1997 Indianapolis Colts season


The 1997 Indianapolis Colts season was the 45th season for the team in the National Football League and 14th in Indianapolis. The Colts finished the National Football League’s 1997 season with a record of 3 wins and 13 losses, and finished fifth in the AFC East division. The Colts would start horribly, losing their first ten games for their worst start since 1986. They became only the second team to start 0–10 since 1987 after the 1993 Bengals, before an upset home win over eventual NFC Champion Green Bay. That would turn out to be the only good highlight all season for the Colts, as the team fell to a league-worst 3–13 record, and earned the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft, where they selected quarterback Peyton Manning.

Regular season

Game summaries

Week 8 (Monday, October 20, 1997): vs. Buffalo Bills">1997 Buffalo Bills season">Buffalo Bills


Week 9 (Sunday, October 26, 1997): at [1997 [San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]]

Although unknown at the time, this game was of significant consequence in NFL history. The loser of this game would have the first pick in the 1998 NFL draft, which for the Colts was Peyton Manning.