1970 Baltimore Colts season

File:1986 Jeno's Pizza - 32 - Earl Morrall.jpg

The Baltimore Colts playing against the Dallas 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 Template:Nfly 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 fourth NFL championship (1958, 1959, 1968, and 1970).

Season history

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

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 Owner/president and treasurer – Carroll Rosenbloom General manager – Don Klosterman Coaching staff Head coach – Don McCafferty Offensive coaches Receivers/offensive ends – Dick Bielski Offensive coordinator – John Idzik Offensive line coach – Lou Rymkus		Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator/defensive line – John Sandusky Defensive backfield – Bobby Boyd Linebackers coach – Hank Bullough

Preseason

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

Regular season

Schedule

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Week	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Date	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Opponent	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Result	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Record	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Venue	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Attendance
1	September 20	at San Diego Chargers	W 16–14	1–0	San Diego Stadium	47,782
2	Template:Dow tooltip	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	Template:Dow tooltip	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	Template:Dow tooltip	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 2 3 4 Total • Colts 0 3 7 6 16 Chargers 0 0 7 7 14 Date: September 20 Location: San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California Game start: 1:00 p.m. PDT Game attendance: 47,782 Game weather: • Wind Referee: Jack Vest Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 2

1 2 3 4 Total • Chiefs 10 21 3 10 44 Colts 0 7 3 14 24 Date: September 28 Location: Memorial Stadium, Baltimore Game start: 9:00 p.m. EDT Game attendance: 53,911 Game weather: ; wind Referee: Jim Tunney TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Don Meredith, and Howard Cosell Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 3

1 2 3 4 Total • Colts 0 7 0 7 14 Patriots 0 3 0 3 6 Date: October 4 Location: Harvard Stadium, Boston Game start: 1:00 p.m. EDT Game attendance: 38,235 Game weather: ; wind Referee: Bernie Ulman Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 4

1 2 3 4 Total • Colts 7 10 0 7 24 Oilers 0 7 7 6 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 Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 5

1 2 3 4 Total • Colts 17 3 6 3 29 Jets 3 2 14 3 22 Date: October 18 Location: Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York Game start: 1:00 p.m. EDT Game attendance: 63,601 Game weather: ; wind Referee: Pat Haggerty Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

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 2 3 4 Total Patriots 0 3 0 0 3 • Colts 3 14 3 7 27 Date: October 25 Location: Memorial Stadium, Baltimore Game start: 2:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 60,240 Game weather: ; wind Referee: Bob Finley Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 7

1 2 3 4 Total Dolphins 0 0 0 0 0 • Colts 7 7 14 7 35 Date: November 1 Location: Memorial Stadium, Baltimore Game start: 2:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 60,240 Game weather: ; wind Referee: Norm Schachter TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson and Al DeRogatis Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 8

1 2 3 4 Total • Colts 0 7 6 0 13 Packers 3 0 0 7 10 Date: November 9 Location: Milwaukee County Stadium, Milwaukee Game start: 8:00 p.m. CST Game attendance: 48,063 Game weather: ; wind Referee: Ben Dreith TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 11

1 2 3 4 Total Bears 17 0 0 3 20 • Colts 0 14 0 7 21 Date: November 29 Location: Memorial Stadium, Baltimore Game start: 2:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 60,240 Game weather: ; wind Referee: Jack Vest Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 12

1 2 3 4 Total Eagles 0 3 7 0 10 • Colts 13 10 3 3 29 Date: December 6 Location: Memorial Stadium, Baltimore Game start: 2:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 60,240 Game weather: ; wind Referee: Bernie Ulman TV announcers (CBS): Lindsey Nelson and Don Perkins Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

Week 13

1 2 3 4 Total • Colts 10 0 7 3 20 Bills 7 7 0 0 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 • • Wind Referee: Bob Finley Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

The Colts clinched the division title with the win.

Week 14

1 2 3 4 Total Jets 7 7 3 3 20 • Colts 0 14 7 14 35 Date: December 19 Location: Memorial Stadium, Baltimore Game start: 3:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 60,240 Game weather: ; wind Referee: Tommy Bell TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Kyle Rote Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

• Earl Morrall 18/33, 348 Yds

Postseason

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.

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Round	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Date	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Opponent	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Result	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Record	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Venue	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| 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 2 3 4 Total Bengals 0 0 0 0 0 • Colts 7 3 0 7 17 Date: December 26 Location: Memorial Stadium, Baltimore Game start: 1:30 p.m. EST Game weather: ; wind Referee: Jack Vest TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson and Al DeRogatis Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

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.

Conference Championship

1 2 3 4 Total Raiders 0 3 7 7 17 • Colts 3 7 10 7 27 Date: January 3 Location: Memorial Stadium, Baltimore Game start: 2:00 p.m. EST Game weather: ; wind Referee: Ben Dreith TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Kyle Rote Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

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.

Super Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total • Colts 0 6 0 10 16 Cowboys 3 10 0 0 13 Date: January 17 Location: Miami Orange Bowl, Miami Game start: 1:50 p.m. EST Game weather: ; wind Referee: Norm Schachter TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote, and Bill Enis Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry Template:AFB Game Box Scoring Entry

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.

See also

• History of the Indianapolis Colts
• Indianapolis Colts seasons
• Colts–Patriots rivalry

External links

• Colts Crusade: The Story of the 1970 Baltimore Colts. Dave Volsky via YouTube.com (Video.)
• 1970 Baltimore Colts Season, NFL Films via YouTube.com (Video.)
• Ted Moore (narrator), Game of the Week: Colts at Jets, 1970 Week 5. Dave Volsky, YouTube.com (Video.)