The 2012 season was the Indianapolis Colts' 60th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 29th in Indianapolis. The Colts earned the first selection in the 2012 NFL draft due to a dismal 2–14 record in 2011 and used their first pick on Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. The season marked the first for both head coach Chuck Pagano and general manager Ryan Grigson with the franchise.
In the offseason, the Colts released quarterback Peyton Manning, who had been with the team since 1998, after having missed the previous season due to neck surgeries.
Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians served as interim head coach while Pagano underwent treatment for leukemia from week 5–16. Pagano returned, with his cancer in remission, during the final week of the regular season. The team went 9–3 under Arians, who won the Coach of the Year Award. The Colts earned a playoff berth, their first playoff appearance without Peyton Manning since 1996. They were defeated by the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round.
Football Outsiders calculated the 2012 Colts were the worst team to ever go 11–5 in a season.
Personnel changes On January 2, 2012, one day after the final game of the 2011 season, Colts owner Jim Irsay fired team Vice Chairman Bill Polian (who had been the team's general manager since 1998) and his son, team vice-president and general manager Chris Polian. Nine days later (January 11), Ryan Grigson was named the new general manager. Head coach Jim Caldwell was fired on January 17, 2012. Eight days later (January 25), former Baltimore Ravens' defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano agreed to becoming the Colts new head coach.
Roster changes
Draft
Notes During the draft, the Colts traded up five spots from the fourth-round (#97) to the third-round (#92), with the team sending a 2013 fifth-round selection to the San Francisco 49ers. The Colts traded their original sixth-round selection—#172 overall—to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for tackle Winston Justice and the Eagles' sixth round selection—#187 overall. The Colts later traded the #187 overall selection to the New York Jets in exchange for quarterback Drew Stanton and a seventh-round selection (#214 overall). Compensatory selections. Mr. Irrelevant.
Undrafted free agents All undrafted free agents were signed just after the 2012 NFL draft concluded on April 28.
Position Player College DT James Aiono Utah DT Chigbo Anunoby Morehouse College OL Jason Foster Rhode Island LB Chris Galippo USC T Steve Baker East Carolina WR Griff Whalen Stanford CB Micah Pellerin Hampton CB Antonio Fenelus Wisconsin CB Cameron Chism Maryland DB Buddy Jackson Pittsburgh OL Hayworth Hicks Iowa State WR Jabin Sambrano Montana S Matt Merletti North Carolina P Brian Stahovich San Diego State DE Kevin Eagan Endicott S Latarrius Thomas Eastern Michigan
Departures Position Player 2012 Team Reason QB Peyton Manning UFA Denver Broncos Released by Colts, later signed by Broncos. QB Curtis Painter UFA Baltimore Ravens Released by Colts, later signed by Ravens. QB Dan Orlovsky UFA Tampa Bay Buccaneers Released by Colts, later signed by Buccaneers.Bucs sign QB Dan Orlovsky WR Pierre Garçon UFA Washington Redskins Released by Colts, later signed by Redskins. WR Blair White UFA Released by Colts. RB Joseph Addai UFA New England Patriots Released by Colts, signed by Patriots. FB Jerome Felton UFA Minnesota Vikings Released by Colts, signed with Vikings. WR Anthony Gonzalez UFA New England Patriots Released by Colts, signed by Patriots. TE Dallas Clark UFA Tampa Bay Buccaneers Released by Colts, signed by Buccaneers TE Jacob Tamme UFA Denver Broncos Released by Colts, signed with Broncos. C Jeff Saturday UFA Green Bay Packers Released by Colts, signed by Packers. DE Jamaal Anderson UFA Cincinnati Bengals Released by Colts, signed by Bengals. CB Jacob Lacey UFA Detroit Lions Untendered as a Restricted Free Agent, later signed by Lions.Lions agree to terms with CB Jacob Lacey; re-sign DT Andre Fluellen LB Gary Brackett UFA Released by Colts. DB Melvin Bullitt UFA Released by Colts.
Additions Position Player 2011 team How acquired WR Donnie Avery UFA Tennessee Titans Signed on March 25, 2012. LB Jerrell Freeman UFA Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL) Signed on January 16, 2012 C/G Mike McGlynn UFA Cincinnati Bengals Signed on March 15, 2012 NT Brandon McKinney UFA Baltimore Ravens Signed on April 4, 2012. TE Kyle Miller UFA None Signed on April 3, 2012. LS Matt Overton UFA Omaha Nighthawks (UFL) Signed on April 3, 2012. DE Cory Redding UFA Baltimore Ravens Signed on March 14, 2012.Ravens' Cory Redding signs with Colts C Samson Satele UFA Oakland Raiders Signed on March 22, 2012. QB Trevor Vittatoe UFA Tampa Bay Storm (AFL) Signed on March 8, 2012 SS Tom Zbikowski UFA Baltimore Ravens Signed on March 16, 2012. TE Dominique Jones UFA Reading Express (IFL) Signed on April 30, 2012. RB Deji Karim WVR Jacksonville Jaguars Claimed on April 30, 2012. TE Andre Smith WVR Chicago Bears Claimed on May 15, 2012. C/G Zane Taylor WVR Philadelphia Eagles Claimed on May 18, 2012. RB Mewelde Moore UFA Pittsburgh Steelers Signed on June 19, 2012. CB D.J. Johnson Trade Philadelphia Eagles Traded for on July 22, 2012. CB Vontae Davis Trade Miami Dolphins Traded for on August 26, 2012.
Staff
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 August 12 St. Louis Rams W 38–3 1–0 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 2 August 19 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 24–26 1–1 Heinz Field Recap 3 at Washington Redskins L 17–30 1–2 FedExField Recap 4 Cincinnati Bengals W 20–16 2–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 9 at Chicago Bears L 21–41 0–1 Soldier Field Recap 2 September 16 Minnesota Vikings W 23–20 1–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 3 September 23 Jacksonville Jaguars L 17–22 1–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 4Bye 5 October 7 Green Bay Packers W 30–27 2–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 6 October 14 at New York Jets L 9–35 2–3 MetLife Stadium Recap 7 October 21 Cleveland Browns W 17–13 3–3 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 8 October 28 at Tennessee Titans W 19–13 4–3 LP Field Recap 9 November 4 Miami Dolphins W 23–20 5–3 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 10 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 27–10 6–3 EverBank Field Recap 11 November 18 at New England Patriots L 24–59 6–4 Gillette Stadium Recap 12 November 25 Buffalo Bills W 20–13 7–4 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 13 December 2 at Detroit Lions W 35–33 8–4 Ford Field Recap 14 December 9 Tennessee Titans W 27–23 9–4 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 15 December 16 at Houston Texans L 17–29 9–5 Reliant Stadium Recap 16 December 23 at Kansas City ChiefsW 20–13 10–5 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 17 December 30 Houston Texans W 28–16 11–5 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Regular season
Week 1: at Chicago Bears
The Colts began their season on the road against the Bears. The game was highly hyped due to the start of the career of rookie QB Andrew Luck. The Colts drew first blood in the first quarter as Jerrell Freeman returned an interception 3 yards for a touchdown and a 7–0 lead. However, the Bears tied the game with Michael Bush's 1-yard run to tie the game at 7–7. In the 2nd quarter, the Bears took the lead as Brandon Marshall caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Jay Cutler to make the score 14–7. They then increased their lead when Robbie Gould scored a 35-yard field goal to make the score 17–7. The Colts drew closer to shorten the lead to 3 with Donald Brown's 18-yard touchdown run to make the score 17–14. However, with just seconds before halftime, the Bears drove down the field while Michael Bush ran in on a 1-yard touchdown for a 24–14 halftime lead. In the 3rd quarter the Bears gained momentum once more with Matt Forte's 6-yard touchdown run for a 31–14 lead and then Robbie Gould's 26-yard field goal for a 34–14 lead. In the fourth quarter, Luck threw his first touchdown pass of the regular season. A 4-yard pass to Donnie Avery to shorten the lead to 34–21. However, the Bears capitalized the victory with Cutler's 42-yard pass to Alshon Jeffery for a final score of 41–21.
With the loss, the Colts began their season 0–1.
Week 2: vs. Minnesota Vikings
After a tough loss to the Bears, the Colts returned home to take on the Vikings. The Vikes took the lead as Blair Walsh nailed a field goal from 51 yards out for a score of 3–0. However, the Colts made it 7–3 with Andrew Luck's 3-yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Allen. The Vikings came within a point as Blair Walsh kicked a 29-yard field goal for a 7–6 score. However, the Colts moved further ahead as Vinatieri scored a 26-yard field goal, followed by Andrew Luck's 30-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne for leads of 10–6 and then 17–6 at halftime. In the 3rd quarter, the Colts increased their lead when Vinatieri scored a 45-yard field goal to make the score 20–6. However, in the fourth quarter the Vikings were able to score 2 straight touchdowns with Christian Ponder's 7-yard pass to Stephen Burton to make the score 20–13 and then a 6-yard pass to Kyle Rudolph to tie the game at 20–20. With 8 seconds left, the Colts drove down the field and wrapped the game up with Vinatieri 53-yard field goal for a final score of 23–20.
With the win, the Colts improved to 1–1 and remain undefeated at home against the Vikings as a franchise.
Week 3: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
After the tough home win over the Vikings, the Colts stayed home for a division rival duel against the Jaguars. Scoring started early as the Jags drew first blood scoring a 44-yard field goal from Josh Scobee to take a 3–0 lead. However, the Colts took the lead with Andrew Luck's 40-yard touchdown pass to T. Y. Hilton for a 7–3 lead. The Colts increased their lead in the 2nd quarter with Andrew Luck's 4-yard touchdown pass to Mewelde Moore for a 14–3 halftime lead. In the 3rd quarter, the Jaguars were able to fire back as Maurice Jones-Drew ran in a touchdown from 59 yards out to cut the lead to 14–10. Followed up quickly by Scobee's 47-yard field goal to shorten the lead to a point 14–13. In the fourth quarter, the Jags were able to take the lead with Scobee kicking a 26-yard field goal for a 16–14 lead. The Colts however retook the lead with Vinatieri's 37-yard field goal for a 17–16 lead. But then the Jags were able to complete the comeback attempt 11 seconds later with Blaine Gabbert's touchdown pass to Cecil Shorts III (with a failed 2-point conversion) to make the final score 22–17.
With the loss, the Colts went into their bye week at 1–2. It would also be their last loss to a division opponent at home until 2015.
Week 5: vs. Green Bay Packers