The 1998 Indianapolis Colts season was the 46th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL) and 15th in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Colts finished the National Football League's 1998 season with a record of 3 wins and 13 losses, and finished fifth in the AFC East division.
Coming off a 3–13 season the year before, the Colts drafted quarterback Peyton Manning with the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft. Manning would mark the beginning of a new era for the Colts, as he would lead them to their second Super Bowl title nine seasons later.
This season was Marshall Faulk's last with the Colts as he was traded to the St. Louis Rams in the off-season. He had his best seasons in St. Louis, helping the Rams to two Super Bowls in 1999 and 2001 and winning the league's MVP in 2000.
On November 29, the Colts played their first game in Baltimore since the controversial relocation in 1984.
As previously mentioned, this was Faulk's final year in a Colts uniform and he finished his Indianapolis career in style rushing for 1,319 yards and 6 touchdowns and catching a team leading 86 passes for 908 yards and 4 touchdowns leading the entire NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 2,227 (beating out 2nd-place finisher and league MVP Terrell Davis by just two yards). Another bright spot was rookie quarterback Peyton Manning who passed for 3,739 yards and 26 touchdowns, but he also led the NFL in interceptions thrown with 28. Although the Colts only matched their 3–13 record from the preceding season, seven of those losses were by seven points or fewer. The Colts did not win a single game on the road. After the season, Craig Heyward retired.
Offseason Additions Subtractions DT Jeff Zgonina (Rams) QB Jim Harbaugh (Ravens) G Tom Myslinski (Steelers) G Doug Widell (Packers) S Tim Hauck (Seahawks) WR Sean Dawkins (Saints) RB Craig Heyward (Rams) K Cary Blanchard (Redskins) LB Jeff Herrod (Eagles) WR Brian Stablein (Patriots) CB Jeff Burris (Bills) G Jason Mathews (Oilers) WR Torrance Small (Rams) LB Steve Grant (Buccaneers) QB Bill Musgrave (Broncos) G Eugene Chung (Chiefs) FS Derwin Gray (Panthers)
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents + 1998 undrafted free agents of note Player Position CollegeLarry ChesterDefensive tackleTempleMike VanderjagtKickerWest Virginia
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 6 Miami Dolphins L 15–24 0–1 RCA Dome 60,587 2 September 13 at New England Patriots L 6–29 0–2 Foxboro Stadium 60,068 3 September 20 at New York Jets L 6–44 0–3 Giants Stadium 66,321 4 September 27 New Orleans Saints L 13–19 0–4 RCA Dome 48,480 5 October 4 San Diego Chargers W 17–12 1–4 RCA Dome 51,988 6 October 11 Buffalo Bills L 24–31 1–5 RCA Dome 52,938 7 October 18 at San Francisco 49ers L 31–34 1–6 3Com Park 68,486 8 Bye 9 November 1 New England Patriots L 16–21 1–7 RCA Dome 58,056 10 November 8 at Miami Dolphins L 14–27 1–8 Pro Player Stadium 73,400 11 November 15 New York Jets W 24–23 2–8 RCA Dome 55,520 12 November 22 at Buffalo Bills L 11–34 2–9 Rich Stadium 49,032 13 November 29 at Baltimore Ravens L 31–38 2–10 Ravens Stadium 68,898 14 December 6 at Atlanta Falcons L 21–28 2–11 Georgia Dome 61,141 15 December 13 Cincinnati Bengals W 39–26 3–11 RCA Dome 55,179 16 December 20 at Seattle Seahawks L 23–27 3–12 Kingdome 58,703 17 December 27 Carolina Panthers L 19–27 3–13 RCA Dome 58,182 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Season summary
Week 11 vs Jets
See also History of the Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts seasons Colts–Patriots rivalry
References