Highlighted Year: Roger Carr, 1976

Wide Receiver, Baltimore Colts

Age: 24

3^rd season in pro football & with Colts

College: Louisiana Tech

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 196

Prelude:

A walk-on punter in college, Carr instead developed into an outstanding wide receiver and was All-Southland Conference in 1972 and ’73. Overall, he caught 114 passes for 2717 yards and 19 touchdowns and was chosen by the Colts in the first round of the 1974 NFL draft (24^th overall). With tremendous speed, Carr showed flashes of big-play ability, averaging 19.3 yards on 21 catches as a rookie and following up with 23 receptions for 517 yards and a 22.5-yard average in 1975. His two touchdown catches covered 86 and 90 yards.

1976 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 43      

Most receptions, game – 6 (for 198 yds.) vs. Cincinnati 9/19

Yards – 1112 [1]

Most yards, game – 210 (on 5 catches) at NY Jets 10/24

Average gain – 25.9 [1]

TDs – 11 [2]

200-yard receiving games – 1

100-yard receiving games – 3

Scoring

TDs – 11 [6, tied with Don McCauley & Lawrence McCutcheon]

Points – 66

Postseason: 1 G (AFC Divisional playoff at Pittsburgh)

Pass receptions – 2

Pass receiving yards – 35

Average yards per reception – 17.5

Pass Receiving TDs – 1

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA

1^st team All-AFC: AP, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News

2^nd team All-AFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

Colts went 11-3 to finish first in the AFC East while leading the NFL in passing yards (2933), total yards (5236), touchdowns (51), and scoring (417 points). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to Pittsburgh Steelers (40-14).

Aftermath:

The big breakout season in 1976 was followed by an injury-plagued year in ’77 in which Carr appeared in only seven games and caught 11 passes for 199 yards and a TD. He bounced back in 1978 with 30 receptions for 629 yards (21.0 avg.) and six touchdowns but injuries set in again in ‘79. With both he and star QB Bert Jones healthy in 1980, Carr pulled in a career-high 61 catches for 924 yards and five TDs, but his production again dropped off in 1981 and, following a dispute with Head Coach Frank Kush, he was traded to Seattle just prior to the ’82 season. Carr caught 15 passes for the Seahawks and two with the Chargers in 1983, his last year. Overall, Carr caught 271 passes for 5071 yards (18.7 avg.) and 31 touchdowns, with 254 of the receptions for 4770 yards and 29 TDs coming with the Colts. The 1976 season remained his best and the only one in which he received selection to All-Pro teams as well as Pro Bowl recognition.

--

Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1964: Third Quarter Surge Lifts Colts to Win Against Rams

The Baltimore Colts had a 2-1 record and were nine-point favorites as they hosted the Los Angeles Rams on October 4, 1964. The Colts were a revitalized team in their second season under Head Coach Don Shula. The key to the offense was 31-year-old QB Johnny Unitas (pictured above), generally recognized as the best in the league. Versatile HB Lenny Moore, trade bait during the previous offseason after a disappointing year in ’63, was again making big plays as a runner and receiver out of the backfield, and there were capable receivers in split end Raymond Berry and flanker Jimmy Orr, although Orr was nursing a muscle pull and was nearly pulled from the lineup for the LA game. The defense was showing signs of age but was still formidable. Baltimore was coming off of a 52-0 pounding of the Bears the previous week.

The Rams had not enjoyed a winning season since 1958 but were at 2-0-1 coming up against the Colts. They were coached by Harland Svare and had lots of young talent on the roster, including QB Bill Munson, the first round pick out of Utah State who was starting in place of the injured Roman Gabriel. FB Dick Bass, their top runner, was suffering the effects of a shoulder injury and while available against the Colts was not nearly up to form. The defensive line was impressive but the Rams were still very much in rebuilding mode.

There were 56,537 fans in attendance on an overcast day at Memorial Stadium. Baltimore struck first when, on its second play from scrimmage, Johnny Unitas ran out of the pocket to avoid DT Merlin Olsen and threw long to Jimmy Orr (pictured at right), who was covered by rookie CB Jerry Richardson, for a 46-yard touchdown. Lou Michaels added the extra point for the early 7-0 lead.

The Rams came right back following a 56-yard kickoff return by DB Bobby Smith that had them starting at the Baltimore 44. Bill Munson converted two third downs, one with an 18-yard pass to flanker Jim Phillips in a third-and-nine situation. FB Ben Wilson plunged the last yard for a touchdown and Bruce Gossett added the game-tying extra point.

The Colts again reached LA territory, but a 31-yard field goal attempt by Michaels was blocked by LB Jack Pardee. The game settled into a defensive battle from that point, with the Colts running only six plays in the second quarter. Los Angeles had a 53-yard drive that ended with Gossett kicking a 35-yard field goal and, with time running out just before the end of the first half, Munson threw to split end Carroll Dale to set up another Gossett field goal, this time from 32 yards. The visitors took a 13-7 lead into halftime.

In the third quarter, the Rams hurt themselves with a clipping penalty on a punt return and, forced to punt in return, gave the Colts favorable field position at their 44. Baltimore took advantage, scoring four plays later when Unitas again connected with Orr, who had gotten open along the sideline for a 43-yard touchdown. Michaels converted and Baltimore was ahead by 14-13.

Down by a point, it got worse for the Rams when a Munson pass was intercepted by CB Bob Boyd, who returned it 47 yards to the LA 12. The result, on the next play, was Lenny Moore running for a 12-yard TD and, with the successful Michaels point after, a 21-13 lead.

Baltimore’s defense shut the Rams down on their next series and, getting the ball back, Unitas went long to Orr deep in the end zone for a third touchdown, this time covering 35 yards. Michaels converted and, after being held largely in check in the first half, the Colts were ahead by 28-13 after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, the Colts helped themselves by keeping the ball away from LA with a long drive that ran more than six minutes off of the clock. With less than five minutes remaining, the Rams finally scored again when Munson connected with Phillips for a 14-yard TD. Gossett’s point after narrowed the Baltimore lead to 28-20. But the Colts responded with a 66-yard series that concluded with Moore breaking away for a 32-yard touchdown, and that sealed the win by a final score of 35-20.

Baltimore led in total yards (389 to 257) and first downs (18 to 17). While the most spectacular plays were made through the air, the Colts also were far more successful at running the ball, outgaining Los Angeles by 160 yards to 52 on the ground. The Baltimore defense also recorded six sacks, while the Rams got to Unitas only once. LA gave up the game’s only turnover and it set up a score by the Colts during the crucial third quarter.

Johnny Unitas completed only 10 of 18 passes, but they were good for 232 yards and three touchdowns with none intercepted. Jimmy Orr, despite playing hurt, had 5 catches for 145 yards and all three TDs. Lenny Moore had one 46-yard pass reception and led the Colts in rushing with 86 yards on 13 carries that included two touchdowns.

For the Rams, Bill Munson (pictured at left) was successful on 18 of 32 throws for 256 yards and a TD as well as an interception. Jim Phillips caught 6 passes for 73 yards and a touchdown and TE Marlin McKeever gained 103 yards on his four pass receptions. Ben Wilson led what there was of a ground game with 25 yards on 16 attempts that included a short TD.

“Unitas killed us with the bomb,” summed up Coach Harland Svare for the Rams. “He always takes advantage of the breaks and that’s what makes him a great quarterback.”

The win put the Colts in first place in the Western Conference, and that is where they stayed. Baltimore reeled off eleven straight wins on the way to a 12-2 record. However, they were upset by the Cleveland Browns for the NFL Championship. The Rams slumped during the second half of the season and ended up at 5-7-2 for a fifth place finish in the conference.

Johnny Unitas passed for 2824 yards and 19 touchdowns with just six interceptions and led the NFL by averaging 9.3 yards per attempt. He was the consensus league MVP as well as a first-team All-NFL selection and was named to the Pro Bowl for the eighth straight year. Lenny Moore made good on his comeback by setting a NFL record with 20 touchdowns scored, 16 of them among his 157 carries for 584 yards, three while catching 21 passes for 472 yards (22.5 avg.), and one more on a fumble recovery. He also was a consensus first-team All-NFL choice and Pro Bowl selection.  Jimmy Orr caught 40 passes for 867 yards (21.7 avg.) and scored six TDs.

Bill Munson started eight games and threw for 1533 yards and 9 TDs while giving up 15 interceptions. He spent four seasons with the Rams but the last two were strictly as a backup to the more talented Roman Gabriel. Munson did have a long NFL career, spending significant time with the Lions as well as the Seahawks, Chargers, and Bills over the course of 16 seasons.

1955: Ameche Spurs Colts to Upset of Bears

The Baltimore Colts were heavy underdogs as they hosted the Chicago Bears in their season-opening game on September 25, 1955. Coming off of a 3-9 record in Head Coach Weeb Ewbank’s first season, the team had 12 rookies on the roster, most notably FB Alan “the Horse” Ameche, the Heisman Trophy winner out of Wisconsin, and QB George Shaw, the bonus first draft pick out of Oregon. The defense featured established players in DE Gino Marchetti, DT Art Donovan, DE Don Joyce, and safety Bert Rechichar, who also handled the placekicking. However, the Colts were without injured star HB Buddy Young.

Chicago was coming off of an 8-4 record in 1954 but there was an extra element at play. Owner George Halas had already indicated that his thirtieth year doubling as head coach would be his last, and there was a sense of urgency to send him out with one last NFL title.

There were 36,167 fans in attendance at Memorial Stadium and the home crowd saw the Colts start off in stunning fashion. On the second play from scrimmage, Alan Ameche carried the ball for the first time and charged down the left sideline for a 79-yard touchdown. Bert Rechichar added the extra point. Midway through the first quarter the Colts scored again when Rechichar kicked a 23-yard field goal and the home team led by 10-0.

Early in the second quarter, it was George Shaw spurring a Baltimore drive, completing all three of his passes as the club advanced 67 yards. Two of them were to end Lloyd Colteryahn, for a gain of 15 yards and, two plays later, for an 11-yard TD. Rechichar again converted to put the Colts up by 17-0.

The Bears finally got on the board with four minutes remaining in the first half when QB George Blanda threw to end Harlon Hill for a touchdown from 10 yards out, completing a 65-yard drive, and Blanda also booted the point after. But Rechichar’s long kickoff return set up his second field goal from 43 yards five plays later and the halftime score was 20-7.

In the third quarter, a pass interference penalty on the Colts gave Chicago a first down at the Baltimore three. From there, HB Bob Watkins ran around left end for a TD and, with Blanda’s conversion, the Baltimore lead was narrowed to 20-14. However, just before the end of the period, the Colts were able to get into scoring territory and came away with a third field goal by Rechichar, this time from 10 yards.

The Bears missed opportunities in the fourth quarter. Blanda failed on a 37-yard field goal attempt and Rechichar came up with a key interception at his 12 yard line to thwart another potential Chicago scoring threat. In one other foray into Baltimore territory, the Colts sacked Blanda on consecutive plays, but he followed up with a 49-yard field goal that again made it a six-point game.

In the final seconds, the desperate Bears resorted to a trick play from their own 19 as end Bill McColl threw to Hill, who gained 59 yards to the Baltimore 22, but the clock ran out on the visitors at that point. The Colts pulled off the upset by a final score of 23-17.

Chicago, playing from behind from the start, led in total yards (361 to 306) and first downs (23 to 14). However, the Bears also turned the ball over four times, to one by Baltimore, and the Colts did well keeping the ball on the ground, gaining 226 yards on 45 running plays. Prior to Bill McColl’s long pass play at the end, Chicago’s quarterback combination of George Blanda and Ed Brown accounted for 227 yards on 20 completions with a touchdown and two interceptions. But the Colts sacked Chicago quarterbacks five times for losses totaling 47 yards while suffering only two in return.

Alan Ameche rushed for 194 yards on 21 carries that included the long touchdown and George Shaw completed 7 of 12 passes for 97 yards and a TD with no interceptions. For the Bears, Harlon Hill had 5 catches for 107 yards and a TD in a losing cause.

Baltimore’s win was the first of three straight to open the season, but the Colts were badly beaten in the second meeting with the Bears and had only two more victories the rest of the way. They finished fourth in the Western Conference with a 5-6-1 record. Chicago took an opposite course, losing its first three contests before the victory in the return engagement with the Colts spurred a six-game winning streak. However, an upset loss to the cross-town Cardinals derailed the Bears at that point and, while winning their two remaining games, they ended up second in the conference at 8-4, just behind the Rams, who were 8-3-1.

Alan Ameche led the NFL in rushing with 961 yards on 213 carries (4.5 avg.) and scored nine touchdowns. He received consensus first-team All-NFL honors as well as Rookie of the Year recognition from UPI and The Sporting News, and was selected to the first of four consecutive Pro Bowls. His 194-yard single-game performance against the Bears remained the franchise record until 1971.

Beyond Ameche and George Shaw, other rookies began to emerge from among Baltimore’s first-year crop, such as HB L.G. Dupre and end Raymond Berry, and they would eventually become part of the team that won back-to-back titles in 1958 and ’59.

As a further footnote, George Halas’ retirement, which was always more of a formality than a reality, lasted for two years before he returned to the sideline in 1958. He finally retired for good following the 1967 season, his fortieth.

Highlighted Year: Bob Boyd, 1964

Cornerback, Baltimore Colts

Age: 27 (Dec. 3)

5^th season in pro football & with Colts

College: Oklahoma

Height: 5’10” Weight: 190

Prelude:

Boyd played quarterback as well as in the defensive backfield under legendary Head Coach Bud Wilkinson in college. Operating in a split-T offense, he passed for 653 yards and rushed for 960, scoring 10 touchdowns. Chosen by the Colts in the tenth round of the 1960 NFL draft, he was placed at left cornerback and excelled, intercepting 7 passes as a rookie. Boyd became a fixture at the position and, through his first four seasons, intercepted 19 passes.

1964 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 9 [3]

Most interceptions, game – 2 at San Francisco 11/29

Int. return yards – 185 [1]

Most int. return yards, game – 47 (on 1 int.) vs. LA Rams 10/4, (on 1 int.) vs. San Francisco 11/1

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 1

Yards – 0

TDs – 0

Rushing

Attempts – 1

Yards – 25

TDs – 0

Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship at Cleveland)

Interceptions – 0

TDs – 0

Rushing attempts – 1

Rushing yards – -9

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, UPI, NY Daily News

Pro Bowl

Colts went 12-2 to finish first in the NFL Western Conference while leading the league in sacks (57) and fewest points allowed (225). Lost NFL Championship to Cleveland Browns (27-0).

Aftermath:

Boyd followed up in 1965 by again intercepting 9 passes, this time leading the NFL, and added another in the Western Conference playoff loss to Green Bay. He played until 1968, a total of nine years (all with the Colts), and remained an outstanding performer to the end, intercepting 8 passes and garnering consensus first-team All-NFL honors in his final season. Boyd then retired to become an assistant coach for the Colts. Overall, he intercepted a franchise-record 57 passes that he returned for 994 yards and four touchdowns. He received consensus first-team All-NFL recognition twice, at least some first- or second-team All-NFL honors after three other seasons, and was selected to two Pro Bowls.

--

Highlighted Years features players who were first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1961: Colts Obtain Joe Perry from 49ers

On February 14, 1961 the Baltimore Colts gave up an undisclosed draft pick to the San Francisco 49ers for 34-year-old FB Joe Perry, who had spent 13 seasons with the 49ers going back to the All-America Football Conference.

“I’m not at all disgruntled,” said Perry in reaction to the trade. “The Colts can rest assured that when I report I’ll be in tip-top condition and I’ll give them my very best because that’s how I play football.”

Perry was the NFL’s career rushing leader at the time with 7246 yards on 1451 carries, averaging just short of five yards per attempt. He had not come out of a major college football program, having gone into maritime service during World War II and thus playing service football and at Compton Junior College. He attracted the attention of the 49ers, then in the AAFC, and signed with them in 1948. An in-between runner at 6’0”, 200 pounds who lacked the power of a classic fullback or the outside finesse of a halfback, Perry nevertheless had great speed (hence his nickname “The Jet”). He shared the fullback job with Norm Standlee as a rookie, rushed for 562 yards, and topped the league in rushing touchdowns with 10. In ’49, he was the AAFC’s leading ground gainer with 783 yards while averaging 6.8 yards-per-carry.

The 49ers moved to the NFL in 1950 and Perry remained their top ball carrier, and he was also an effective receiver out of the backfield on screen passes. The addition of HB Hugh McElhenny in 1952, a potent outside threat, made Perry even more effective and he was a Pro Bowl selection for the first of three straight seasons. He also led the NFL in rushing with 1018 and 1049 yards in 1953 and ’54, becoming the first back in league history to have thousand-yard totals in consecutive seasons, and he was a consensus first-team All-NFL choice after each of those years and received MVP recognition from UPI in 1954.

The yardage totals were lower thereafter, although still solid and with high average gains, and Perry began to show some signs of wear, appearing in all 12 games only once more. He remained a key component of the offense until 1960, when he ran the ball just 36 times for 95 yards and a TD. San Francisco began jettisoning veteran talent in an effort to re-tool, ultimately including McElhenny and QB Y.A. Tittle, and the Colts were in the marketplace for a fullback.

Baltimore had won back-to-back NFL titles in 1958 and ’59, and in addition to the passing of QB Johnny Unitas and outside ball-carrying and receiving of flashy HB Lenny Moore, FB Alan Ameche provided the power running between the tackles. However, an Achilles tendon injury that required surgery had sidelined Ameche during the 1960 season and, with his future in doubt (he would in fact be forced to retire), the Colts were in need of a replacement. The Colts dropped their last four games, missing out on a potential third straight title and finishing at 6-6, and the lack of a dependable inside running game was a key component in the collapse.

While there was skepticism initially as to how much Perry could resolve the problem at his age and lesser size, he did make an immediate impact in the opening game of the 1961 season when he rushed for 106 yards on 18 carries as the Colts came from 14 points behind to defeat the Rams 27-24. It proved to be his highest yardage total of the season, but he did compile two more hundred-yard efforts and provided reliability as well as a renewed durability and enthusiasm. For the year, he totaled 675 yards on 168 carries for a 4.0 average and three touchdowns. He also caught 34 passes for 322 yards, an average of 9.5 yards per reception, and scored another TD. Baltimore was better on offense (rising from eleventh in rushing yards to third), but problems on defense allowed for only a modest improvement to 8-6 for the year.

Perry suffered a knee injury that required surgery during a 1962 preseason game but made a remarkable recovery to appear in 12 games for the Colts, running for 359 yards on 94 attempts (3.8 avg.) and pulling in 22 passes for 194 yards (8.8 avg.). While Perry reported to the Baltimore training camp for 1963, he was finally slowing down at age 36 and was released. He returned to the 49ers, where he was a backup in his final year (and was able to qualify for a player pension).   

Jim Brown surpassed Perry as the NFL’s career rushing leader in 1963, but Perry retired at number two with 8378 yards. Adding in his AAFC totals, he gained 9723 yards on 1929 carries (5.0 avg.) with 71 touchdowns, and compiled another 2021 yards on 260 pass receptions (7.8 avg.) and 12 more TDs. Perry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969.

Highlighted Year: Lyle Blackwood, 1977

Safety, Baltimore Colts

Age: 26

5^th season in pro football, 1^st with Colts

College: Texas Christian

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 190

Prelude:

Blackwood was an All-Southwest Conference selection in 1971 and ’72. Chosen by the Denver Broncos in the ninth round of the 1973 NFL draft, he was waived prior to the season but signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he was primarily used on special teams, including returning punts. Following three seasons as a backup safety for the Bengals, Blackwood moved on to the Seattle Seahawks in the 1976 expansion draft. After an undistinguished year, he was waived prior to the ’77 season and picked up by the Colts. Thus far, he had started a total of seven games and intercepted two passes in four NFL seasons. Blackwood moved into the lineup at free safety with surprising results.

1977 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 10 [1]

Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. NY Jets 11/20

Int. return yards – 163 [2]

Most int. return yards, game – 64 (on 3 int.) vs. NY Jets 11/20

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 4

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 1

Yards – 24

TDs – 0

Punt Returns

Returns – 7

Yards – 22

Average per return – 3.1

TDs – 0

Longest return – 10 yards

Postseason: 1 G (AFC Divisional playoff vs. Oakland)

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 2

Kickoff returns – 1

Kickoff return yards – 17

Punt returns – 2

Punt return yards – 6

Punt return avg. – 3.0

TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL:  AP

Colts went 10-4 to finish first in the AFC East while finishing second in the NFL in interceptions (30). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to Oakland Raiders (37-31).

Aftermath:

Blackwood intercepted four passes in 1978, returning two of them for touchdowns, and had another four in ’79. He lost his starting job in 1980 and moved on to the Miami Dolphins in 1981, where he teamed with his brother Glenn as part of an outstanding safety tandem and enjoyed his greatest notoriety. Blackwood spent the last six years of his career with the Dolphins, before being waived in 1986. He ended up intercepting 35 passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns, and recovering 15 fumbles. 19 of the interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries occurred while with the Colts. He also returned 69 punts for a 4.6-yard average and 20 kickoffs with a 20.2 average.

--

Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1977: Harris & Defense Spur Dolphins to Win Against Colts

In a key AFC East showdown, the Miami Dolphins had an 8-3 record and were trying to catch the Baltimore Colts, the team they hosted on December 5, 1977. Under Head Coach Don Shula for the eighth season, the Dolphins were retooling after dipping to 6-8 in ’76. QB Bob Griese was still outstanding behind center, but behind him in the backfield were rookie FB Leroy Harris and second-year HB Gary Davis, who had both started out the season as reserves. The defense had undergone the bigger transformation, with five rookies starting and performing capably. Miami had been beaten badly at Baltimore in the season’s fourth week, but surrendered more than twenty points in a game only once since then.

Baltimore was coached by Ted Marchibroda and, at 9-2, was seeking to top the division for the third straight year. QB Bert Jones had a powerful and accurate passing arm and HB Lydell Mitchell was highly productive as a runner and pass receiver while the defensive line was adept at rushing opposing quarterbacks. The club had lost at Denver the previous week after winning four straight.

There were 68,977 fans in attendance for the Monday night game at the Orange Bowl. The Colts had first possession, punted, and Miami drove 69 yards in 11 plays. Leroy Harris started off with two carries for seven yards and, after an offside penalty gave the Dolphins a first down, Gary Davis and Harris picked up another 14 yards between them. The big play came on a pass from Bob Griese to WR Nat Moore for a pickup of 41 yards to the Baltimore 11. Miami couldn’t reach the end zone from there but scored first when Garo Yepremian kicked a 27-yard field goal.

The teams traded punts, but the Colts got a break when the kick by Mike Michel of the Dolphins traveled only 22 yards to give Baltimore possession at the Miami 36. Lydell Mitchell ran twice for 12 yards and caught a pass from Bert Jones for eight more. The drive stalled at the 15 and Toni Linhart tied the score with a field goal from 32 yards.

The Colts regained possession shortly thereafter when, on the second play after the kickoff, a Griese pass intended for TE Andre Tillman bounced off the receiver’s hands and was intercepted by LB Tom McCleod, who returned it 33 yards to the Miami 12. Following a three-yard run by Mitchell, Jones threw two incomplete passes, the second of which was dropped by TE Raymond Chester, and the visitors settled for a 27-yard Linhart field goal that nevertheless put them in front by 6-3.

As the game moved into the second quarter, the Dolphins responded with a 49-yard drive in just four plays. Griese threw to Moore for seven yards on first down, Harris ran for 15 yards, and Griese went to the air again, completing to Davis for 12 more. A Griese scramble was nullified by a penalty, but he then passed to Tillman, who ran through two defenders for a 15-yard touchdown. Yepremian added the extra point and the home team was ahead by 10-6.

The Colts turned the ball over on the next series when FB Ron Lee fumbled at midfield after being hit by CB Norris Thomas. It looked promising for the Dolphins as Griese threw to WR Duriel Harris for 10 yards, completed a short toss to Moore for four, and then Leroy Harris gained 11 yards around end. But after getting inside the Baltimore 10, Davis fumbled and CB Nelson Munsey recovered for the Colts.

Baltimore was forced to punt from its own territory and a 17-yard return by WR Freddie Solomon had the Dolphins starting their next series from the 50. They advanced to the Baltimore 11, primarily thanks to a Griese completion to Duriel Harris for 21 yards, but Yepremian missed a 29-yard try for a field goal. The score remained unchanged at the half.

The teams exchanged punts to start the third quarter until the Colts, starting from their 34, put together a promising drive. Jones completed all four of his passes and Mitchell and FB Don McCauley handled the running load. But with first-and-goal at the Miami four, FB Roosevelt Leaks fumbled into the end zone and Thomas recovered for the Dolphins to end the threat.

The Dolphins were driving as the game entered the fourth quarter. Griese made good on four passes, the longest to Moore for 18 yards on a third-and-22 play that put the ball on the Baltimore 31. However, Yepremian was short on a 49-yard field goal attempt and the home team continued to cling to a four-point lead.

The Colts reached the Miami 49 before having to punt again.  With the ball at their 23, the Dolphins made the biggest play of the game on first down when Leroy Harris carried to his right and headed down the sideline before cutting back to the middle and going the distance for a 77-yard touchdown. It was the longest scoring run in franchise history at the time and, with Yepremian’s kick, the Dolphins had an 11-point lead with 7:42 remaining to play.

Jones went to the air on every play in response. He connected with WR Roger Carr for 22 yards on a third-and-10 play and picked up another first down with a screen pass to McCauley for 13. But the series stalled at the Baltimore 45 and the Colts punted. Miami managed to run the clock down on the ensuing possession, with Harris and Davis running effectively and picking up two first downs. The Dolphins finally had to punt from their 40, but Baltimore had only a minute to work with and the Colts were starting from their 24. Jones completed three straight passes, two of them to McCauley, to get to the Miami 44, but a bomb intended for Doughty was incomplete and, on the game’s final play, a pass to Chester gained 29 yards. Miami came away with a 17-6 win.

The Dolphins had the edge in total yards (352 to 311) while the teams were even in first downs with 17 apiece. Of Miami’s yardage total, 207 came on the ground. The clubs were also even with two turnovers each while the Miami defense forced the Colts to punt seven times.

Including the long scoring carry, Leroy Harris rushed for 140 yards on 17 attempts. Gary Davis also was productive with 56 yards on 12 carries. Bob Griese completed 13 of 22 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown along with an interception. Nat Moore topped the Miami receivers with 5 catches for 83 yards.

For the Colts, Bert Jones was successful on 18 of 34 throws for 189 yards with no TDs but also none intercepted. Lydell Mitchell (pictured below) rushed for 84 yards on 20 attempts and caught 6 passes for another 62 yards. Don McCauley, who gained a modest 14 yards on the ground, also had 6 receptions, for 51 yards. Only four of Jones’ completions were to wide receivers.

The win put the Dolphins in a tie for first in the AFC East with Baltimore but they lost the following week and, while the Colts did also, the teams both ended up at 10-4. Baltimore won the division title due to a better record in the conference and Miami finished second and, with only one wild card spot available at that time (a second would be added the next year), out of the postseason. Oakland, with an 11-3 record, was the wild card participant and defeated the Colts in a Divisional round overtime thriller.

The 140-yard rushing performance ended up being the career best for Leroy Harris, who rushed for 417 yards on 91 carries (4.6 avg.) and four touchdowns in 1977 and would go on to play a total of five seasons with the Dolphins and Eagles. Gary Davis gained 533 yards on 126 attempts (4.2 avg.), which was his highest yardage total over the course of six years in the NFL.

1971: Dolphins Defeat Colts in Key AFC East Battle

The two top contenders in the AFC East met in Miami on November 21, 1971 as the Dolphins hosted the Baltimore Colts. Coached for the second year by Don Shula, the Dolphins came into the game with a 7-1-1 record and six-game winning streak on the line. The backfield combination of FB Larry Csonka (pictured above) and HB Jim Kiick was highly productive and, when they needed to go to the air, QB Bob Griese was an excellent passer. The overachieving defense was scrappy and benefited most from the presence of MLB Nick Buoniconti and safeties Jake Scott and Dick Anderson.

Baltimore, the NFL’s defending champion, was coached by Don McCafferty, who had succeeded Shula when he departed for Miami. 38-year-old QB Johnny Unitas was brittle and no longer great but could still be effective and the running game, led by second-year FB Norm Bulaich, was improved and operating behind an excellent line. The defense was tough, particularly at linebacker where MLB Mike Curtis was flanked by Ted Hendricks and Ray May. The Colts had a 7-2 record and could vault into first place with a win in Miami.  

There was a crowd of 75,312 fans in attendance at the Orange Bowl. The Dolphins went three-and-out on their first possession and punted. Baltimore put together a long drive of 77 yards in 14 plays. The Colts converted three third downs with Johnny Unitas passes along the way. The first was to TE Tom Mitchell in a third-and-three situation, the second was to HB Tom Matte on a third-and-10 play to the Miami 47, and the third gained 20 yards to Norm Bulaich (pictured below) while facing third-and-five. That put the ball at the 11, and after Matte ran for seven yards, FB Don Nottingham followed up with a four-yard touchdown carry. Jim O’Brien added the extra point and the visitors had the early 7-0 lead.

A clipping penalty on the ensuing kickoff had the Dolphins starting deep in their own territory and they again had to punt. Baltimore had good starting field position at the Miami 40, but couldn’t move effectively and O’Brien missed a 45-yard field goal attempt.

The teams exchanged punts as the game headed into the second quarter before the Dolphins finally came alive on offense. Bob Griese threw to Larry Csonka for 13 yards on a third-and-eight play and followed up with a completion to TE Marv Fleming for 16 yards. A long carry for an apparent touchdown by HB Mercury Morris was nullified by a clipping penalty but Miami continued to chip away with a run by Csonka and consecutive Griese passes to Jim Kiick. However, after reaching the Baltimore seven, Griese fumbled when hit by DT Jim Bailey while looking to pass and DE Billy Newsome recovered for the Colts.

The teams once again traded punts before a Unitas pass was intercepted by CB Tim Foley at midfield. But a Griese toss to Kiick lost nine yards, Griese fumbled the snap on the next play and had to fall on the loose ball, and a 16-yard completion to Kiick was well short of a first down. Garo Yepremian’s 54-yard field goal try with 1:17 remaining in the first half fell short and the score stayed unchanged at halftime.

The Colts had the ball first in the third quarter and punted from their end zone. Miami made the most of the resulting good field position, advancing 46 yards in eight plays. Griese ran for nine yards on first down and Kiick had a 19-yard gain among his four carries. A pass interference penalty in the end zone gave the Dolphins a first down at the one, and Kiick plunged for a touchdown from there. Yepremian’s conversion tied the score at 7-7.

Miami got the ball back in short order when LB Doug Swift intercepted a Unitas pass at the Baltimore 22 and returned it 12 yards. On the next play, Griese connected with Fleming for a 10-yard TD and, with Yepremian again adding the point after, the home team was ahead by 14-7.

The Colts responded with a long drive of 76 yards in 13 plays. Unitas started the series off with a nine-yard completion to WR Willie Richardson but was injured shortly thereafter while throwing a block on a double reverse and it was Earl Morrall behind center the rest of the way. Morrall completed a third-down pass to TE John Mackey for 18 yards but, two plays later, was sacked by DT Manny Fernandez. Facing third-and-17, he threw to WR Eddie Hinton for a 16-yard gain and Matte gained the needed yard on fourth down to keep the series going. Two more Matte runs set up a four-yard touchdown carry by Bulaich and, with O’Brien booting the extra point, the score was tied once again at 14-14.

That remained the situation as the contest entered the fourth quarter and the teams exchanged punts. A personal foul on the Colts helped Miami out of a second-and-14 situation as they got the ball back again and Griese followed up with a 14-yard completion to WR Karl Noonan. The series finally stalled at the Baltimore 13, but Yepremian put the Dolphins ahead by three with a 20-yard field goal.

The Colts advanced into Miami territory when Morrall passed to Hinton for a 33-yard gain, but after reaching the 35, a throw into the end zone was intercepted by SS Dick Anderson. There were still over three minutes remaining, but the Dolphins never let the visitors get the ball back. Griese threw to WR Paul Warfield for 13 yards to convert a third-and-three situation and Csonka ran for two more first downs to seal the 17-14 win for Miami.

Baltimore led in total yards (268 to 249) while the Dolphins had the edge in first downs (16 to 14). Miami generated more yards on the ground (168 to 100) and the Colts had the net passing advantage (168 to 81). Baltimore turned the ball over three times, to one by the Dolphins.

Bob Griese completed 10 of 16 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown while giving up no interceptions. Larry Csonka rushed for 93 yards on 15 carries while Jim Kiick (pictured above) contributed 52 yards on 14 attempts that included a TD and also caught four passes for 22 yards. Marv Fleming topped the Dolphins with 26 yards on two receptions that included a touchdown.

For the Colts, Johnny Unitas was successful on 9 of 17 throws for 78 yards, giving up two interceptions, and in relief Earl Morrall was 6 of 9 for 99 yards with one picked off. Tom Matte ran the ball 17 times for 44 yards and Norm Bulaich had 5 catches for 41 yards in addition to his 23 yards on 8 rushing attempts that included a TD. Eddie Hinton gained 49 yards on his two pass receptions and John Mackey was right behind with his 46 yards, also on two catches.

The win put Miami a game-and-a-half ahead of the Colts, and while they lost the rematch in Baltimore, the Dolphins finished on top of the AFC East at 10-3-1. The Colts lost the season finale to end up in second with a 10-4 record, qualifying for the postseason as a Wild Card. Both teams won their Divisional round games, Miami in classic fashion over Kansas City in overtime while the Colts more easily dispatched the Browns, and the clubs met for the AFC Championship. The Dolphins dominated in a 21-0 win and went on to lose to Dallas in the Super Bowl.

1955: Colts Break Out to Early Lead, Hold Off Packers

Two NFL Western Conference teams that were sporting surprising 2-0 records, the Baltimore Colts and Green Bay Packers, met in Milwaukee on October 8, 1955. The Colts, coached by Weeb Ewbank, had been 3-9 in ’54 but were benefiting from the play of two rookies. FB Alan “The Horse” Ameche, the Heisman Trophy winner out of Wisconsin, gained over a hundred yards in each of his first two games and QB George Shaw (pictured at right), the first overall draft choice out of Oregon, tossed touchdown passes in each as well. There was other young talent on the club interspersed among able veterans such as HB Buddy Young, DE Gino Marchetti, DT Art Donovan, and safety/PK Bert Rechichar.

Green Bay was coming off of a 4-8 record under Head Coach Lisle Blackbourn the previous year. QB Tobin Rote was a good runner and, at his best, a fine passer, although he lacked consistency. End Billy Howton was an outstanding deep receiver and FB Howie Ferguson was developing into a productive runner. The defense was tough, with LB Roger Zatkoff and safety Bobby Dillon key members of the unit.  

There were 40,119 fans in attendance at County Stadium on a Saturday, the biggest crowd to date to see a football game there. The Packers scored quickly after Alan Ameche fumbled on the first play from scrimmage and Roger Zatkoff recovered for Green Bay at the Colts’ 38. Tobin Rote rolled to his left and fired a pass to Billy Howton, who outran three defenders for a 38-yard touchdown. Fred Cone added the extra point for the early 7-0 lead.

Shortly thereafter, it was Baltimore’s turn to benefit from a turnover when Rote fumbled and DE Don Joyce fell on it at the Green Bay 12. Ameche ran for a five-yard TD and Bert Rechichar converted to tie the score. The Colts scored again when George Shaw threw to Buddy Young (pictured below), who blew past Bobby Dillon and went 82 yards for a touchdown. Rechichar again added the point after. Just before the end of the period, Shaw passed to end Jim Mutscheller for a 40-yard TD and Rechichar’s conversion gave the visitors a 21-7 lead heading into the second quarter.

Dillon intercepted a Shaw pass in Baltimore territory and that set up an eight-play, 26-yard series that concluded with Howie Ferguson taking a pitchout and running for a touchdown from a yard out. Cone kicked the extra point to narrow the margin to 21-14 and that is how the contest remained at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Packers, starting from their 38, put together a promising drive keyed by the running of Ferguson, HB Breezy Reid, and HB Veryl Switzer. After reaching the Baltimore 41, three Rote passes fell incomplete, but Cone kicked a 47-yard field goal that just made it over the crossbar. Green Bay was four points behind at 21-17.

Late in the period, DHB Carl Taseff of the Colts recovered another Rote fumble on the Green Bay 21. Ameche ran the ball twice, with a carry by Shaw in between, but an aroused Packer defense kept them out of the end zone. Rechichar kicked a 10-yard field goal and Baltimore’s lead was extended to 24-17.

DHB Doyle Nix intercepted a Shaw pass that was intended for Mutscheller and the Packers began to advance on offense with Rote completing throws to end Gary Knafelc and Howton. But after reaching the Baltimore 18, an offside penalty moved the home team back and they settled for a 28-yard Cone field goal to again make it a four-point game with less than five minutes on the clock.

The Colts were unable to move and punted on their next series and the Packers took over again at their 40 with two minutes remaining. Rote threw to Ferguson for 11 yards and, after overthrowing Knafelc, he connected with Switzer for a first down at the Baltimore 35. Passes to Switzer and Knafelc gained eight and 16 yards, respectively, but with time slipping away, a Rote toss into the end zone was out of Howton’s reach. The Colts held on for a 24-20 win.

Green Bay had more total yards (322 to 255) and first downs (17 to 8) than the Colts, and outgained the visitors both on the ground (136 to 103) and through the air (186 to 152). However, the Packers spent most of the game trying to catch up to Baltimore, who made key plays to take the early lead. The Colts turned the ball over four times, to three by Green Bay.

George Shaw completed just 6 of 16 passes for 162 yards, but two of them were for touchdowns, although three were intercepted. Alan Ameche was held to 63 yards on 20 carries, one of which was good for a TD.

For the Packers, Tobin Rote was successful on 19 of 39 throws for 191 yards and a TD. Billy Howton caught 6 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. Howie Ferguson (pictured at right) rushed for 71 yards on 20 attempts, thus coming out ahead of Ameche in the anticipated showdown between the two fullbacks.

Reaching 3-0 proved to be the high point for Baltimore’s season. The Colts lost their next two games, beat the Packers again, and then won only once more on the way to a 5-6-1 record that placed them fourth in the Western Conference. The best years for Ewbank’s team were yet to come. Despite sweeping the season series, they also managed to finish behind the Packers, who ended up third at 6-6.

George Shaw continued to show promise as he threw for 1586 yards and 10 touchdowns while giving up 19 interceptions, but that promise would go largely unfulfilled. Alan Ameche led the NFL in rushing with 961 yards and rushing TDs with nine. He was a consensus first-team All-league selection and went on to perform a key role as the team rose to back-to-back NFL Championships by the end of the decade.

Tobin Rote threw for 1977 yards and a league-leading 17 TD passes (along with San Francisco’s Y.A. Tittle) and also rushed for 332 yards and five touchdowns. Billy Howton received Pro Bowl recognition as he accumulated 44 catches for 697 yards (15.8 avg.) and scored five TDs. Howie Ferguson also was named to the Pro Bowl after rushing for 859 yards on 192 carries (4.5 avg.) which placed second to Ameche.

1976: Quick Jones-to-Doughty TD Passes Spur Colts to Win Against Patriots

The teams that finished on the top and bottom of the AFC East the previous year met in a NFL opening-week game at Foxboro, Massachusetts on September 12, 1976.

The Baltimore Colts were coming off of a 10-4 record in their first year under Head Coach Ted Marchibroda, who had received Coach of the Year recognition for turning around a club that had gone 11-31 in the preceding three seasons. QB Bert Jones (pictured at right) emerged as an outstanding performer and productive all-purpose HB Lydell Mitchell was selected to the Pro Bowl. The defensive line, anchored by DE John Dutton and DT Joe Ehrmann, was solid, as was the corps of linebackers.

The Patriots, on the other hand, had not compiled a winning record since they were a pre-merger AFL club and went 3-11 in ’75. Head Coach Chuck Fairbanks was back for his fourth season and was committed to a new starting quarterback in Steve Grogan, the second-year successor to QB Jim Plunkett, who was traded to the 49ers after five up-and-down seasons. The draft yielded promising players in CB Mike Haynes, C Pete Brock, safety Tim Fox, and HB Ike Forte. There were good returning players in FB Sam Cunningham, HB Andy Johnson, TE Russ Francis, tackle Leon Gray, and guards John Hannah and Sam Adams on offense, and DE Julius Adams, NT Ray Hamilton, and LB Steve Nelson on defense.   

There were 43,512 fans in attendance on a sunny and mild day at Schaefer Stadium. The Colts got the first break of the game on the third play from scrimmage when Ike Forte of the Patriots fumbled deep in his own territory and CB Nelson Munsey recovered at the New England 14. The visitors couldn’t reach the end zone but came away with a 28-yard field goal by Toni Linhart.

A clipping penalty on the ensuing kickoff had the Patriots starting from their own seven, but this time they put together a sustained drive of 77 yards. Forte, Sam Cunningham, and Andy Johnson all ran effectively and Steve Grogan completed three passes. The result was a 31-yard John Smith field goal to tie the score at 3-3.

Two short possessions that resulted in punts closed out the opening period, but Baltimore HB Howard Stevens had a 27-yard return to give the Colts good starting field position at the New England 40 to start the second quarter. They reached the seven before coming up empty when FB Roosevelt Leaks fumbled and SS Prentice McCray recovered for the Patriots.

New England proceeded to put together another long drive, advancing 86 yards. A roughing-the-passer penalty on third down helped the series along and Grogan completed four passes, the longest to WR Marlin Briscoe for 21 yards. Johnson also had an 18-yard run to get the ball to the Baltimore 16, and while the possession finally stalled at the 10, the Patriots moved in front on a 27-yard field goal by Smith.

The Colts regained possession with a little over three minutes remaining in the first half and they put together a 78-yard drive in nine plays. Bert Jones immediately connected with WR Glenn Doughty (pictured at left) for 25 yards and a swing pass to FB Don McCauley picked up 12. McCauley had a seven-yard run and, after the fullback dropped a pass, Jones was successful on his next three, the last of which was to Doughty in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown. Linhart added the extra point and Baltimore was up by 10-6.

There were 46 seconds remaining on the clock as the Patriots took over on offense and Grogan went to the air. A short completion of three yards to Russ Francis was followed by a 21-yard gain to WR Ricky Feacher, but when Grogan tried to pass to Feacher again, it was intercepted by FS Jackie Wallace. Wallace returned the pickoff 32 yards to the New England 20, and three plays later Jones again completed a scoring pass to Doughty in the end zone, this time from six yards out. Linhart converted and, thanks to the two touchdowns in a span of 41 seconds, the Colts took a 17-6 lead into halftime even though they significantly trailed the Patriots in time of possession.

Baltimore had the ball first in the third quarter and was forced to punt. A long return by Mike Haynes gave the Patriots excellent starting field position at the Colts’ 25. They were unable to capitalize, however, when Grogan’s third down pass into the end zone fell incomplete and a field goal attempt by Smith from 39 yards was blocked by DT Mike Barnes.

The Colts put together a long series in which they converted two third downs and nearly scored another TD when a Jones throw to McCauley in the end zone was nullified by a penalty. However, they did come away with a 32-yard Linhart field goal and, rather than the home team narrowing the margin, the Colts extended their lead to 20-6.

The next possession for the Patriots ended with an interception but Baltimore, after advancing to the New England 32 early in the fourth quarter, failed to convert a fourth-and-two situation. The Patriots responded with a 68-yard drive in eight plays. Grogan completed passes to TE Al Chandler for 29 yards and Briscoe for 16 and had an 11-yard scramble that set up Johnson’s four-yard carry for a TD. Smith added the point after and the home team was now down by seven points at 20-13.

The teams exchanged punts before the Colts got the ball back at the New England 39 following a 34-yard punt by the Patriots from deep in their own territory. Lydell Mitchell ran for 14 yards on first down and, following a penalty, picked up another ten yards on two more carries. Mitchell caught a pass from Jones for 11 more yards and then ran straight through the middle of the line for a clinching 10-yard touchdown with less than two minutes remaining to play. Linhart provided the final point as Baltimore came away with a 27-13 win.   

The Patriots had the edge in total yards (317 to 272) while Baltimore compiled more first downs (20 to 17). However, New England turned the ball over five times, to one suffered by the Colts.

Bert Jones completed 17 of 23 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns while giving up no interceptions. Lydell Mitchell rushed for 73 yards on 18 carries that included a TD and also had 6 catches for 72 yards. Glenn Doughty contributed 50 yards on his four receptions that included the two key touchdowns.

For the Patriots, Steve Grogan (pictured at right) was successful on 12 of 22 throws for 179 yards but tossed four interceptions. FB Sam Cunningham picked up 56 yards on 14 rushing attempts and also topped the club with four catches, for 19 yards. Andy Johnson had 53 yards on his lone catch and also gained 51 yards on 14 carries that included a TD.

“New England gained a lot of yardage in the first half,” said Baltimore’s Coach Marchibroda. “But we pretty well stopped them after that. We came up with the big play when we had to.”

The Colts won eight of their first nine games on the way to repeating as AFC East champs with an 11-3 record, losing to Pittsburgh in the first playoff round. New England recovered to win its next three contests on the way to also going 11-3, good for a second-place finish in the division (while they split their season series with Baltimore, the Colts had a better record against division opponents to claim the higher spot in the standings). The upstart team qualified for the postseason as a Wild Card and lost narrowly to the Raiders in their Divisional game.  

Bert Jones received consensus league MVP recognition as he topped the circuit in passing yards (3104) and ranked second in touchdown passes (24), yards per attempt (9.0), and overall rating (102.5). He was selected to the Pro Bowl, as was Lydell Mitchell, who rushed for 1200 yards and caught 60 passes for 555 more yards, which made him second in all-purpose yards with 1755. Glenn Doughty had a fine year as a possession receiver with 40 catches for 628 yards (15.7 avg.) and five TDs.

1971: Morrall Tosses 3 TD Passes as Colts Sink College All-Stars

The 38^th annual College All-Star Game in Chicago on July 30, 1971 featured the Baltimore Colts, defending champions of the NFL, against an All-Star squad coached by Blanton Collier, who had retired from the Cleveland Browns following eight years as head coach.

The Colts, under Head Coach Don McCafferty, started 37-year-old Earl Morrall (pictured at right) at quarterback due to the unavailability of long-time star QB Johnny Unitas, who suffered an Achilles tendon injury during the offseason. The offense was typically more effective through the air than on the ground while the tough defense featured DE Bubba Smith, linebackers Ted Hendricks and Mike Curtis, and safeties Rick Volk and Jerry Logan.

The All-Stars included quarterbacks Jim Plunkett, the Heisman Trophy winner out of Stanford, and Dan Pastorini of Santa Clara, FB John Brockington from Ohio State, Northwestern HB Mike Adamle, and WR J.D. Hill of Arizona State. The defense had hard hitters in DB Jack Tatum from Ohio State and DE Jack Youngblood of Florida, plus DT Julius Adams from Texas Southern, Grambling DE Richard Harris, and linebackers Jack Ham of Penn State and Isiah Robertson from Southern.

There were 52,289 fans in attendance for the Friday night game at Soldier Field, which had undergone renovation that included a new artificial surface. The contest’s initial score was set up thanks to a poor punt by Dan Pastorini in the first quarter. It gave the Colts good starting field position at the All-Star 45 to start their second possession of the game, and they made the most of it. Earl Morrall threw to FB Norm Bulaich on a swing pass that picked up 17 yards and to WR Ray Perkins, who outmaneuvered Kansas State CB Clarence Scott for a 24-yard touchdown. Jim O’Brien kicked the extra point.

On their next series, a holding penalty backed the Colts into their own territory and they were forced to punt. It looked as though the All-Stars would get nothing out of the ensuing possession when John Brockington was stopped for no gain on a third-and-one play at the Baltimore 40, but the Colts refused an offside penalty on the collegians, preferring to bring up fourth down. The All-Stars converted when Brockington ran for three yards to keep the series alive. Jim Plunkett connected with Mike Adamle for a 22-yard gain to the 15 and the collegians got another break when Plunkett threw for J.D. Hill and interference was called on CB Jim Duncan to move the ball to the one yard line. From there, on the third play of the second quarter, Brockington ran around right end for a touchdown. Pastorini added the point after to make it a 7-7 game.

The Colts responded on their ensuing possession with Morrall throwing to HB Tom Matte for a 15-yard TD. O’Brien again successfully converted. With Pastorini at quarterback, the All-Stars advanced from their own 30 into Baltimore territory and Bob Jacobs of Wyoming kicked a 40-yard field goal with just over two minutes remaining in the half. The Colts moved well in the remaining time as Morrall completed six of seven passes for 102 yards, but they came up empty when O’Brien missed a 26-yard field goal try. The score remained 14-10 at the intermission.

Baltimore’s lead was extended in the quiet third quarter when O’Brien was successful on a field goal attempt, this time from 22 yards. Early in the fourth quarter, the Colts appeared to take command when Morrall threw to TE Tom Mitchell for a 44-yard TD and O’Brien’s extra point put the pro champs ahead by 14.

Sam Havrilak, normally a halfback but being tried at quarterback, relieved Morrall and on his second play, he botched a handoff to FB Tom Nowatzke and Jack Ham recovered for the All-Stars and ran 47 yards for a touchdown. It narrowed the margin to seven points, but proved to be the last gasp for the collegians, who were kept in check offensively as Baltimore held on to win by a final score of 24-17.

The Colts had far more total yards than the All-Stars (403 to 150) and also had the edge in first downs (18 to 11). The collegians turned the ball over twice, to one suffered by the NFL champs.

Earl Morrall, who played for a full three quarters, completed 20 of 30 passes for 329 yards and three touchdowns while giving up no interceptions. Norm Bulaich led Baltimore’s runners with 46 yards on 9 attempts. Tom Matte, who carried the ball 10 times for 18 yards, caught 5 passes for 63 yards and a TD, having great success on swing passes out of the backfield. WR Eddie Hinton also had 5 pass receptions, for 75 yards, and Tom Mitchell gained 95 yards on his four catches.

Jim Plunkett was successful on 6 of 15 throws for 65 yards and an interception and Dan Pastorini went two of nine for 13 yards and gave up an interception, although Pastorini led the All-Stars in rushing with 40 yards on two carries (Plunkett #16 and Pastorini #7 pictured below). John Brockington gained 27 yards on 12 rushing attempts that included a touchdown. Houston WR Elmo Wright, Mike Adamle, and J.D. Hill each had two receptions, for 25, 24, and 23 yards, respectively.

“They put a lot of pressure on me,” said Earl Morrall regarding the All-Star defense. “They were coming from a lot of directions. I couldn’t quite get a bead on what to do about it.”

The win for the Colts gave the pro champs a winning streak of eight games and a 27-9-2 edge in the series. It was the last of three College All-Star Game appearances for the club that reached the postseason again in 1971 as a 10-4 Wild Card but lost the AFC Championship to Miami.