1982 Baltimore Colts season
30th season in franchise history; second winless season since AFL/NFL merger
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The 1982 Baltimore Colts season was the 30th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL), and the Colts’ penultimate season in Baltimore. It was their first under former Arizona State coach Frank Kush, who was hired to replace Mike McCormack after he recorded a 2–14 record in 1981.[1]
| 1982 Baltimore Colts season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Robert Irsay |
| General manager | Ernie Accorsi |
| Head coach | Frank Kush |
| Home stadium | Memorial Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 0–8–1 |
| Conference place | 14th AFC |
| Playoffs | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | None |
The Colts finished the NFL's strike-shortened 1982 season without a victory, finishing with eight losses and one tie in their nine games. The Colts became the third team since the league’s expansion era began in 1960, after the 1960 Dallas Cowboys and the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the second team since the AFL-NFL merger to finish a regular season winless. Since then, the 2008 Detroit Lions and the 2017 Cleveland Browns have posted winless seasons; the Colts are the only one of these five teams that did not do so in a full, uninterrupted season (the Cowboys played twelve games, the Buccaneers fourteen, and the Lions and Browns sixteen, as per the league standards of the time). The Colts are also the only winless team to not have a winning percentage of .000 due to the tie giving them a percentage of .056 which is the worst non-zero win percentage for a team in post-1900s North American sports history. It would be the final season the Colts tied a game for 40 years. This record is only breakable by an NFL team going 0–16–1 (.029) in a season, an MLB team going 8–154 or worse, an NBA team going 4–78 or worse, or by an NHL team finishing with 9 points or fewer.
As mentioned above, the NFL's 1982 season was disrupted by a strike by the league's players. In the Colts’ first game after the end of the strike on November 21, they were shut out by the New York Jets 37–0. The following week, they were shut out by the Buffalo Bills 20–0, in a game in which the Colts’ offense never crossed the 50-yard line.[2] Nevertheless, the week after that, they lost by only three points to the playoff-bound and defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals.
Offseason
NFL draft
| 1982 Baltimore Colts draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Johnie Cooks | Linebacker | Mississippi State | |
| 1 | 4 | Art Schlichter | Quarterback | Ohio State | from L. A. Rams |
| 2 | 28 | Leo Wisniewski | Nose tackle | Penn State | |
| 2 | 34 | Rohn Stark * | Punter | Florida State | from L. A. Rams |
| 3 | 57 | Jim Burroughs | Cornerback | Michigan State | |
| 4 | 84 | Mike Pagel | Quarterback | Arizona State | |
| 5 | 113 | Terry Crouch | Guard | Oklahoma | |
| 6 | 140 | Pat Beach | Tight end | Washington State | |
| 7 | 169 | Fletcher Jenkins | Defensive tackle | Washington | |
| 8 | 196 | Tony Loia | Guard | Arizona State | |
| 9 | 225 | Tony Berryhill | Center | Clemson | |
| 10 | 252 | Tom Deery | Safety | Widener | |
| 11 | 280 | Lamont Meacham | Defensive back | Western Kentucky | |
| 12 | 307 | Johnnie Wright | Running back | South Carolina | |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career | |||||
Undrafted free agents
| Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|
| Bernard Henry | Wide Receiver | Arizona State |
Personnel
Staff
|
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
|
Roster
Regular season
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 12 | New England Patriots | L 13–24 | 0–1 | Memorial Stadium | 39,055 | |
| 2 | September 19 | at Miami Dolphins | L 20–24 | 0–2 | Miami Orange Bowl | 51,999 | |
| NFLPA strike | |||||||
| 3 | November 21 | at New York Jets | L 0–37 | 0–3 | Shea Stadium | 46,970 | |
| 4 | November 28 | at Buffalo Bills | L 0–20 | 0–4 | Rich Stadium | 33,985 | |
| 5 | December 5 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 17–20 | 0–5 | Memorial Stadium | 23,598 | |
| 6 | December 12 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 10–13 | 0–6 | Metrodome | 53,981 | |
| 7 | December 19 | Green Bay Packers | T 20–20 (OT) | 0–6–1 | Memorial Stadium | 25,920 | |
| 8 | December 26 | at San Diego Chargers | L 26–44 | 0–7–1 | Jack Murphy Stadium | 49,711 | |
| 9 | January 2, 1983 | Miami Dolphins | L 7–34 | 0–8–1 | Memorial Stadium | 19,073 | |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. | |||||||
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. New England Patriots
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriots | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Colts | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 2: at Miami Dolphins
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colts | 0 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
| Dolphins | 14 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 24 |
at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
- Date: September 19
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 83 °F (28 °C)
- Game attendance: 51,999
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (NBC): Gary Gerould and Jim Turner
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 3: at New York Jets
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jets | 10 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 37 |
at Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York
- Date: November 21
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C)
- Game attendance: 46,970
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers (NBC): Bob Costas and Bob Trumpy
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 4: at Buffalo Bills
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bills | 3 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
- Date: November 28
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 27 °F (−3 °C)
- Game attendance: 33,985
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 5: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengals | 0 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
| Colts | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Date: December 5
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 23,598
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 6: at Minnesota Vikings
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colts | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| Vikings | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: December 12
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (played indoors)
- Game attendance: 53,981
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 7: vs. Green Bay Packers
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packers | 0 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
| Colts | 3 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 20 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Date: December 19
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 29 °F (−2 °C)
- Game attendance: 25,920
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 8: at San Diego Chargers
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colts | 0 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 26 |
| Chargers | 7 | 16 | 14 | 7 | 44 |
at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: December 26
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C)
- Game attendance: 49,711
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Len Dawson
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 9: vs. Miami Dolphins
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphins | 10 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 34 |
| Colts | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Date: January 2, 1983
- Game time: 2:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 37 °F (3 °C)
- Game attendance: 19,073
- Box score
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Standings
| AFC East | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| Miami Dolphins(2) | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | 6–1 | 6–1 | 198 | 131 | W3 |
| New York Jets(6) | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 245 | 166 | L1 |
| New England Patriots(7) | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | 3–1 | 5–3 | 143 | 157 | W1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 150 | 154 | L3 |
| Baltimore Colts | 0 | 8 | 1 | .056 | 0–5 | 0–7 | 113 | 236 | L2 |
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seeded postseason qualifiers | |||||||||
| 1 | Los Angeles Raiders | 8 | 1 | 0 | .889 | 260 | 200 | W5 | |
| 2[a] | Miami Dolphins | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | 198 | 131 | W3 | |
| 3[a] | Cincinnati Bengals | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | 232 | 177 | W2 | |
| 4[b][c] | Pittsburgh Steelers | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 204 | 146 | W2 | |
| 5[b][c] | San Diego Chargers | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 288 | 221 | L1 | |
| 6[c] | New York Jets | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 245 | 166 | L1 | |
| 7 | New England Patriots | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | 143 | 157 | W1 | |
| 8[d] | Cleveland Browns | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 140 | 182 | L1 | |
| Did not qualify for the postseason | |||||||||
| 9[d] | Buffalo Bills | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 150 | 154 | L3 | |
| 10[d] | Seattle Seahawks | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 127 | 147 | W1 | |
| 11 | Kansas City Chiefs | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | 176 | 184 | W1 | |
| 12 | Denver Broncos | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | 148 | 226 | L3 | |
| 13 | Houston Oilers | 1 | 8 | 0 | .111 | 136 | 245 | L7 | |
| 14 | Baltimore Colts | 0 | 8 | 1 | .056 | 113 | 236 | L2 | |
| Tiebreakers | |||||||||
| |||||||||