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{{short description|16th season in franchise history; first Super Bowl appearance and loss}}
{{Infobox NFL_season
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL team season
| team = Baltimore Colts
| team = Baltimore Colts
| year = 1968
| year = 1968
| record = 13–1
| record = 13–1
| division_place = 1st [[National Football League Coastal Division|Coastal]]
| division_place = 1st [[NFC West|NFL Coastal]]
| coach = [[Don Shula]]
| owner = [[Carroll Rosenbloom]]
| owner = [[Carroll Rosenbloom]]
| general manager = [[Harry Hulmes]]
| coach = [[Don Shula]]
| stadium = [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| stadium = [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| playoffs = '''Won [[NFL playoffs, 1968|Divisional Playoffs]]''' ([[Minnesota Vikings|Vikings]]) 24–14<br>'''Won [[NFL Championship Game, 1968|NFL Championship]]''' 34–0 ([[Cleveland Browns|Browns]])<br>Lost [[Super Bowl III]] ([[New York Jets|Jets]]) 16–7
| playoffs = '''Won [[1968 NFL playoffs|Western Conference Championship Game]]'''<br>(vs. [[1968 Minnesota Vikings season|Vikings]]) 24–14<br>'''Won [[1968 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship]]'''<br>(at [[1968 Cleveland Browns season|Browns]]) 34–0<br>Lost [[Super Bowl III]]<br>(vs. [[1968 New York Jets season|Jets]]) 7–16
| shortnavlink = Colts seasons
}}
}}


The '''[[1968 NFL season|1968]] [[Indianapolis Colts|Baltimore Colts]] [[Indianapolis Colts seasons|season]]''' was the 16th season for the team in the [[National Football League]]. The Baltimore Colts finished the [[National Football League]]'s 1968 season with a record of 13 wins and 1 loss. They won the Western Conference's [[National Football League Coastal Division|Coastal]] division.
The '''{{nfly|1968}} [[History of the Baltimore Colts|Baltimore Colts]] [[Indianapolis Colts seasons|season]]''' was the 16th season for the team in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). Led by sixth-year head coach [[Don Shula]], they finished the regular season with a record of 13 wins and 1 loss, and won the Western Conference's [[NFC West|Coastal]] division.

[[1967 Baltimore Colts season|The previous season]], the Colts finished 11–1–2, tied for the best in the league, but were excluded from the [[1967 NFL playoffs|playoffs]]. They lost a tiebreaker with [[1967 Los Angeles Rams season|the Los Angeles Rams]] for the Coastal Division title in {{nfly|1967}}; the other three teams in the NFL postseason, all division winners, had nine wins each.

The Colts finished the 1968 regular season with the team's defense having allowed just 144 points — tying the NFL record for a 14-game season.<ref>"Baltimore Colts" in Al Silverman (ed.), ''Pro Football Almanac, 1969.'' New York: McFadden-Bartell Corp., 1969, pp. 60-61.</ref>

In 1968, Baltimore won the Western Conference [[1968 NFL playoffs|playoff]] game with [[1968 Minnesota Vikings season|the Minnesota Vikings]] and the [[1968 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship Game]] in a shutout of the [[1968 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]], but then lost to [[1968 New York Jets season|the New York Jets]] of the [[American Football League]] in [[Super Bowl III]].<ref name=jssusoc>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/01/13/page/63/article/jets-score-super-upset-over-colts |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |last=Strickler |first=George |title=Jets score Super upset over Colts |date=January 13, 1969 |page=1, section 3 }}</ref> [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] quarterback [[Johnny Unitas]] had been injured during the pre-season, so [[Earl Morrall]] led the offense. He would finish the season as the league leader in touchdown passes with 26. Shula decided to bring Unitas back in during the second half of the Super Bowl, to no avail.

After the upset, instead of championship rings, luxury watches were given to the team as a consolation prize to commemorate their NFL Championship victory over Cleveland.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Baltimore Colts 1968 NFL Championship Ring That Wasn't « Sports-Rings.com – Blog|url=http://sports-rings.com/wordpress1/2014/03/20/the-baltimore-colts-1968-nfl-championship-ring-that-wasnt/|access-date=2020-08-03|website=sports-rings.com}}</ref>

==NFL draft==
{{main article|1968 NFL Draft}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}" width="7%"| Round
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}" width="7%"| Pick
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}" width="20%"| Player
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}" width="15%"| Position
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}" width="20%"| School/Club Team
|-
!1
!23
|[[John Williams (offensive lineman)|John Williams]]
|[[Tackle (gridiron football position)|Offensive tackle]]
|[[1967 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|Minnesota]]
|-
!2
!50
|[[Bob Grant (American football)|Bob Grant]]
|[[Linebacker]]
|[[1967 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team|Wake Forest]]
|-
!3
!78
|Rich O'Hara
|[[Wide receiver]]
|[[Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football|Northern Arizona]]
|-
!4
!107
|[[Jim Duncan (cornerback)|Jim Duncan]]
|Running back
|[[Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks football|Maryland-Eastern Shore]]
|-
!5
!126
|[[Paul Elzey]]
|[[Linebacker]]
|[[1967 Toledo Rockets football team|Toledo]]
|-
!7
!188
|Anthony Andrews
|[[Running back]]
|[[Hampton Pirates football|Hampton]]
|-
!8
!216
|Tommy Davis
|[[Guard (gridiron football)|Guard]]
|[[Tennessee State Tigers football|Tennessee State]]
|-
!9
!242
|[[Terry Cole (American football)|Terry Cole]]
|[[Running back]]
|[[1967 Indiana Hoosiers football team|Indiana]]
|-
!10
!257
|[[Ocie Austin]]
|[[Free safety]]
|[[1967 Utah State Aggies football team|Utah State]]
|-
!10
!270
|Ed Tomlin
|[[Running back]]
|[[Hampton Pirates football|Hampton]]
|-
!11
!296
|Bill Pickens
|[[Guard (gridiron football)|Guard]]
|[[1967 Houston Cougars football team|Houston]]
|-
!12
!324
|James Jackson
|[[Tackle (gridiron football position)|Offensive tackle]]
|[[1967 Jackson State Tigers football team|Jackson State]]
|-
!13
!350
|Howard Tennebar
|[[Tackle (gridiron football position)|Offensive tackle]]
|[[1967 Kent State Golden Flashes football team|Kent State]]
|-
!14
!378
|Charles Mitchell
|[[Tight end]]
|[[Alabama State Hornets football|Alabama State]]
|-
!15
!404
|Jeff Beaver
|[[Quarterback]]
|[[1967 North Carolina Tar Heels football team|North Carolina]]
|-
!16
!432
|Walt Blackledge
|[[Wide receiver]]
|[[1967 San Jose State Spartans football team|San Jose State]]
|-
!17
!458
|Roy Pederson
|[[Linebacker]]
|[[Northern Iowa Panthers football|State College of Iowa]]
|}

==Personnel==
===Staff/Coaches===
{| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left; border: 2px solid black;"
|-
! colspan="7" style="text-align:center;border:2px solid grey; background-color:#002c5f;color:white;" | 1968 Baltimore Colts staff
|-
|style="font-size:95%;" valign="top" | '''Front office'''
* Owner/president and treasurer – [[Carroll Rosenbloom]]
* General manager – [[Harry Hulmes]]

'''Coaching staff'''
* Head coach – [[Don Shula]]
'''''Offensive coaches'''''
* Receivers/offensive ends – [[Dick Bielski]]
* Offensive backs – [[Don McCafferty]]
* Offensive line coach – [[John Sandusky]]
|style="width;25px;" |
|style="font-size:95%" valign= "top" | '''''Defensive coaches'''''
* Defensive coordinator/defensive line – [[Bill Arnsparger]]
* Defensive backfield – [[Chuck Noll]]
* Linebackers coach – Don Shula
|}

===Roster===

{{NFL season roster
| year = 1968
| team = Baltimore Colts

| quarterbacks =
{{NFLplayer|15|Earl Morrall}}
{{NFLplayer|19|Johnny Unitas}}
{{NFLplayer|16|Jim Ward|d=quarterback}}

| running_backs =
{{NFLplayer|&nbsp;2|Timmy Brown|d=actor}}
{{NFLplayer|34|Terry Cole|d=American football|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|45|Jerry Hill|d=American football}}
{{NFLplayer|41|Tom Matte}}
{{NFLplayer|26|Preston Pearson}}

| wide_receivers =
{{NFLplayer|80|Gail Cogdill}}
{{NFLplayer|25|Alex Hawkins}}
{{NFLplayer|28|Jimmy Orr}}
{{NFLplayer|27|Ray Perkins}}
{{NFLplayer|87|Willie Richardson}}

| tight_ends =
{{NFLplayer|88|John Mackey|d=American football}}
{{NFLplayer|84|Tom Mitchell|d=American football}}

| offensive_linemen =
{{NFLplayer|73|Sam Ball|T}}
{{NFLplayer|50|Bill Curry|C}}
{{NFLplayer|61|Cornelius Johnson|d=offensive lineman|rookie=y|G}}
{{NFLplayer|62|Glenn Ressler|G}}
{{NFLplayer|71|Dan Sullivan|d=American football|G}}
{{NFLplayer|52|Dick Szymanski|C}}
{{NFLplayer|72|Bob Vogel|T}}
{{NFLplayer|65|John Williams|d=offensive lineman|rookie=y|G}}

| defensive_linemen =
{{NFLplayer|81|Ordell Braase|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|85|Roy Hilton|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|76|Fred Miller|d=defensive lineman|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|74|Billy Ray Smith|d3=Sr.|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|78|Bubba Smith|DE}}

| linebackers =
{{NFLplayer|32|Mike Curtis|d=American football}}
{{NFLplayer|53|Dennis Gaubatz}}
{{NFLplayer|51|Bob Grant|d=American football|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|55|Ron Porter}}
{{NFLplayer|66|Don Shinnick}}

| defensive_back =
{{NFLplayer|37|Ocie Austin|rookie=y|S}}
{{NFLplayer|40|Bobby Boyd|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|20|Jerry Logan|S}}
{{NFLplayer|43|Lenny Lyles|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|47|Charlie Stukes|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|21|Rick Volk|S}}

| special_teams =
{{NFLplayer|49|David Lee|d=punter|P}}
{{NFLplayer|79|Lou Michaels|K}}

| reserve_lists = None - vacant

| practice_squad =
}}


== Regular season ==
== Regular season ==
=== Schedule ===


=== Schedule ===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|-
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}"| Week
! Week
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}"| Date
! Date
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}"| Opponent
! Opponent
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}"| Result
! Result
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}"| Record
! Record
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}"| Venue
! Game Site
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}"| Attendance
! Attendance
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 1
! 1
| September 15, 1968
| September 15
| '''[[San Francisco 49ers]]'''
| '''[[1968 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]]'''
| '''W''' 27–10
| '''W''' 27–10
| 1–0
| 1–0
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| <center>56,864</center>
| 56,864
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 2
! 2
| September 22, 1968
| September 22
| at [[Atlanta Falcons]]
| at '''[[1968 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]]'''
| '''W''' 28–20
| '''W''' 28–20
| 2–0
| 2–0
| [[Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium|Atlanta Stadium]]
| [[Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium|Atlanta Stadium]]
| <center>50,428</center>
| 50,428
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 3
! 3
| September 29, 1968
| September 29
| at [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]
| at [[1968 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]
| '''W''' 41–7
| '''W''' 41–7
| 3–0
| 3–0
| [[Pitt Stadium]]
| [[Pitt Stadium]]
| <center>44,480</center>
| 44,480
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 4
! 4
| October 6, 1968
| October 6
| '''[[Chicago Bears]]'''
| [[1968 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]
| '''W''' 28–7
| '''W''' 28–7
| 4–0
| 4–0
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| <center>60,238</center>
| 60,238
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 5
! 5
| October 13, 1968
| October 13
| at [[San Francisco 49ers]]
| at '''[[1968 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]]'''
| '''W''' 42–14
| '''W''' 42–14
| 5–0
| 5–0
| [[Kezar Stadium]]
| [[Kezar Stadium]]
| <center>32,822</center>
| 32,822
|-style="background:#fcc"
|-bgcolor="#ffdddd"
| 6
! 6
| October 20, 1968
| October 20
| '''[[Cleveland Browns]]'''
| [[1968 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]]
| '''L''' 20–30
| '''L''' 20–30
| 5–1
| 5–1
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| <center>60,238</center>
| 60,238
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 7
! 7
| October 27, 1968
| October 27
| '''[[St. Louis Rams|Los Angeles Rams]]'''
| '''[[1968 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]]'''
| '''W''' 27–10
| '''W''' 27–10
| 6–1
| 6–1
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| <center>60,238</center>
| 60,238
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 8
! 8
| November 3, 1968
| November 3
| at [[New York Giants]]
| at [[1968 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]
| '''W''' 26–0
| '''W''' 26–0
| 7–1
| 7–1
| [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]]
| [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]]
| <center>62,973</center>
| 62,973
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 9
! 9
| November 10, 1968
| November 10
| at [[Detroit Lions]]
| at [[1968 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]
| '''W''' 27–10
| '''W''' 27–10
| 8–1
| 8–1
| [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]]
| [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]]
| <center>55,170</center>
| 55,170
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 10
! 10
| November 17, 1968
| November 17
| '''[[Arizona Cardinals|St. Louis Cardinals]]'''
| [[1968 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|St. Louis Cardinals]]
| '''W''' 27–0
| '''W''' 27–0
| 9–1
| 9–1
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| <center>60,238</center>
| 60,238
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 11
! 11
| November 24, 1968
| November 24
| '''[[Minnesota Vikings]]'''
| [[1968 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]
| '''W''' 21–9
| '''W''' 21–9
| 10–1
| 10–1
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| <center>60,238</center>
| 60,238
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 12
! 12
| December 1, 1968
| December 1
| '''[[Atlanta Falcons]]'''
| '''[[1968 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]]'''
| '''W''' 44–0
| '''W''' 44–0
| 11–1
| 11–1
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| <center>60,238</center>
| 60,238
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 13
! 13
| December 7, 1968
| December 7
| at [[Green Bay Packers]]
| at [[1968 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]
| '''W''' 16–3
| '''W''' 16–3
| 12–1
| 12–1
| [[Lambeau Field]]
| [[Lambeau Field]]
| <center>50,861</center>
| 50,861
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 14
! 14
| December 15, 1968
| December 15
| at [[St. Louis Rams|Los Angeles Rams]]
| at '''[[1968 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]]'''
| '''W''' 28–24
| '''W''' 28–24
| 13–1
| 13–1
| [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]]
| [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]]
| <center>69,397</center>
| 69,397
|-style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}"
|colspan="8"| '''Note:''' Intra-division opponents are in '''bold''' text.
|}
|}
===Game summaries===
====Week 11: vs. Minnesota Vikings====
{{Americanfootballbox
|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}};text-align:center;
|state=autocollapse
|title= Minnesota Vikings (6–4) at Baltimore Colts (9–1) – Game summary
|date=November 24, 1968
|time=1:00 p.m.
|road=[[1968 Minnesota Vikings season|Vikings]]
|R1=0 |R2=3 |R3=3 |R4=3
|home='''Colts'''
|H1=7 |H2=14 |H3=0 |H4=0
|stadium=[[Baltimore Memorial Stadium|Memorial Stadium]], [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]]
|attendance=
|weather={{convert|50|F|C|disp=or}}, relative humidity 63%, wind {{convert|9|mph|km/h knots}}
|referee=
|TV=CBS
|TVAnnouncers=
|reference=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811240clt.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=Minnesota Vikings at Baltimore Colts — November 24th, 1968}}</ref>
|scoring=
'''First quarter'''
*BAL — [[Terry Cole (American football)|Terry Cole]] 1-yard rush ([[Lou Michaels]] kick). ''Colts 7–0''
'''Second quarter'''
*BAL — [[Willie Richardson]] 39-yard pass from [[Earl Morrall]] ([[Lou Michaels]] kick). ''Colts 14–0''
*BAL — [[Tom Mitchell (American football)|Tom Mitchell]] 18-yard pass from [[Earl Morrall]] ([[Lou Michaels]] kick). ''Colts 21–0''
*MIN — [[Fred Cox]] 43-yard field goal. ''Colts 21–3''
'''Third quarter'''
*MIN — [[Fred Cox]] 36-yard field goal. ''Colts 21–6''
'''Fourth quarter'''
*MIN — [[Fred Cox]] 31-yard field goal. ''Colts 21–9''
|stats=
'''Top passers'''
*BAL — [[Earl Morrall]] — 17/24, 259 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
*MIN — [[Gary Cuozzo]] — 12/18, 141 yards
'''Top rushers'''
*BAL — [[Terry Cole (American football)|Terry Cole]] — 20 rushes, 71 yards, TD
*MIN — [[Clinton Jones (American football)|Clinton Jones]] — 10 rushes, 53 yards
'''Top receivers'''
*BAL — [[Willie Richardson]] — 6 receptions, 150 yards, TD
*MIN — [[John Beasley (American football)|John Beasley]] — 6 receptions, 79 yards
}}
This would be the last occasion the Colts hosted the Vikings in the regular season until [[2000 Indianapolis Colts season|2000 in Indianapolis]]. The intervening gap — following the playoff meeting between the same teams at the same venue — of 31 seasons constitutes the second-longest gap without one team visiting another in NFL history.{{efn|[[List of Tampa Bay Buccaneers seasons|Tampa Bay]] did not play at [[List of Buffalo Bills seasons|Buffalo]] until [[2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|2009]], although the Buccaneers joined the league 33 seasons previously.<ref>{{cite book|last=Urena|first=Ivan|title=Pro Football Schedules: A Complete Historical Guide from 1933 to the Present|year=2014|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|location=[[Jefferson, North Carolina|Jefferson]], [[North Carolina]]|isbn=9780786473519|pages=15-16}}</ref>}}
==Standings==
{{1968 NFL Coastal standings}}
== Post-season ==
The team made it to the [[1968 NFL playoffs|playoffs]] as winners of the Coastal division and hosted [[1968 Minnesota Vikings season|the Minnesota Vikings]] of the Central division for the Western Conference title. The Colts took a 21–0 lead and went on to win 24–14.<ref name=kttvkg>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YMAdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XygEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7012%2C1342296 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |last=Bledsoe |first=Terry |title=Kapp, the tough Viking, finds Colts even tougher |date=December 23, 1968 |page=10, part 2 }}</ref> They then traveled to [[Cleveland]] to take on [[1968 Cleveland Browns season|the Browns]] in the [[1968 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship Game]]. Baltimore's only loss of the season came at home to the Browns in October, falling 20–30.<ref name=bpcahum>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5CZPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ngEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7358%2C1653685 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |agency=Associated Press |title=Browns prove Colts are human |date=October 21, 1968 |page=25 }}</ref><ref name=bhcfls>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5CZPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ngEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7358%2C1653685 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=UPI |title=Browns hand Colts first loss |date=October 21, 1968 |page=1, part 2}}</ref> In late December, the Colts defense was on top of their game as they shut out the Browns 34–0 to gain their third NFL title.<ref name=ccbnt>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1968/12/30/page/59/article/colts-crush-browns-for-n-f-l-title |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |last=Strickler |first=George |title=Colts crush Browns for NFL title |date=December 30, 1968 |page=1, section 3 }}</ref><ref name=cgrev>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X5ZIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=R4QMAAAAIBAJ&pg=939%2C4599931 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |location=Ohio |last=Scholl |first=Bill |title=Colts gain revenge, wallop Browns, 34–0, to win National League crown |date=December 30, 1968 |page=12 }}</ref><ref name=koclve>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8g8zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pgEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7251%2C5836430 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |last=Hannen |first=John |title=Colts' Matte returned home to KO Cleveland |date=January 30, 1968 |page=18}}</ref> The 1968 Colts were being touted as "the greatest football team in history."


In [[Super Bowl III]], the Colts took on the heavy underdog [[1968 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] led by quarterback [[Joe Namath]], with the Colts favored by {{frac|19|1|2}} points.<ref name=csttopf>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/01/10/page/57/article/colts-soar-to-21-point-favorites |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |last=Strickler |first=George |title=Colts soar to 21-point favorites |date=January 10, 1969 |page=1, section 3 }}</ref><ref name=jnmtchp>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8bRWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=c-kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7232%2C4147775 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Jets' Namath carries hopes for AFL prestige today |date=January 12, 1969 |page=1, sports }}</ref><ref name=qbsbtp>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8LRWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=c-kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7206%2C3256800 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Quarterbacks Super Bowl topics |date=January 11, 1969 |page=13}}</ref> Before the game, former NFL star and coach [[Norm Van Brocklin]] ridiculed the AFL, saying "This will be Namath's first professional football game." Three days before the game, Namath was being heckled in Miami and he responded by saying: "We’re going to win Sunday. I guarantee it."<ref name=qbsbtp/><ref name=agogrt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=j_UhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LKIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5855%2C5352371 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Knight-Ridder |last=Dorman |first=Larry |title=A guarantee of greatness |date=January 15, 1989 |page=C1 }}</ref><ref name=zinser>{{cite news|last=Zinser |first=Lynn |title=Pregame Talk Is Cheap, but This Vow Resonates |date=May 25, 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times |page=B10 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/25/sports/hockey/mark-messiers-vow-set-the-bar-for-sports-guarantees.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622020207/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/25/sports/hockey/mark-messiers-vow-set-the-bar-for-sports-guarantees.html?_r=1 |archive-date=June 22, 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Jets beat the Colts 16–7 in one of the biggest upsets in American sports history.<ref name=jssusoc/>
===Standings===

{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="3" border="1"
|-
|- bgcolor="#ccffff"
| colspan="7" align="center" | '''''Coastal Division'''''
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
!Team!!W!!L!!T!!PCT!!PF!!PA
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
|align="left"| '''Baltimore Colts'''
|13||1||0||.929||402||144
|- align="center"
|align="left"| [[1968 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]]
|10||3||1||.769||312||200
|- align="center"
|align="left"| [[1968 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]]
|7||6||1||.538||303||310
|- align="center"
|align="left"| [[1968 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]]
|2||12||0||.143||170||389
|}<ref> NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 297</ref>

== Playoffs ==


Perhaps the biggest effect of the Colts' loss is that the predominant sentiment that the AFL was not strong enough to merge with the NFL was firmly squelched.<ref name=bnfnk>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AtlVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MuEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6442%2C2878418 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |last=Funk |first=Ben |title=Jets make believers out of Colts, NFL |date=January 13, 1969 |page=3B }}</ref>
The team made it to the [[NFL playoffs, 1968|playoffs]] and hosted the [[Minnesota Vikings]] for the right to play in the [[List of NFL champions|NFL Championship Game]]. The Colts took a 21–0 lead and went on to win 24–14. They then traveled to [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]] to take on the [[Cleveland Browns|Browns]]. The Colts defense was on top of their game as they shut out the Browns 34–0 and won their 3rd championship. In [[Super Bowl III]] the Colts took on the heavy underdog [[New York Jets]]. [[Joe Namath]] and Jets beat the Colts 16–7, this game is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in American sports history.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|-
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}"| Round
! Playoff Round
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}"| Date
! Date
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}"| Opponent
! Opponent
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}"| Result
! Result
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}"| Record
! Record
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}"| Venue
! Game Site
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}}"| Attendance
! Attendance
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| Conference Championship
! [[1968 NFL playoffs|Western Conference]]
| December 22, 1968
| December 22
| '''[[Minnesota Vikings]]'''
| [[1968 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]
| '''W''' 24–14
| '''W''' 24–14
| 1–0
| 1–0
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| <center>60,238</center>
| 60,238
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| NFL Championship
! [[1968 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship]]
| December 29, 1968
| December 29
| at [[Cleveland Browns]]'''
| at [[1968 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]]
| '''W''' 34–0
| '''W''' 34–0
| 2–0
| 2–0
| [[Cleveland Stadium|Cleveland Municipal Stadium]]
| [[Cleveland Municipal Stadium]]
| <center>80,628</center>
| 80,628
|-style="background:#fcc"
|-bgcolor="#ffdddd"
| Super Bowl
! [[Super Bowl III]]
| January 12, 1969
| January 12, 1969
| [[New York Jets]]
| [[1968 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]
| '''L''' 7–16
| '''L''' 7–16
| 2–1
| 2–1
| [[Miami Orange Bowl]]
| [[Miami Orange Bowl]]
| <center>75,389</center>
| 75,389
|}
|}

=== Conference Playoff: vs. Minnesota Vikings ===
{{Americanfootballbox|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1968|border=2}};text-align:center;|state=autocollapse|title=Minnesota Vikings (8–6) at Baltimore Colts (13–1) – Game summary|date=December 22, 1968|time=1:00 p.m.|road=[[1968 Minnesota Vikings season|Vikings]]|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=14|home='''Colts'''|H1=0|H2=7|H3=14|H4=3|stadium=[[Baltimore Memorial Stadium|Memorial Stadium]], [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]]|attendance=|weather={{convert|33|F|C|1|disp=or}}, relative humidity 73%, wind {{convert|7|mph|km/h knots}}, wind chill {{convert|27|F|C|1|disp=or}}|referee=|TV=CBS|TVAnnouncers=|reference=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196812220clt.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=Divisional Round — Minnesota Vikings at Baltimore Colts — December 22nd, 1968}}</ref>|scoring='''First quarter'''
*''No scoring plays''
'''Second quarter'''
*BAL — [[Tom Mitchell (American football)|Tom Mitchell]] 3-yard pass from [[Earl Morrall]] ([[Lou Michaels]] kick). ''Colts 7–0''
'''Third quarter'''
*BAL – [[John Mackey (American football)|John Mackey]] 49-yard pass from [[Earl Morrall]] ([[Lou Michaels]] kick). ''Colts 14–0''
*BAL — [[Mike Curtis (American football)|Mike Curtis]] 60-yard defensive fumble return ([[Lou Michaels]] kick). ''Colts 21–0''
'''Fourth quarter'''
*MIN — [[Billy Martin (tight end)|Billy Martin]] 1-yard pass from [[Joe Kapp]] ([[Fred Cox]] kick). ''Colts 21–7''
*BAL — [[Lou Michaels]] 33-yard field goal. ''Colts 24–7''
*MIN — [[Bill Brown (American football)|Bill Brown]] 7-yard pass from [[Joe Kapp]] ([[Fred Cox]] kick). ''Colts 24–14''|stats='''Top passers'''
*BAL — [[Earl Morrall]] — 13/22, 280 yards, 2 TD, INT
*MIN — [[Joe Kapp]] — 26/44, 287 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
'''Top rushers'''
*BAL — [[Tom Matte]] — 14 rushes, 31 yards
*MIN — [[Joe Kapp]] — 10 rushes, 52 yards
'''Top receivers'''
*BAL — [[Willie Richardson]] — 6 receptions, 148 yards
*MIN — [[Gene Washington (American football, born 1944)|Gene Washington]] — 5 receptions, 95 yards}}Following upon their last regular-season visit to the Colts for 32 years, the Vikings would visit the Colts for the last time in a competition game until 2000 in their first-ever postseason appearance.


==Awards==
==Awards==
[[Earl Morrall]]: [[Associated Press|AP]] [[NFL]] [[MVP]]
* [[Earl Morrall]]: [[Associated Press|AP]] [[NFL]] [[Most valuable player|MVP]]
*[[Don Shula]]: [[Associated Press|AP]] [[NFL Coach of the Year]]

[[Don Shula]]: [[Associated Press|AP]] [[NFL Coach of the Year]]


== See also ==
*[[Baltimore Colts]]
*[[List of Indianapolis Colts seasons]]
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|2}}


== See also ==
==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLFQnxT-DZ8 "1968 Baltimore Colts,"] Classic Sports via YouTube.com, Aug. 27, 2022 <small>(Video.)</small>
*[[History of the Indianapolis Colts]]
*[[Indianapolis Colts seasons]]
*[[Colts-Patriots rivalry]]


{{DEFAULTSORT:1968 Baltimore Colts Season}}
{{Indianapolis Colts seasons}}
{{Indianapolis Colts seasons}}
{{1968 Baltimore Colts}}
{{Indianapolis Colts}}
{{Indianapolis Colts}}
{{1968 NFL season by team}}
{{1968 NFL season by team}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:1968 Baltimore Colts Season}}
[[Category:1968 in sports in Maryland|Baltimore Colts]]
[[Category:1968 National Football League season by team|Baltimore Colts]]
[[Category:1968 National Football League season by team|Baltimore Colts]]
[[Category:Baltimore Colts (1953-1983) seasons|1968]]
[[Category:Baltimore Colts seasons]]
[[Category:National Football League championship seasons]]
[[Category:National Football League championship seasons]]

Latest revision as of 11:56, 17 October 2024

1968 Baltimore Colts season
OwnerCarroll Rosenbloom
General managerHarry Hulmes
Head coachDon Shula
Home fieldMemorial Stadium
Results
Record13–1
Division place1st NFL Coastal
Playoff finishWon Western Conference Championship Game
(vs. Vikings) 24–14
Won NFL Championship
(at Browns) 34–0
Lost Super Bowl III
(vs. Jets) 7–16

The 1968 Baltimore Colts season was the 16th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL). Led by sixth-year head coach Don Shula, they finished the regular season with a record of 13 wins and 1 loss, and won the Western Conference's Coastal division.

The previous season, the Colts finished 11–1–2, tied for the best in the league, but were excluded from the playoffs. They lost a tiebreaker with the Los Angeles Rams for the Coastal Division title in 1967; the other three teams in the NFL postseason, all division winners, had nine wins each.

The Colts finished the 1968 regular season with the team's defense having allowed just 144 points — tying the NFL record for a 14-game season.[1]

In 1968, Baltimore won the Western Conference playoff game with the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL Championship Game in a shutout of the Cleveland Browns, but then lost to the New York Jets of the American Football League in Super Bowl III.[2] Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas had been injured during the pre-season, so Earl Morrall led the offense. He would finish the season as the league leader in touchdown passes with 26. Shula decided to bring Unitas back in during the second half of the Super Bowl, to no avail.

After the upset, instead of championship rings, luxury watches were given to the team as a consolation prize to commemorate their NFL Championship victory over Cleveland.[3]

NFL draft

[edit]
Main article: 1968 NFL Draft
Round Pick Player Position School/Club Team
1 23 John Williams Offensive tackle Minnesota
2 50 Bob Grant Linebacker Wake Forest
3 78 Rich O'Hara Wide receiver Northern Arizona
4 107 Jim Duncan Running back Maryland-Eastern Shore
5 126 Paul Elzey Linebacker Toledo
7 188 Anthony Andrews Running back Hampton
8 216 Tommy Davis Guard Tennessee State
9 242 Terry Cole Running back Indiana
10 257 Ocie Austin Free safety Utah State
10 270 Ed Tomlin Running back Hampton
11 296 Bill Pickens Guard Houston
12 324 James Jackson Offensive tackle Jackson State
13 350 Howard Tennebar Offensive tackle Kent State
14 378 Charles Mitchell Tight end Alabama State
15 404 Jeff Beaver Quarterback North Carolina
16 432 Walt Blackledge Wide receiver San Jose State
17 458 Roy Pederson Linebacker State College of Iowa

Personnel

[edit]

Staff/Coaches

[edit]
1968 Baltimore Colts staff
Front office

Coaching staff

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Roster

[edit]
1968 Baltimore Colts roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Reserve None - vacant
Rookies in italics

Regular season

[edit]

Schedule

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 15 San Francisco 49ers W 27–10 1–0 Memorial Stadium 56,864
2 September 22 at Atlanta Falcons W 28–20 2–0 Atlanta Stadium 50,428
3 September 29 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 41–7 3–0 Pitt Stadium 44,480
4 October 6 Chicago Bears W 28–7 4–0 Memorial Stadium 60,238
5 October 13 at San Francisco 49ers W 42–14 5–0 Kezar Stadium 32,822
6 October 20 Cleveland Browns L 20–30 5–1 Memorial Stadium 60,238
7 October 27 Los Angeles Rams W 27–10 6–1 Memorial Stadium 60,238
8 November 3 at New York Giants W 26–0 7–1 Yankee Stadium 62,973
9 November 10 at Detroit Lions W 27–10 8–1 Tiger Stadium 55,170
10 November 17 St. Louis Cardinals W 27–0 9–1 Memorial Stadium 60,238
11 November 24 Minnesota Vikings W 21–9 10–1 Memorial Stadium 60,238
12 December 1 Atlanta Falcons W 44–0 11–1 Memorial Stadium 60,238
13 December 7 at Green Bay Packers W 16–3 12–1 Lambeau Field 50,861
14 December 15 at Los Angeles Rams W 28–24 13–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 69,397
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

[edit]

Week 11: vs. Minnesota Vikings

[edit]
Minnesota Vikings (6–4) at Baltimore Colts (9–1) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 3 339
Colts 7 14 0021

at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

  • Date: November 24, 1968
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 50 °F or 10 °C, relative humidity 63%, wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
  • TV: CBS
  • [4]
Game information

This would be the last occasion the Colts hosted the Vikings in the regular season until 2000 in Indianapolis. The intervening gap — following the playoff meeting between the same teams at the same venue — of 31 seasons constitutes the second-longest gap without one team visiting another in NFL history.[a]

Standings

[edit]
NFL Coastal
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Baltimore Colts 13 1 0 .929 6–0 10–0 402 144 W8
Los Angeles Rams 10 3 1 .769 3–2–1 6–3–1 312 200 L2
San Francisco 49ers 7 6 1 .538 2–3–1 4–5–1 303 310 W1
Atlanta Falcons 2 12 0 .143 0–6 1–9 170 389 L4
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Post-season

[edit]

The team made it to the playoffs as winners of the Coastal division and hosted the Minnesota Vikings of the Central division for the Western Conference title. The Colts took a 21–0 lead and went on to win 24–14.[6] They then traveled to Cleveland to take on the Browns in the NFL Championship Game. Baltimore's only loss of the season came at home to the Browns in October, falling 20–30.[7][8] In late December, the Colts defense was on top of their game as they shut out the Browns 34–0 to gain their third NFL title.[9][10][11] The 1968 Colts were being touted as "the greatest football team in history."

In Super Bowl III, the Colts took on the heavy underdog New York Jets led by quarterback Joe Namath, with the Colts favored by 19+1⁄2 points.[12][13][14] Before the game, former NFL star and coach Norm Van Brocklin ridiculed the AFL, saying "This will be Namath's first professional football game." Three days before the game, Namath was being heckled in Miami and he responded by saying: "We’re going to win Sunday. I guarantee it."[14][15][16] The Jets beat the Colts 16–7 in one of the biggest upsets in American sports history.[2]

Perhaps the biggest effect of the Colts' loss is that the predominant sentiment that the AFL was not strong enough to merge with the NFL was firmly squelched.[17]

Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
Western Conference December 22 Minnesota Vikings W 24–14 1–0 Memorial Stadium 60,238
NFL Championship December 29 at Cleveland Browns W 34–0 2–0 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 80,628
Super Bowl III January 12, 1969 New York Jets L 7–16 2–1 Miami Orange Bowl 75,389

Conference Playoff: vs. Minnesota Vikings

[edit]
Minnesota Vikings (8–6) at Baltimore Colts (13–1) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 0 01414
Colts 0 7 14324

at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

  • Date: December 22, 1968
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 33 °F or 0.6 °C, relative humidity 73%, wind 7 miles per hour (11 km/h; 6.1 kn), wind chill 27 °F or −2.8 °C
  • TV: CBS
  • [18]
Game information

Following upon their last regular-season visit to the Colts for 32 years, the Vikings would visit the Colts for the last time in a competition game until 2000 in their first-ever postseason appearance.

Awards

[edit]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Tampa Bay did not play at Buffalo until 2009, although the Buccaneers joined the league 33 seasons previously.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Baltimore Colts" in Al Silverman (ed.), Pro Football Almanac, 1969. New York: McFadden-Bartell Corp., 1969, pp. 60-61.
  2. ^ a b Strickler, George (January 13, 1969). "Jets score Super upset over Colts". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, section 3.
  3. ^ "The Baltimore Colts 1968 NFL Championship Ring That Wasn't « Sports-Rings.com – Blog". sports-rings.com. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  4. ^ "Minnesota Vikings at Baltimore Colts — November 24th, 1968". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  5. ^ Urena, Ivan (2014). Pro Football Schedules: A Complete Historical Guide from 1933 to the Present. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. pp. 15–16. ISBN 9780786473519.
  6. ^ Bledsoe, Terry (December 23, 1968). "Kapp, the tough Viking, finds Colts even tougher". Milwaukee Journal. p. 10, part 2.
  7. ^ "Browns prove Colts are human". Toledo Blade. Ohio. Associated Press. October 21, 1968. p. 25.
  8. ^ "Browns hand Colts first loss". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. October 21, 1968. p. 1, part 2.
  9. ^ Strickler, George (December 30, 1968). "Colts crush Browns for NFL title". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, section 3.
  10. ^ Scholl, Bill (December 30, 1968). "Colts gain revenge, wallop Browns, 34–0, to win National League crown". Youngstown Vindicator. Ohio. p. 12.
  11. ^ Hannen, John (January 30, 1968). "Colts' Matte returned home to KO Cleveland". Toledo Blade. Ohio. p. 18.
  12. ^ Strickler, George (January 10, 1969). "Colts soar to 21-point favorites". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, section 3.
  13. ^ "Jets' Namath carries hopes for AFL prestige today". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. January 12, 1969. p. 1, sports.
  14. ^ a b "Quarterbacks Super Bowl topics". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. January 11, 1969. p. 13.
  15. ^ Dorman, Larry (January 15, 1989). "A guarantee of greatness". Reading Eagle. Pennsylvania. Knight-Ridder. p. C1.
  16. ^ Zinser, Lynn (May 25, 2012). "Pregame Talk Is Cheap, but This Vow Resonates". The New York Times. p. B10. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022.
  17. ^ Funk, Ben (January 13, 1969). "Jets make believers out of Colts, NFL". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. p. 3B.
  18. ^ "Divisional Round — Minnesota Vikings at Baltimore Colts — December 22nd, 1968". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
[edit]


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