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1970 Baltimore Colts season

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1970 Baltimore Colts season
OwnerCarroll Rosenbloom
General managerDon Klosterman
Head coachDon McCafferty
Home fieldMemorial Stadium
Results
Record11–2–1
Division place1st AFC East
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Bengals) 17–0
Won AFC Championship
(vs. Raiders) 27–17
Won Super Bowl V
(vs. Cowboys) 16–13
The Colts playing against the Cowboys in Super Bowl V

The 1970 Baltimore Colts season was the 18th season of the second Colts franchise in the National Football League (NFL). Led by first-year head coach Don McCafferty, the Colts finished the 1970 season with a regular season record of 11 wins, 2 losses, and 1 tie to win the first AFC East title. The Colts completed the postseason in Miami with a victory over the Cowboys in Super Bowl V, their first Super Bowl title and third world championship (1958, 1959, and 1970). The Baltimore Colts did not return to any further championship games.

Behind a offense constructed around ball-control short throws, the 1970 Colts were the first team in NFL history to win a world championship after gaining more yards passing than running over the course of the year.[1]

Season history

In February 1970, head coach Don Shula departed after seven seasons for the Miami Dolphins,[2][3] now in the same division, and offensive backfield coach McCafferty was promoted in early April.[4][5][6]

NFL draft

Main article: 1970 NFL draft
Round Pick Player Position School/Club Team
1 18 Norm Bulaich Running Back TCU
2 44 Jim Bailey Defensive tackle Kansas
3 70 Jim O'Brien Wide Receiver / Kicker Cincinnati
3 74 Ara Person Tight End Morgan State
4 95 Steve Smear Linebacker Penn State
5 122 Billy Newsome Defensive End Grambling State
6 148 Ron Gardin Defensive Back Arizona
7 174 Gordon Slade Quarterback Davidson
8 199 Bob Bouley Tackle Boston College
9 226 Barney Harris Defensive Back Texas A&M

Personnel

Staff/Coaches

1970 Baltimore Colts staff
Front office

Coaching staff

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Final roster

1970 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) {{{defensive_back}}}

Special teams

Practice squad


Rookies in italics

Preseason

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 August 8 at Oakland Raiders W 33–21 1–0 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,519 Recap
2 August 14 at Kansas City Chiefs W 17–3 2–0 Municipal Stadium 34,341 Recap
3 August 22 at Denver Broncos W 24–7 3–0 Mile High Stadium 42,499 Recap
4 August 29 at Miami Dolphins L 13–20 3–1 Miami Orange Bowl 73,533 Recap
5 September 5 vs. Detroit Lions W 20–14 4–1 Carter–Finley Stadium (Raleigh, NC) 34,500 Recap
6 September 12 at Washington Redskins L 14–17 4–2 RFK Stadium 46,045 Recap

Regular season

Main article: 1970 NFL season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 20 at San Diego Chargers W 16–14 1–0 San Diego Stadium 47,782
2 September 28 Kansas City Chiefs L 24–44 1–1 Memorial Stadium 53,911
3 October 4 at Boston Patriots W 14–6 2–1 Harvard Stadium 38,235
4 October 11 at Houston Oilers W 24–20 3–1 Astrodome 48,050
5 October 18 at New York Jets W 29–22 4–1 Shea Stadium 63,301
6 October 25 Boston Patriots W 27–3 5–1 Memorial Stadium 60,240
7 November 1 Miami Dolphins W 35–0 6–1 Memorial Stadium 60,240
8 November 9 at Green Bay Packers W 13–10 7–1 Milwaukee County Stadium 48,063
9 November 15 Buffalo Bills T 17–17 7–1–1 Memorial Stadium 60,240
10 November 22 at Miami Dolphins L 17–34 7–2–1 Miami Orange Bowl 67,699
11 November 29 Chicago Bears W 21–20 8–2–1 Memorial Stadium 60,240
12 December 6 Philadelphia Eagles W 29–10 9–2–1 Memorial Stadium 60,240
13 December 13 at Buffalo Bills W 20–14 10–2–1 War Memorial Stadium 34,346
14 December 19 New York Jets W 35–20 11–2–1 Memorial Stadium 60,240
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1

1 234Total
• Colts 0 376 16
Chargers 0 077 14
Scoring summary
2BALJim O'Brien 25-yard field goalColts 3–0
3SDGary Garrison 65-yard pass from John Hadl (Mike Mercer kick)Chargers 7–3
3BALNorm Bulaich 1-yard run (Jim O'Brien kick)Colts 10–7
4BALJim O'Brien 34-yard field goalColts 13–7
4SDGary Garrison 43-yard pass from John Hadl (Mike Mercer kick)Chargers 14–13
4BALJim O'Brien 28-yard field goalColts 16–14

[7]

Week 2

1 234Total
• Chiefs 10 21310 44
Colts 0 7314 24
Scoring summary
Q1KCRichardson 48 yard pass from Dawson (Stenerud kick)KC 7–0
Q1KCStenerud 28 yard field goalKC 10–0
Q2KCHolmes 13 yard pass from Dawson (Stenerud kick)KC 17–0
Q2KCRobinson 46 yard fumble return (Stenerud kick)KC 24–0
Q2KCPitts 54 yard pass from Dawson (Stenerud kick)KC 31–0
Q2BALJefferson 3 yard pass from Morall (O'Brien kick)KC 31–7
Q3BALO'Brien 26 yard field goalKC 31–10
Q3KCStenerud 17 yard field goalKC 34–10
Q4KCPitts 4 yard pass from Dawson (Stenerud kick)KC 41–10
Q4BALHinton 21 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick)KC 41–17
Q4BALMitchell 2 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick)KC 41–24
Q4KCStenerud 48 yard field goalKC 44–24

[8]

Week 3

1 234Total
• Colts 0 707 14
Patriots 0 303 6
Scoring summary
Q2BALHinton 13 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick)BAL 7–0
Q2BOSCappelletti 13 yard field goalBAL 7–3
Q4BOSCappelletti 25 yard field goalBAL 7–6
Q4BALJefferson 55 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 14–6

[9]

Week 4

1 234Total
• Colts 7 1007 24
Oilers 0 776 20
  • Date: October 11
  • Location: Houston Astrodome, Houston
  • Game start: 3:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 48,050
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • Referee: George Rennix
Scoring summary
Q1BALMaitland 2 yard run (O'Brien kick)BAL 7–0
Q2BALJefferson 17 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 14–0
Q2HOULeVias 7 yard pass from Johnson (Gerela kick)BAL 14–7
Q2BALO'Brien 43 yard field goalBAL 17–7
Q3HOUHopkins 1 yard run (Gerela kick)BAL 17–14
Q4HOUGerela 27 yard field goalTie 17–17
Q4HOUGerela 9 yard field goalHOU 20–17
Q4BALJefferson 31 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 24–20

[10]

Week 5

1 234Total
• Colts 17 363 29
Jets 3 2143 22
Scoring summary
Q1BALO'Brien 28 yard field goalBAL 3–0
Q1BALLogan 31 yard interception return (O'Brien kick)BAL 10–0
Q1BALMitchell 11 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 17–0
Q1NYJTurner 41 yard field goalBAL 17–3
Q2BALO'Brien 18 yard field goalBAL 20–3
Q2NYJSafety, Maitland tackled by Elliot in end zoneBAL 20–5
Q3BALGrant 27 yard interception return (kick failed)BAL 26–5
Q3NYJBell 17 yard pass from Namath (Turner kick)BAL 26–12
Q3NYJBoozer 1 yard run (Turner kick)BAL 26–19
Q4BALO'Brien 28 yard field goalBAL 29–19
Q4NYJTurner 42 yard field goalBAL 29–22

[11]

This was the Super Bowl III rematch and it was truly a rematch but this time it favors the Colts as they opened up a 19–0 lead and never looked back. The Jets did mount a challenge led by Joe Namath's 392 yards passing, but he also had 6 interceptions as the Colts gain some revenge on this day.

Week 6

1 234Total
Patriots 0 300 3
• Colts 3 1437 27
  • Date: October 25
  • Location: Memorial Stadium, Baltimore
  • Game start: 2:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 60,240
  • Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C); wind 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
  • Referee: Bob Finley
Scoring summary
Q1BALO'Brien 12 yard field goalBAL 3–0
Q2BOSGogolak 15 yard field goalTie 3–3
Q2BALMaitland 5 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 10–3
Q2BALJefferson 15 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 17–3
Q3BALO'Brien 48 yard field goalBAL 20–3
Q4BALOrr 26 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 27–3

[12]

Week 7

1 234Total
Dolphins 0 000 0
• Colts 7 7147 35
Scoring summary
Q1BALGardin 80 yard punt return (O'Brien kick)BAL 7–0
Q2BALBulaich 1 yard run (O'Brien kick)BAL 14–0
Q3BALDuncan 99 yard kickoff return (O'Brien kick)BAL 21–0
Q3BALHinton 32 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 28–0
Q4BALMitchell 15 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick)BAL 35–0

[13]

Week 8

1 234Total
• Colts 0 760 13
Packers 3 007 10
Scoring summary
Q1GBLivingston 20 yard field goalGB 3–0
Q2BALHill 15 yard run (O'Brien kick)BAL 7–3
Q3BALO'Brien 42 yard field goalBAL 10–3
Q3BALO'Brien 29 yard field goalBAL 13–3
Q4GBGrabowski 1 yard run (Livingston kick)BAL 13–10

[14]

Week 11

1 234Total
Bears 17 003 20
• Colts 0 1407 21
Scoring summary
Q1CHIFarmer 20 yard pass from Concannon (Percival kick)CHI 7–0
Q1CHIPercival 28 yard field goalCHI 10–0
Q1CHICoady 1 yard pass from Concannon (Percival kick)CHI 17–0
Q2BALHill 1 yard run (O'Brien kick)CHI 17–7
Q2BALJefferson 7 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)CHI 17–14
Q4CHIPercival 27 yard field goalCHI 20–14
Q4BALMackey 54 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 21–20

[15]

Week 12

1 234Total
Eagles 0 370 10
• Colts 13 1033 29
Scoring summary
Q1BALMackey 14 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 7–0
Q1BALHinton 9 yard run (kick failed)BAL 13–0
Q2BALO'Brien 45 yard field goalBAL 16–0
Q2PHIMoseley 38 yard field goalBAL 16–3
Q2BALLogan 33 yard interception return (O'Brien kick)BAL 23–3
Q3BALO'Brien 44 yard field goalBAL 26–3
Q3PHISnead 1 yard run (Moseley kick)BAL 26–10
Q4BALO'Brien 47 yard field goalBAL 29–10

[16]

Week 13

1 234Total
• Colts 10 073 20
Bills 7 700 14
  • Date: December 13
  • Location: War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 34,346
  • Game weather: Snow • 28 °F (−2 °C) • Wind 11 mph (18 km/h)
  • Referee: Bob Finley
Scoring summary
1BALJim O'Brien 32-yard field goalColts 3–0
1BUFLloyd Pate 1-yard run (Grant Guthrie kick)Bills 7–3
1BALTom Nowatzke 1-yard run (Jim O'Brien kick)Colts 10–7
2BUFMarlin Briscoe 10-yard pass from Dennis Shaw (Grant Guthrie kick)Bills 14–10
3BALNorm Bulaich 2-yard run (Jim O'Brien kick)Colts 17–14
4BALJim O'Brien 38-yard field goalColts 20–14

[17]

The Colts clinched the division title with the win.

Week 14

1 234Total
Jets 7 733 20
• Colts 0 14714 35
Scoring summary
Q1NYJCaster 15 yard pass from Woodall (Turner kick)NYJ 7–0
Q2BALHinton 25 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick)Tie 7–7
Q2NYJGrantham 41 yard interception return (Turner kick)NYJ 14–7
Q2BALHinton 7 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick)Tie 14–14
Q3BALOrr 18 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick)BAL 21–14
Q3NYJTurner 25 yard field goalBAL 21–17
Q4NYJTurner 29 yard field goalBAL 21–20
Q4BALPerkins 41 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick)BAL 28–20
Q4BALHendricks recovered fumble in end zone (O'Brien kick)BAL 35–20

[18]

Standings

AFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Baltimore Colts 11 2 1 .846 6–1–1 8–2–1 321 234 W4
Miami Dolphins 10 4 0 .714 6–2 8–3 297 228 W6
New York Jets 4 10 0 .286 2–6 2–9 255 286 L3
Buffalo Bills 3 10 1 .231 3–4–1 3–7–1 204 337 L5
Boston Patriots 2 12 0 .143 2–6 2–9 149 361 L3
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
AFC Central
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Cincinnati Bengals 8 6 0 .571 3–3 7–4 312 255 W7
Cleveland Browns 7 7 0 .500 4–2 7–4 286 265 W1
Pittsburgh Steelers 5 9 0 .357 3–3 5–6 210 272 L3
Houston Oilers 3 10 1 .231 2–4 3–7–1 217 352 L3
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Oakland Raiders 8 4 2 .667 4–0–2 7–2–2 300 293 L1
Kansas City Chiefs 7 5 2 .583 2–3–1 7–3–1 272 244 L2
San Diego Chargers 5 6 3 .455 2–2–2 4–4–3 282 278 W1
Denver Broncos 5 8 1 .385 1–4–1 3–6–1 253 264 L1
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Postseason

Main article: 1970–71 NFL playoffs

The team made it to the playoffs with the best record in the AFC. The Colts hosted both AFC playoff games that they played in. (It wasn't until the 1975 season that playoff teams were seeded by record; the fact that the Colts hosted both playoff games was just due to the rotation set up with the AFL–NFL merger.) The team won both AFC playoff games as well as Super Bowl V.

Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
Divisional December 26 Cincinnati Bengals W 17–0 1–0 Memorial Stadium 51,127
AFC Championship January 3, 1971 Oakland Raiders W 27–17 2–0 Memorial Stadium 56,368
Super Bowl V January 17, 1971 Dallas Cowboys W 16–13 3–0 Miami Orange Bowl 80,055

Divisional

1 234Total
Bengals 0 000 0
• Colts 7 307 17
Scoring summary
Q1BALJefferson 45 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 7–0
Q2BALO'Brien 44 yard field goalBAL 10–0
Q4BALHinton 53 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 17–0

The Colts hosted the Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round. The Colts relied on their defense, which had carried them all season, to best the Bengals 17–0, holding Cincinnati to only 139 total yards.[19]

Conference Championship

1 234Total
Raiders 0 377 17
• Colts 3 7107 27
Scoring summary
Q1BALO'Brien 16 yard field goalBAL 3–0
Q2BALBulaich 2 yard run (O'Brien kick)BAL 10–0
Q2OAKBlanda 48 yard field goalBAL 10–3
Q3OAKBiletnikoff 38 yard pass from Blanda (Blanda kick)Tie 10–10
Q3BALO'Brien 23 yard field goalBAL 13–10
Q3BALBulaich 11 yard run (O'Brien kick)BAL 20–10
Q4OAKWells 15 yard pass from Blanda (Blanda kick)BAL 20–17
Q4BALPerkins 68 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 27–17

The Colts next hosted the Oakland Raiders for the AFC Championship game. The Colts jumped out to an early lead over the Raiders, 10–3 at halftime. Oakland came back to tie it up early in the 3rd quarter. The Colts would respond with a Jim O'Brien field goal and a second Bulaich touchdown. Johnny Unitas extended the lead with a 68-yard touchdown pass to Ray Perkins that made the score 27–17. The Colts would seal the win with an interception in the end zone.[20]

Super Bowl

Main article: Super Bowl V
1 234Total
• Colts 0 6010 16
Cowboys 3 1000 13
Scoring summary
Q1DALClark 14 yard field goalDAL 3–0
Q2DALClark 30 yard field goalDAL 6–0
Q2BALMackey 75 yard pass from Unitas (kick failed)Tie 6–6
Q2DALThomas 7 yard pass from Morton (Clark kick)DAL 13–6
Q4BALNowatzke 2 yard run (O'Brien kick)Tie 13–13
Q4BALO'Brien 32 yard field goalBAL 16–13

The Colts made it to the Super Bowl for the second time in franchise history and played the Dallas Cowboys for the NFL championship. In the 2nd quarter, Johnny Unitas threw a pass that was tipped twice before John Mackey caught it for a 75-yard score. Later in the quarter Unitas was injured and Earl Morrall completed a sloppy and turnover-filled game: the Colts committed a total of 7 turnovers, the Cowboys 4. Following an interception by Mike Curtis, Jim O'Brien kicked the game-winning 32-yard field goal, giving Baltimore a 16–13 lead with 5 seconds left in the game, and the victory.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Johnny Unitas Was Unique," in Spencer Murray (ed.), Petersen's Pro Football: 1976 Annual. Los Angeles: Petersen Publishing Co. 1976; p. 84.
  2. ^ "Shula replaces Miami's Wilson". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. February 19, 1970. p. 1, part 2.[permanent dead link‍]
  3. ^ "Dollar signs convince Shula to jump to Miami Dolphins". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. February 19, 1970. p. 4D.
  4. ^ "Colts passed up 3 head coaches". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. April 7, 1970. p. 21.
  5. ^ Riker, Dan (April 7, 1970). "Don McCafferty, ex-Kent State mentor, is named Baltimore head coach". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). UPI. p. 14.
  6. ^ "McCafferty Colt coach". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. April 7, 1970. p. 1, part 2.[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com
  8. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-28.
  9. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-28.
  10. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-29.
  11. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-29.
  12. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-29.
  13. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-29.
  14. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-29.
  15. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Oct-01.
  16. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Oct-03.
  17. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com
  18. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Oct-04.
  19. ^ "Cincinnati Bengals 0 at Baltimore Colts 17. Saturday, December 26, 1970". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Oct-04.
  20. ^ "Oakland Raiders 17 at Baltimore Colts 27, Sunday, January 3, 1971". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Oct-04.
  21. ^ "Baltimore Colts 16 vs. Dallas Cowboys 13, Sunday, January 17, 1971". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Oct-04.
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