made final roster, placed on injured reserve October 3[2] | |
| RB | Dalton Crossan | New Hampshire | waived August 15[3] | |
| TE | Darrell Daniels | Washington | made final roster[4] | |
| WR | Trey Griffey | Arizona | waived June 12[5] | |
| LS | Thomas Hennessy | Duke | traded to the New York Jets August 28[6] | |
| TE | Bug Howard | North Carolina | waived September 2[7] | |
| TE | Colin Jeter | LSU | waived July 30[8] | |
| WR | Jerome Lane | Akron | waived May 15[9] | |
| CB | Chris Lyles | Mississippi College | waived May 15 | |
| OG | Christopher Muller | Rutgers | waived May 15 | |
| WR | JoJo Natson | Akron | waived September 2 | |
| CB | Reggie Porter | Utah | waived June 12[10] | |
| RB | Brandon Radcliff | Louisville | waived June 1[11] | |
| P | Rigoberto Sanchez | Hawaii | made final roster | |
| OLB | Garrett Sickels | Penn State | waived from practice squad September 12[12] | |
| DE | Jhaustin Thomas | Iowa State | waived September 2 | |
| OT | Jerry Ugokwe | William & Mary | waived August 2[13] | |
| QB | Phillip Walker | Temple | added to practice squad September 3[14] |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 13 | Detroit Lions | L 10–24 | 0–1 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
| 2 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 19–24 | 0–2 | AT&T Stadium | Recap | ||
| 3 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | W 19–15 | 1–2 | Heinz Field | Recap | ||
| 4 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 7–6 | 2–2 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 10 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 9–46 | 0–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Recap | |
| 2 | September 17 | Arizona Cardinals | L 13–16 | 0–2 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
| 3 | September 24 | Cleveland Browns | W 31–28 | 1–2 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
| 4 | October 1 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 18–46 | 1–3 | CenturyLink Field | Recap | |
| 5 | October 8 | San Francisco 49ers | W 26–23 | 2–3 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
| 6 | at Tennessee Titans | L 22–36 | 2–4 | Nissan Stadium | Recap | ||
| 7 | October 22 | Jacksonville Jaguars | L 0–27 | 2–5 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
| 8 | October 29 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 23–24 | 2–6 | Paul Brown Stadium | Recap | |
| 9 | November 5 | at Houston Texans | W 20–14 | 3–6 | NRG Stadium | Recap | |
| 10 | November 12 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 17–20 | 3–7 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
| 11 | Bye | ||||||
| 12 | November 26 | Tennessee Titans | L 16–20 | 3–8 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
| 13 | December 3 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | L 10–30 | 3–9 | EverBank Field | Recap | |
| 14 | December 10 | at Buffalo Bills | L 7–13 | 3–10 | New Era Field | Recap | |
| 15 | Denver Broncos | L 13–25 | 3–11 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | ||
| 16 | at Baltimore Ravens | L 16–23 | 3–12 | M&T Bank Stadium | Recap | ||
| 17 | December 31 | Houston Texans | W 22–13 | 4–12 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |
The first regular season game of the Colts ended in disaster. The offense allowed two pick-sixes and a safety, the defense were unable to stop Sean McVay's high-powered Rams offense, and the special teams missed one field goal.
The Colts allowed 2 Phil Dawson field goals late in the game, with the 2nd one turning out to be the game winner. The 2nd one came after a Jacoby Brissett interception on the first play of overtime. The Colts fell to 0–2, their third straight such start.
In a battle of 0–2 teams, the Colts took a 28–14 lead at halftime, then halted a Browns comeback in the second half. The Colts improved to 1–2.
Despite being tied at 18 in the 3rd quarter, the Colts allowed 28 straight Seattle points to fall to 1–3.
Despite allowing the 49ers to rally from a 23–9 deficit in the 2nd half, the Colts won in overtime on an Adam Vinatieri field goal to improve to 2–3.
Despite leading 19–9 in the third quarter, the Colts were outscored 27–3 the rest of the way, resulting in their first loss to the Titans since 2011, snapping their 11-game winning streak in the series. The Colts fell to 2–4.
Jacksonville dominated the entire game, and beat the Colts in Indianapolis for the first time since 2012. The Colts fell to 2–5. The Colts were also shut out at home for the first time since 1993.
Despite leading for a good portion of the game, a late pick 6 by Jacoby Brissett did the Colts in, as they fell to 2–6.
Against the equally disappointing Texans, the Colts improved to 3–6 and snapped their 3-game losing streak to the Texans.
Despite leading 17–3 in the 2nd quarter, the Colts lost to the Steelers 20–17 to fall to 3–7, their 5th straight loss to Pittsburgh.
Despite a 16–6 lead in the 3rd quarter, the Titans managed to pull off the comeback to win 20–16 and send the Colts to 3–8. It was the first time since 2002 that the Colts had been swept by the Titans.
For the second time this season, the Jaguars managed to dominate Indianapolis, winning this game 30–10 and sending the Colts to 3–9, their 3rd straight road loss to the Jaguars.
The game in Buffalo, called the "Snow Bowl" by the media, was notable for being held in the midst of a lake-effect snow storm that left over a foot of snow on the stadium's turf in similar weather conditions to games such as the Snowplow Game.[15] The Colts and Bills played a low-scoring affair, tied at 7 by the end of regulation thanks to a fourth quarter touchdown pass from Jacoby Brissett to Jack Doyle. However, LeSean McCoy managed to win the game for the Bills with a 21-yard touchdown run in overtime. The Colts fell to 3–10.
The Colts lost at home to the Broncos, who were also on a downspiral season, to fall to 3–11. It was their first loss at home to the Broncos since 2003, ending their 6-game home winning streak against them.
The Colts played a close matchup with the playoff-bound Ravens, but it was not enough as the Colts lost and fell to 3–12.
In a battle for the basement, the Colts defeated the Texans 22–13 and swept the Texans for the first time since 2014. The win also secured the Colts third place in the division.