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1978 Baltimore Colts season
26th season in franchise history
26th season in franchise history
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Baltimore Colts |
| year | 1978 |
| record | 5–11 |
| division_place | T-4th AFC East |
| coach | Ted Marchibroda |
| general_manager | Dick Szymanski |
| owner | Robert Irsay |
| stadium | Memorial Stadium |
| playoffs | *Did not qualify* |
| pro_bowlers | *None* |
| shortnavlink | Colts seasons |
The 1978 Baltimore Colts season was the 26th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL). Under fourth-year head coach Ted Marchibroda, the Colts finished with 5 wins and 11 losses, tied for fourth in the AFC East division with the Buffalo Bills. Baltimore lost the tiebreaker to Buffalo based on head-to-head series (0–2). This was the first time under Marchibroda that Baltimore did not make the postseason.
The Colts' minus-181 point differential was easily the NFL's worst, 50 points behind the next worst team, the San Francisco 49ers.
With quarterback Bert Jones out for several weeks with a shoulder injury and quickly losing both starting offensive tackles for the year through injury, Baltimore started the season in catastrophic fashion, losing their first two games by a combined score of 80–0. The Colts' first win of the season, in week three over New England on Monday Night Football, is one of the biggest regular season upsets in NFL history. The Patriots were favored by an overwhelming 17½ points, but the Colts scored 27 points in the fourth quarter, including a 90-yard kickoff return by running back Joe Washington with under a minute left to take the lead for good. In the game, Washington became the first player to throw a touchdown, catch a pass for a touchdown, and return a kickoff for a touchdown in the same game.
Offseason
NFL draft
Main article: 1978 NFL draft
Personnel
Staff
-
President and Treasurer – Robert Irsay
-
General Manager – Dick Szymanski
-
Assistant General Manager – Ernie Accorsi
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Head Coach – Ted Marchibroda
-
Receivers – Dick Bielski
-
Offensive Line – Whitey Dovell
-
Defensive Coordinator – Maxie Baughan
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Defensive Line – Ed Khayat
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Defensive Backfield – Ralph Hawkins
-
Special Teams – George Boutselis
Roster
:Source:
Regular season
Schedule
Main article: 1978 NFL season
| Baltimore Colts | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Week | Baltimore Colts | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Date | Baltimore Colts | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Baltimore Colts | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Result | Baltimore Colts | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Record | Baltimore Colts | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Venue | Baltimore Colts | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| at [Dallas Cowboys](1978-dallas-cowboys-season) | **L** 0–38 | 0–1 | Texas Stadium | 64,224 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 10 | **[Miami Dolphins](1978-miami-dolphins-season)** | **L** 0–42 | 0–2 | Memorial Stadium | 47,730 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at **[New England Patriots](1978-new-england-patriots-season)** | **W** 34–27 | 1–2 | Schaefer Stadium | 57,284 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 24 | at **[Buffalo Bills](1978-buffalo-bills-season)** | **L** 17–24 | 1–3 | Rich Stadium | 55,270 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 1 | [Philadelphia Eagles](1978-philadelphia-eagles-season) | **L** 14–17 | 1–4 | Memorial Stadium | 50,314 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 8 | at [St. Louis Cardinals](1978-st-louis-cardinals-nfl-season) | **W** 30–17 | 2–4 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 47,479 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 15 | **[New York Jets](1978-new-york-jets-season)** | **L** 10–33 | 2–5 | Memorial Stadium | 45,563 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 22 | [Denver Broncos](1978-denver-broncos-season) | **W** 7–6 | 3–5 | Memorial Stadium | 54,057 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 29 | at **[Miami Dolphins](1978-miami-dolphins-season)** | **L** 8–26 | 3–6 | Miami Orange Bowl | 53,524 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [Washington Redskins](1978-washington-redskins-season) | **W** 21–17 | 4–6 | Memorial Stadium | 57,631 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 12 | at [Seattle Seahawks](1978-seattle-seahawks-season) | **W** 17–14 | 5–6 | Kingdome | 61,905 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 19 | [Cleveland Browns](1978-cleveland-browns-season) | **L** 24–45 | 5–7 | Memorial Stadium | 45,341 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 26 | **[New England Patriots](1978-new-england-patriots-season)** | **L** 14–35 | 5–8 | Memorial Stadium | 42,828 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 3 | at **[New York Jets](1978-new-york-jets-season)** | **L** 17–30 | 5–9 | Shea Stadium | 50,248 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at [Pittsburgh Steelers](1978-pittsburgh-steelers-season) | **L** 13–35 | 5–10 | Three Rivers Stadium | 41,957 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 17 | [**Buffalo Bills**](1978-buffalo-bills-season) | **L** 14–21 | 5–11 | Memorial Stadium | 25,415 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Note:** Intra-division opponents are in **bold** text. |
Results
Week 3
First quarter
- NE – Andy Johnson 1-yard run (kick failed). ''Patriots 6–0. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
- BAL – Don McCauley 3-yard run (Toni Linhart kick). ''Colts 7–6. '''Drive:'''''
- NE – Stanley Morgan 62-yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick). ''Patriots 13–7. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
- BAL – Roger Carr 54-yard pass from Joe Washington (Toni Linhart kick). ''Colts 14–13. '''Drive:'''''
- BAL – Joe Washington 23-yard pass from Bill Troup (kick failed). ''Colts 20–13. '''Drive:'''''
- BAL – Roger Carr 67-yard pass from Bill Troup (Toni Linhart kick). ''Colts 27–13. '''Drive:'''''
- NE – Steve Grogan 4-yard run (John Smith kick), 3:17. ''Colts 27–20. '''Drive: 11 plays, 60 yards.'''''
- NE – Sam Cunningham 1-yard run (John Smith kick), 1:33. ''Tie 27–27. '''Drive:'''''
- BAL – Joe Washington 90-yard kickoff return (Toni Linhart kick). Colts 34–27. ;Top passers
- BAL – Bill Troup – 10/15, 221 yards, 2 TD, INT
- NE – Steve Grogan – 11/33, 229 yards, TD, 3 INT ;Top rushers
- BAL – Joe Washington – 16 rushes, 53 yards
- NE – Andy Johnson – 27 rushes, 109 yards, TD ;Top receivers
- BAL – Roger Carr – 6 receptions, 187 yards, 2 TD
- NE – Stanley Morgan – 3 receptions, 125 yards, TD
Standings
References
References
- (September 18, 1978). "Pats have big chance to gain division start". The Day.
- (September 19, 1978). "It was Washington's night, Pats' nightmare, 34-27". Eugene Register-Guard.
- May, Peter. (September 19, 1978). "Patriots' 'D' takes fourth quarter off". Nashua Telegraph.
- [http://pfref.com/tiny/lZLlw Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single game, from 1940 to 2012, in the Regular Season, team won game, requiring Underdog By >= 0, sorted by descending Underdog By.]
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197809180nwe.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com: Baltimore Colts 34 at New England Patriots 27, Monday, September 18, 1978]
- "1978 Baltimore Colts starters and roster". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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