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1976 Baltimore Colts season

24th season in franchise history

24th season in franchise history

FieldValue
teamBaltimore Colts
year1976
record11–3
division_placeT-1st AFC East
coachTed Marchibroda
ownerRobert Irsay
general_managerJoe Thomas
stadiumMemorial Stadium
playoffsLost [Divisional Playoffs](1976-77-nfl-playoffs)
(vs. [Steelers](1976-pittsburgh-steelers-season)) 14–40
pro_bowlersT George Kunz
QB Bert Jones
WR Roger Carr
RB Lydell Mitchell
DE John Dutton
K Toni Linhart
shortnavlinkColts seasons

(vs. Steelers) 14–40 QB Bert Jones WR Roger Carr RB Lydell Mitchell DE John Dutton K Toni Linhart The 1976 Baltimore Colts season was the 24th season for the team in the National Football League. Led by second-year head coach Ted Marchibroda, the Colts finished with a record of 11 wins and 3 losses, tied for first in the AFC East division with the New England Patriots. Baltimore won the AFC East title based on a better division record (7–1 to Patriots' 6–2).

Marchibroda, the reigning NFL coach of the year, resigned a week before the regular season opener, due to a power struggle with general manager Joe Thomas and owner Robert Irsay. Baltimore had won its first two preseason games, then dropped the final four. Thomas and Irsay quickly made amends with the coach before the season started. (Thomas would be fired by the team shortly after the season.)

The Colts’ offense was dominant in 1976: they led the league in scoring with 417 points (29.7 per game). Jones was named league MVP after passing for a league-best 3,104 yards, 9.27 yards-per-attempt, and a passer rating of 102.5, second best in the NFL. Running back Lydell Mitchell also had a spectacular year, rushing for 1,200 yards, and catching 60 passes. Wide receiver Roger Carr proved to be a valuable deep threat in the passing game, leading the league with 1,112 receiving yards and 25.9 yards per reception. All three offensive players made the Pro Bowl team.

Offseason

1976 expansion draft

Main article: 1976 NFL expansion draft

Baltimore Coltsborder=2}}"RoundBaltimore Coltsborder=2}}"OverallBaltimore Coltsborder=2}}"NameBaltimore Coltsborder=2}}"PositionBaltimore Coltsborder=2}}"Expansion team
00Mike CurtisLinebacker[Seattle Seahawks](1976-seattle-seahawks-season)
00Bill OldsFullbackSeattle Seahawks
00Dave PearDefensive tackle[Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1976-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)

Draft

Main article: 1976 NFL draft

Personnel

Staff

1976 Baltimore Colts staff
**Front office**

Final roster

Preseason

Baltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"WeekBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"DateBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"OpponentBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"ResultBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"RecordBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"VenueBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"Attendance123456
July 31at [Cleveland Browns](1976-cleveland-browns-season)**W** 21–01–0Memorial Stadium (Lincoln)20,304
August 6[Washington Redskins](1976-washington-redskins-season)**W** 20–32–0Memorial Stadium35,575
August 14at [Chicago Bears](1976-chicago-bears-season)**L** 14–252–1Soldier Field54,338
August 20[New Orleans Saints](1976-new-orleans-saints-season)**L** 20–26 (OT)2–2Memorial Stadium38,879
August 28at [Atlanta Falcons](1976-atlanta-falcons-season)**L** 7–212–3Atlanta Stadium24,986
September 2at [Detroit Lions](1976-detroit-lions-season)**L** 9–242–4Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium54,217

Regular season

Main article: 1976 NFL season

Schedule

Baltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"WeekBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"DateBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"OpponentBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"ResultBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"RecordBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"VenueBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"AttendanceBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"Recap1234567891011121314
September 12at **[New England Patriots](1976-new-england-patriots-season)****W** 27–131–0Schaefer Stadium43,512[Link](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197609120nwe.htm)
September 19[Cincinnati Bengals](1976-cincinnati-bengals-season)**W** 28–272–0Memorial Stadium50,374[Link](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197609190clt.htm)
September 26at [Dallas Cowboys](1976-dallas-cowboys-season)**L** 27–302–1Texas Stadium64,237[Link](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197609260dal.htm)
October 3[Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1976-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)**W** 42–173–1Memorial Stadium40,053[Link](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197610030clt.htm)
October 10**[Miami Dolphins](1976-miami-dolphins-season)****W** 28–144–1Memorial Stadium58,832[Link](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197610100clt.htm)
October 17at **[Buffalo Bills](1976-buffalo-bills-season)****W** 31–135–1Rich Stadium71,009[Link](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197610170buf.htm)
October 24at **[New York Jets](1976-new-york-jets-season)****W** 20–06–1Shea Stadium59,576[Link](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197610240nyj.htm)
[Houston Oilers](1976-houston-oilers-season)**W** 38–147–1Memorial Stadium60,020[Link](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197611010clt.htm)
November 7at [San Diego Chargers](1976-san-diego-chargers-season)**W** 37–218–1San Diego Stadium42,827[Link](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197611070sdg.htm)
November 14**[New England Patriots](1976-new-england-patriots-season)****L** 14–218–2Memorial Stadium58,226[Link](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197611140clt.htm)
at **[Miami Dolphins](1976-miami-dolphins-season)****W** 17–169–2Miami Orange Bowl62,104[Link](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197611220mia.htm)
November 28**[New York Jets](1976-new-york-jets-season)****W** 33–1610–2Memorial Stadium44,023[Link](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197611280clt.htm)
at [St. Louis Cardinals](1976-st-louis-cardinals-nfl-season)**L** 17–2410–3Busch Memorial Stadium48,282[Link](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197612040crd.htm)
December 12**[Buffalo Bills](1976-buffalo-bills-season)****W** 58–2011–3Memorial Stadium50,451[Link](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197612120clt.htm)
**Note:** Intra-division opponents are in **bold** text.

Standings

Postseason

Main article: 1976–77 NFL playoffs

The team returned to the playoffs as a No. 2 seed and hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round. The Colts fell behind 26–7 at the half, and lost 40–14. This game is better remembered for the post-game crash of a private plane into an unoccupied section of Memorial Stadium.

Baltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"RoundBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"DateBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"OpponentBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"ResultBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"RecordBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"VenueBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"AttendanceBaltimore Coltsyear=1976border=2}}"RecapDivisional
December 19[Pittsburgh Steelers](1976-pittsburgh-steelers-season) (3)**L** 14–400–1Memorial Stadium60,020[Link](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197612190clt.htm)

References

References

  1. (December 13, 1976). "A romp in Baltimore sets up playoff scene". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  2. (September 6, 1976). "Marchibroda quits Colts". Milwaukee Sentinel.
  3. (September 7, 1976). "Colts claim front office ruined team". Milwaukee Sentinel.
  4. (September 8, 1976). "Marchibroda back; Colts' standoff over". Spokesman-Review.
  5. (September 8, 1976). "Marchibroda is back with Colts". Milwaukee Sentinel.
  6. Lea, Bud. (September 8, 1976). "Irsay bows to pressure". Milwaukee Sentinel.
  7. Neft, David S.; Cohen, Richard M.; and Korch, Rich [http://www.abebooks.com/book-search/isbn/0312110731/soft-cover/ The Sports Encyclopedia: Pro Football, 12th Edition], p.306, Martin’s Press, August 1994, {{ISBN. 0-312-11073-1
  8. fourth-best in the NFL, second-best in the NFC behind [[O. J. Simpson]]
  9. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1976/leaders.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1976 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards]
  10. "1976 Baltimore Colts Draftees". Pro Football Reference.
  11. (December 20, 1976). "Pittsburgh's easy victory averts tragedy". Milwaukee Journal.
  12. (February 17, 1977). "A year in sports".
  13. (December 20, 1976). "Rout was a blessing when plane crashed". Eugene Register-Guard.
  14. (December 20, 1976). "Touch Down". Milwaukee Journal.
  15. (December 20, 1976). "Small plane crashes into stand minutes after 60,000 leave". Toledo Blade.
Info: Wikipedia Source

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