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1977 Baltimore Colts season

23rd season in franchise history; final playoff appearance in Baltimore

23rd season in franchise history; final playoff appearance in Baltimore

FieldValue
teamBaltimore Colts
year1977
record10–4
division_placeT-1st AFC East
coachTed Marchibroda
general_managerDick Szymanski
ownerRobert Irsay
stadiumMemorial Stadium
playoffsLost [Divisional Playoffs](1977-78-nfl-playoffs)
(vs. [Raiders](1977-oakland-raiders-season)) 31–37 (2OT)
pro_bowlersT George Kunz
RB Lydell Mitchell
DT Mike Barnes
DE John Dutton
K Toni Linhart
shortnavlinkColts seasons

(vs. Raiders) 31–37 (2OT) RB Lydell Mitchell DT Mike Barnes DE John Dutton K Toni Linhart The 1977 Baltimore Colts season was the 25th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL). Led by third-year head coach Ted Marchibroda, the Colts finished with 10 wins and 4 losses, tied for first in the AFC East division with the Miami Dolphins. The Colts had the tiebreaker over Miami based on better conference record (9–3 to 8–4), and the Dolphins missed the playoffs.

This was the final playoff appearance for the Colts as a Baltimore-based franchise. They would not make the playoffs again, or have a winning season, until ten years later in 1987, by which time the team moved to Indianapolis. As well, it would be the franchise's last playoff appearance in a non-strike year until 1995, and the team's last 10-win season until 1999, Peyton Manning's 2nd season. A Baltimore-based NFL team would not make the playoffs until the Ravens in 2000, winners of Super Bowl XXXV.

Offseason

Colts' owner Robert Irsay fired general manager Joe Thomas in January 1977, due to a power struggle he was having with head coach Ted Marchibroda. The new general manager was former Colts center Dick Szymanski, who was the personnel director and a former scout.

NFL draft

Main article: 1977 NFL draft

Personnel

Staff

  • President and Treasurer – Robert Irsay

  • General Manager – Dick Szymanski

  • Assistant General Manager – Ernie Accorsi

  • Head Coach – Ted Marchibroda

  • Receivers – Dick Bielski

  • Offensive Line – Whitey Dovell

  • Defensive Coordinator – Maxie Baughan

  • Defensive Line – Ed Khayat

  • Defensive Backfield – Frank Lauterbur

  • Special Teams – George Boutselis

Roster

:Source:

Regular season

Main article: 1977 NFL season

Schedule

Baltimore Coltsyear=1977border=2}}"WeekBaltimore Coltsyear=1977border=2}}"DateBaltimore Coltsyear=1977border=2}}"OpponentBaltimore Coltsyear=1977border=2}}"ResultBaltimore Coltsyear=1977border=2}}"RecordBaltimore Coltsyear=1977border=2}}"VenueBaltimore Coltsyear=1977border=2}}"Attendance1234567891011121314
September 18at [Seattle Seahawks](1977-seattle-seahawks-season)**W** 29–141–0Kingdome58,991
September 25at **[New York Jets](1977-new-york-jets-season)****W** 20–122–0Giants Stadium43,439
October 2**[Buffalo Bills](1977-buffalo-bills-season)****W** 17–143–0Memorial Stadium49,247
October 9**[Miami Dolphins](1977-miami-dolphins-season)****W** 45–284–0Memorial Stadium57,829
October 16at [Kansas City Chiefs](1977-kansas-city-chiefs-season)**W** 17–65–0Arrowhead Stadium63,076
October 23at **[New England Patriots](1977-new-england-patriots-season)****L** 3–175–1Schaefer Stadium60,958
October 30[Pittsburgh Steelers](1977-pittsburgh-steelers-season)**W** 31–216–1Memorial Stadium60,225
[Washington Redskins](1977-washington-redskins-season)**W** 10–37–1Memorial Stadium57,740
November 13at **[Buffalo Bills](1977-buffalo-bills-season)****W** 31–138–1Rich Stadium39,444
November 20[New York Jets](1977-new-york-jets-season)**W** 33–129–1Memorial Stadium50,957
November 27at [Denver Broncos](1977-denver-broncos-season)**L** 13–279–2Mile High Stadium74,939
at **[Miami Dolphins](1977-miami-dolphins-season)****L** 6–179–3Miami Orange Bowl68,977
December 11[Detroit Lions](1977-detroit-lions-season)**L** 10–139–4Memorial Stadium45,124
December 18**[New England Patriots](1977-new-england-patriots-season)****W** 30–2410–4Memorial Stadium42,250
**Note:** Intra-division opponents are in **bold** text.

Week 1: at Seattle Seahawks

First quarter

  • BAL – Don McCauley 6-yard run (Toni Linhart kick), 6:00 (BAL 7–0) Second quarter
  • SEA – Don Testerman 1-yard pass from Jim Zorn (John Leypoldt kick), 8:46 (Tied 7–7)
  • BAL – Roosevelt Leaks 10-yard rush (Toni Linhart kick), 3:21 (BAL 14–7) Third quarter
  • BAL – Safety, Doug Nettles blocked punt out of end zone, 13:37 (BAL 16–7)
  • BAL – Toni Linhart 38-yard field goal, 7:37 (BAL 19–7) Fourth quarter
  • BAL – Toni Linhart 42-yard field goal, 14:53 (BAL 22–7)
  • SEA – Autry Beamon 17-yard blocked punt return (John Leypoldt kick), 9:32 (BAL 22–14)
  • BAL – Roger Carr 21-yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick), 5:50 (BAL 29–14) Top passers
  • BAL – Bert Jones: 17/26, 220 yds, 1 TD
  • SEA – Jim Zorn: 14/34, 164 yds, 1 TD, 4 INT Top rushers
  • BAL – Lydell Mitchell: 32 car, 114 yds
  • SEA – Sherman Smith: 15 car, 58 yds Top receivers
  • BAL – Roger Carr: 2 rec, 66 yds, 1 TD
  • SEA – Steve Largent: 4 rec, 73 yds Team – pass – rush – total – to
  • BAL – 220 – 206 – 426 – 1
  • SEA – 151 – 104 – 255 – 4

Week 2 at Jets

First quarter

  • BAL – Roosevelt Leaks 6-yard run (Toni Linhart kick). ''Colts 7–0. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
  • BAL – Don McCauley 2-yard run (Toni Linhart kick). ''Colts 14–0. '''Drive:'''''
  • NYJ – Pat Leahy 25-yard field goal. ''Colts 14–3. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
  • BAL – Don McCauley 1-yard run (Toni Linhart kick). ''Colts 21–3. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
  • NYJ – Safety, David Lee ran out of end zone. Colts 21–5.
  • NYJ – Charlie White 1-yard run (Pat Leahy kick). ''Colts 21–12. '''Drive:''''' ;Top passers
  • BAL – Bert Jones – 9/15, 78 yards, INT
  • NYJ – Richard Todd – 13/22, 140 yards, 2 INT ;Top rushers
  • BAL – Lydell Mitchell – 26 rushes, 68 yards
  • NYJ – Charlie White – 12 rushes, 36 yards, TD ;Top receivers
  • BAL – Don McCauley – 5 receptions, 40 yards
  • NYJ – Clark Gaines – 6 receptions, 47 yards

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Standings

Playoffs

Main article: 1977–78 NFL playoffs

Baltimore made it to the AFC playoffs as a No. 2 seed and hosted the defending Super Bowl champion Oakland Raiders in the divisional round. The Colts held a 31–28 lead with time running out, when the famous “Ghost to the Post” play to tight end Dave Casper advanced the Raiders to the Baltimore 14-yard line, where Errol Mann kicked the tying field goal to send the contest into overtime. After the first overtime went scoreless, Casper caught a 10-yard touchdown pass 43 seconds into the period to win the game for the Raiders.

Baltimore Coltsyear=1977border=2}}"RoundBaltimore Coltsyear=1977border=2}}"DateBaltimore Coltsyear=1977border=2}}"OpponentBaltimore Coltsyear=1977border=2}}"ResultBaltimore Coltsyear=1977border=2}}"RecordBaltimore Coltsyear=1977border=2}}"VenueBaltimore Coltsyear=1977border=2}}"AttendanceDivisional
December 24[Oakland Raiders](1977-oakland-raiders-season) (4)**L** 31–372OT0–1Memorial Stadium60,763

Divisional

Main article: Ghost to the post

December 24

References

References

  1. (December 19, 1977). "Colts win a berth in playoffs". Eugene Register-Guard.
  2. (December 19, 1977). "Dolphins irate over blown call". Eugene Register-Guard.
  3. (January 21, 1977). "Colt GM Thomas fired". Pittsburgh Press.
  4. (January 22, 1977). "Internal problems get Thomas fired". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  5. (January 22, 1977). "Colts dumping Joe Thomas". Spokesman-Review.
  6. (January 24, 1977). "Colts realign front office". Pittsburgh Press.
  7. (January 25, 1977). "Shakeup underway in Baltimore". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  8. (January 25, 1977). "Baltimore shakeup continues". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
  9. "1977 Baltimore Colts starters and roster". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  10. "Baltimore Colts at New York Jets — September 25th, 1977". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  11. "New York Jets at Baltimore Colts — November 20th, 1977". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  12. Reid, Ron. (January 2, 1978). "The Ghost to the Post".
  13. Livingston, Pat. (December 25, 1977). "Oakland stops Baltimore, 37-31". Pittsburgh Press.
  14. (December 25, 1977). "Suddenly, the Raiders win a 37-31 decision". Eugene Register-Guard.
Info: Wikipedia Source

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