Editing Indianapolis Colts (section)

==Rivalries==
===Divisional===
====Houston Texans====
{{Main|Colts–Texans rivalry}}
In one of the newer rivalries in the NFL, the Colts and [[Houston Texans]] have intensified their animosity in recent years. Despite Indianapolis dominating the AFC South and this particular series under quarterback [[Peyton Manning]] in the 2000s, Houston has recently provided more competition, winning the division five times since 2011. As of the 2023 season, Indianapolis currently leads the series 33–11–1, including a win in the postseason in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/indianapolis-colts/teamvsteam?opp=13 |title=Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans Results — The Football Database |website=FootballDB.com |language=en |access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fox |first=Marcus |date=September 6, 2010 |title=AFC South: Indianapolis Colts Are No. 1, But Who's No. 2 In The Division? |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/452841-afc-south-indianapolis-colts-are-1-but-whos-2 |access-date=July 17, 2022 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Josh |date=August 22, 2010 |title=Colts set to dominate AFC South |url=https://www.meridianstar.com/sports/colts-set-to-dominate-afc-south/article_c6e0674a-a24e-535e-968e-7e43c6866e04.html |access-date=July 17, 2022 |website=Meridian Star |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.stampedeblue.com/2018/11/20/18104622/who-is-the-colts-biggest-rival |title=Who is the Colts' biggest rival? |last=Blystone |first=Chris |date=November 20, 2018 |website=Stampede Blue |language=en |access-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308132614/https://www.stampedeblue.com/2018/11/20/18104622/who-is-the-colts-biggest-rival |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Kyle J. |date=December 13, 2015 |title=Is the Indianapolis Colts' AFC South Dominance Gone for Good? |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2598771-is-the-indianapolis-colts-afc-south-dominance-gone-for-good |access-date=July 17, 2022 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Winger |first=Aris |date=August 11, 2008 |title=The End of a Reign in the AFC South |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/46566-the-end-of-a-reign-in-the-afc-south |access-date=July 17, 2022 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref>

====Jacksonville Jaguars====
{{Main|Colts–Jaguars rivalry}}

The Colts and [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] emerged as divisional rivals in the NFL when they were assigned to the AFC South division. Historically, the Colts have had the upper hand in this rivalry, particularly during the Peyton Manning era. Although the Jaguars have struggled to maintain a consistently competitive roster, they have managed to achieve significant upsets against the Colts<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pells |first1=Eddie |title=Taylor Lifts Jaguars Past Colts for Upset Victory |url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2003/11/10/taylor-lifts-jaguars-past-colts-for-upset-victory/26083246007/ |website=The Ledger |access-date=21 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822161104/https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2003/11/10/taylor-lifts-jaguars-past-colts-for-upset-victory/26083246007/ |archive-date=August 22, 2024 |date=November 10, 2003}}</ref><ref name="10JaguarsUpset">{{cite web |title=10 biggest upset wins in Jaguars franchise history |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/picture-gallery/news/2018/01/19/10-biggest-upset-wins-in/820013007/ |website=Jacksonville.com |publisher=Morris Communications |access-date=24 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823144334/https://www.jacksonville.com/picture-gallery/news/2018/01/19/10-biggest-upset-wins-in/820013007/ |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |date=January 19, 2018}}</ref><ref name="2020Jaguarsupset">{{cite web |last1=Barney |first1=Justin |title=A stellar start: Underdog Jaguars stun Colts in opener |url=https://www.news4jax.com/sports/2020/09/13/what-a-start-jaguars-stun-colts-in-opener/ |website=News4Jax |access-date=21 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914103815/https://www.news4jax.com/sports/2020/09/13/what-a-start-jaguars-stun-colts-in-opener/ |archive-date=September 14, 2020 |date=September 13, 2020}}</ref> and have recorded more victories against them than against the Titans and Texans.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indianapolis Colts Records by Opponent |url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/indianapolis-colts/opponents |website=The Football Database}}</ref> The 2020s have marked a period of increased competitiveness for both teams.<ref>{{cite web |title=2023 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2023/index.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110142403/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2023/index.htm |archive-date=January 10, 2024}}</ref>

====Tennessee Titans====
{{Main|Colts–Titans rivalry}}
The Colts and Titans, the oldest rivalry in the AFC South, have been competing against each other since the [[1970 NFL season|1970 season]], originally as the [[Baltimore Colts]] and the [[Houston Oilers]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Oldest NFL Teams: Full list of the first NFL franchises |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/oldest-nfl-teams-full-list-of-the-first-nfl-franchises |website=Foxsports |access-date=14 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521024423/https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/oldest-nfl-teams-full-list-of-the-first-nfl-franchises |archive-date=May 21, 2024 |date=May 20, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> They became divisional rivals in the [[2002 NFL season|2002 season]], leading to numerous contests for the AFC South title, with the Titans occasionally managing to wrest the title from the Colts.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Teresa |title=Titans, Colts meet in AFC South showdown |url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/2003/12/07/titans-colts-meet-in-afc/50326267007/ |website=South Coast Today |access-date=27 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240627161547/https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/2003/12/07/titans-colts-meet-in-afc/50326267007/ |archive-date=June 27, 2024 |date=December 6, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SERIES FLASHBACK: 2003 |url=https://www.colts.com/news/series-flashback-2003-8636628 |website=Colts |access-date=27 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030025452/https://www.colts.com/news/series-flashback-2003-8636628 |archive-date=October 30, 2020 |date=October 24, 2012}}</ref> In recent years, however, the Colts have largely controlled the rivalry, thanks in part to the exceptional performances of quarterbacks Peyton Manning and [[Andrew Luck]], with Luck finishing his career undefeated against the Titans, going 11–0.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Titans and Andrew Luck, a miserable history revisited |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2018/12/23/nfl-tennessee-titans-marcus-mariota-andrew-luck-colts/2400516002/ |website=The Tennessean |access-date=13 August 2024 |date=December 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Remember (Andrew Luck's dominance over) the Titans |url=https://atozsports.com/nfl/indianapolis-colts-news/colts-remember-andrew-luck-dominance-vs-titans/ |website=AtoZ Sports |access-date=13 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801180221/https://atozsports.com/nfl/indianapolis-colts-news/colts-remember-andrew-luck-dominance-vs-titans/ |archive-date=August 1, 2024 |date=October 5, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> Nonetheless, the 2020s have seen a resurgence in competitiveness from both teams as they vie for the AFC South title and a playoff berth.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wyatt |first1=Jim |title=Titans Race Past Colts 45-26, Take Lead in AFC South |url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-race-past-colts-45-26-take-lead-in-afc-south |website=Tennessee Titans |access-date=14 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129212715/https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-race-past-colts-45-26-take-lead-in-afc-south |archive-date=November 29, 2020 |date=November 29, 2020}}</ref>

As of the 2023 season, the Colts lead the overall series, 37–22. The two teams have met once in the [[National Football League playoffs|playoffs]], with the Titans winning 19–16 in the [[1999–2000 NFL playoffs#AFC: Tennessee Titans 19, Indianapolis Colts 16|2000 AFC Divisional playoff game]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans Results |url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/indianapolis-colts/teamvsteam?opp=31 |website=The Football Database |access-date=28 July 2024}}</ref>

===Conference===
====New England Patriots====
{{Main|Colts–Patriots rivalry}}
{{See also|Tom Brady–Peyton Manning rivalry}}

The rivalry between the Indianapolis Colts and [[New England Patriots]] is one of the NFL's newest rivalries. The rivalry is fueled by the quarterback comparison between [[Peyton Manning]] and [[Tom Brady]] during the 2000s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Conway |first=Tyler |date=May 24, 2020 |title=Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning Head-to-Head NFL Scores and Top Highlights |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2891331-tom-brady-vs-peyton-manning-head-to-head-nfl-scores-and-top-highlights |access-date=July 17, 2022 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Clements |first=Devon |title=Peyton Manning Will Go Down As Patriots' Toughest Opponent in Brady/Belichick Era |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/news/manning-is-toughest-opponent-of-brady-belichick-era |access-date=July 17, 2022 |website=Sports Illustrated New England Patriots News, Analysis and More |date=May 22, 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |first=Lew |last=Freedman |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1293252547 |title=Indianapolis Colts The Complete Illustrated History. |date=2013 |publisher=Quarto Publishing Group USA |isbn=978-1-61058-681-8 |oclc=1293252547}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Connelly |first=Bill |date=October 4, 2018 |title=How the Colts-Patriots rivalry defined the NFL for a decade |url=https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2018/10/4/17925890/colts-vs-patriots-rivalry-tom-brady-peyton-manning-nfl |access-date=July 17, 2022 |website=SBNation.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFL against the spread picks: Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning. Enjoy |url=http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/nfl-against-the-spread-picks--tom-brady-vs--peyton-manning--enjoy-163352229.html |access-date=July 17, 2022 |website=news.yahoo.com |date=October 31, 2014 |language=en-US}}</ref> The Patriots owned the beginning of the series, defeating the Colts in six consecutive contests including the 2003 AFC Championship game and a 2004 AFC Divisional game. The Colts won the next three matches, notching two regular-season victories and a win in the 2006 AFC Championship game on the way to their win in [[Super Bowl XLI]].<ref>{{Cite web |title='Greatest Game Ever Played,' 'Peyton's Revenge' On 'NFL 100 Greatest Games' List |url=https://www.colts.com/news/peyton-manning-patriots-johnny-unitas-giants-greatest-games |access-date=July 17, 2022 |website=www.colts.com |language=en-US}}</ref> On November 4, 2007, the Patriots defeated the Colts 24–20; in the next matchup on November 2, 2008, the Colts won 18–15 in a game that was one of the reasons the Patriots failed to make the playoffs; in the 2009 meeting, the Colts staged a spirited comeback to beat the Patriots 35–34; in [[2010 New England Patriots season|2010]] the Colts almost staged another comeback, pulling within 31–28 after trailing 31–14 in the fourth quarter, but fell short due to a Patriots interception of a Manning pass late in the game; it turned out to be Manning's final meeting against the Patriots as a member of the Colts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ulmanq |first=Howard |date=November 17, 2010 |title=Patriots-Colts rivalry filled with drama |url=https://www.fosters.com/story/sports/pro/2010/11/18/patriots-colts-rivalry-filled-with/51374444007/ |access-date=July 17, 2022 |website=Foster's Daily Democrat |language=en-US}}</ref> After a [[2011 Indianapolis Colts season|dismal 2011 season]] that included a 31–24 loss to the Patriots, the Colts drafted [[Andrew Luck]] and in November of [[2012 Indianapolis Colts season|2012]] the two teams met with identical 6–3 records; the Patriots erased a 14–7 gap to win 59–24. The nature of this rivalry is ironic because the Colts and Patriots were division rivals from 1970 to 2001, but it did not become prominent in league circles until after Indianapolis was relocated to the [[AFC South]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Much-debated realignment issue tops owners' agenda |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2001-05-22-0105220263-story.html |access-date=July 17, 2022 |website=The Baltimore Sun|date=May 22, 2001 }}</ref> On November 16, 2014, the New England Patriots traveled at 7–2 to play the 6–3 Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. After a stellar four-touchdown performance by New England running back Jonas Gray, the Patriots defeated the Colts 42–20. The Patriots followed up with a 45–7 defeat of the Colts in the 2014 [[AFC Championship Game]].<ref name="i966">{{cite web | last=Stromberg | first=Joseph | title=Tom Brady's Deflategate scandal, explained | website=Vox | date=2015-01-21 | url=https://www.vox.com/2015/1/21/7866121/deflated-football-patriots-cheating | access-date=2024-08-18}}</ref> As of the 2023 season, the Patriots lead the all-time series 53–31.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts vs. Boston/New England Patriots |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=clt&tm2=nwe&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Historic===
In the years 1953–66, the Colts played in the [[Eastern and Western Conferences (NFL) 1933–69|NFL Western Conference]] (also known as division), but did not have significant rivalries with other franchises in that alignment, as they were the easternmost team and the rest of the division included the [[Great Lakes]] franchises [[Green Bay Packers|Green Bay]], [[Detroit Lions]], [[Chicago Bears]], and after 1961, the [[Minnesota Vikings]], along with the league's two West Coast teams in [[San Francisco 49ers|San Francisco]] and [[Los Angeles Rams|Los Angeles]]. The closest team to Baltimore was the [[Washington Redskins]], but they were not in the same division and not very competitive during most years at that time.

====New York Giants====
In [[1958 NFL season|1958]], Baltimore played its first NFL Championship Game against the 10–3 [[New York Giants]]. The Giants qualified for the championship after a tie-breaking playoff against the [[Cleveland Browns]]. Having already been defeated by the Giants in the regular season, Baltimore was not favored to win, yet proceeded to [[1958 NFL Championship Game|take the title in sudden death overtime]].<ref name="n496">{{cite web | title=Colts win NFL title in "Greatest Game Ever Played" | website=HISTORY | date=2021-11-30 | url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nfl-greatest-games-colts-giants-1958 | access-date=2024-08-18}}</ref> The Colts then repeated the feat by posting an identical record and routing the Giants in the [[1959 NFL Championship Game|1959]] final. Up until the Colts' back-to-back titles, the Giants had been the premier club in the NFL, and continued to be post-season stalwarts the next decade, losing three straight finals. The situation was reversed by the end of the decade, with Baltimore winning the [[1968 NFL season|1968 NFL title]] and New York compiling less impressive results. In recent years, the Colts and Giants featured brothers as their starting quarterbacks ([[Peyton Manning|Peyton]] and [[Eli Manning]] respectively), leading to their occasional match-up being referred to as the "[[Manning Bowl (American football)|Manning Bowl]]".<ref name="o106">{{cite web | last=Wilner | first=Barry | title=Manning Bowl: Peyton beats Eli again in rout | website=Florida Times-Union | date=2013-09-16 | url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/09/16/manning-bowl-peyton-beats-eli-again-rout/15816293007/ | access-date=2024-08-18}}</ref> As of the 2023 season, the Colts lead the all-time series 12–7.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts vs. New York Giants |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=clt&tm2=nyg&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

====New York Jets====
[[Super Bowl III]] became the most famous upset in professional sports history as the [[American Football League]]'s [[1968 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] won 16–7 over the overwhelmingly favored Colts.<ref name="b291">{{cite web | last=Pallotta | first=Frank | title=How a game 50 years ago came to define the Super Bowl as we know it | website=CNN | date=2019-02-01 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/01/media/nfl-super-bowl-iii/index.html | access-date=2024-08-18}}</ref> With the merger of the AFL and NFL the Colts and Jets were placed in the new [[AFC East]]. The two teams met twice a year (interrupted in 1982 by a player strike) 1970–2001; with the move of the Colts to the [[AFC South]] the two teams' rivalry actually escalated, as they met three times in the playoffs in the South's first nine seasons of existence; the Jets crushed the Colts 41–0 in the 2002 Wild Card playoff round; the Colts then defeated the Jets 30–17 in the 2009 [[AFC Championship Game]]; but the next year in the wild-card round the Jets pulled off another playoff upset of the Colts, winning 17–16; it was [[Peyton Manning]]'s final game with the Colts. The Jets defeated the Colts 35–9 in [[2012 Indianapolis Colts season|2012]] in [[Andrew Luck]]'s debut season; after two straight losses Luck led a 45–10 rout of the Jets in [[2016 Indianapolis Colts season|2016]].

[[Joe Namath]] and [[Johnny Unitas]] were the focal point of the rivalry at its beginning, but they did not meet for a full game until September 24, 1972. Namath erupted with six touchdowns and 496 passing yards despite only 28 throws and 15 completions. Unitas threw for 376&nbsp;yards and two scores but was sacked six times as the Jets won 44–34; the game was considered one of the top ten passing duels in NFL history.<ref>{{YouTube|jDJdFsnOdNI|NFL Top 10 Quarterback Duels #4, Namath vs. Unitas}}</ref> As of the 2023 season, the Colts lead the all-time series 44–32.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts vs. New York Jets |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=clt&tm2=nyj&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

====Miami Dolphins====
{{more citations needed|section|date=April 2022}}
Baltimore's post [[NFL-AFL merger]] passage to the AFC saw them thrust into a new environment with little in common with its fellow divisional teams: the [[New York Jets|Jets]], [[Miami Dolphins]], [[Buffalo Bills]], and [[Boston Patriots]]. One angle where Baltimore and Miami did have something in common, however, came in new Miami coach [[Don Shula]]. Shula had coached the Colts the previous seven pre-merger seasons (1963–69) and was signed by [[Joe Robbie]] after the merger was consummated; because the signing came after the merger the NFL's rules on [[tampering (sport)|tampering]] came into play, and the Dolphins had to give up their first-round pick to the Colts.

Powered by QB [[Earl Morrall]] Baltimore was the first non-AFL franchise to win a division title in the conference, outlasting the Miami Dolphins by one game, and leading the division since Week 3 of [[1970 NFL season|1970]]. The two franchises were denied a playoff confrontation by Miami's first-round defeat to the [[Oakland Raiders]], whereas Baltimore won its first Super Bowl title that year.

Yet in 1971, the teams were engaged in a heated race that went down to the final week of the season, where Miami won its first division title with a 10–3–1 title compared to the 10–4 Baltimore record after the Colts won the Week 13 matchup between them at home, but proceeded to lose the last game of the season to Boston. In the playoffs, Baltimore advanced to the AFC title game after a 20–3 victory over the Cleveland Browns, while Miami won in double overtime against the [[Kansas City Chiefs]]. This set up a title game that was favored for the defending league champion Colts. Yet Miami won the AFC championship with a 21–0 shutout and advanced to lose [[Super Bowl VI]] to Dallas. In 1975 Baltimore and Miami tied with 10–4 records, yet the Colts advanced to the playoffs based on a head-to-head sweep of their series. In 1977 Baltimore tied for first for the third straight year (in 1976 they tied with the now-New England Patriots) with Miami, and this time advanced to the playoffs on even slimmer pretenses, with a conference record of 9–3 compared to Miami's 8–4, as they had split the season series. The rivalry in the following years was virtually negated by very poor play of the Colts; the Colts won just 117 games in the twenty-one seasons (1978–98) that bracketed their 1977 playoff loss to the [[1977 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] and the 1999 trade of star running back [[Marshall Faulk]]; this included a 0–8–1 record during the NFL's strike-shortened 1982 season.

In 1995, now as Indianapolis, the two both posted borderline 9–7 records to tie for second against [[1995 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo]], yet the Colts once again reached the post-season having swept the season series. The following season they edged out Miami by posting a 9–7 record and winning the ordinarily meaningless 3rd-place position but qualifying for the wild card. The two clubs' [[1999 Miami Dolphins season|1999]] [[1999 Indianapolis Colts season|meetings]] were dramatic affairs between [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame-bound]] [[Dan Marino]] and up-and-coming star [[Peyton Manning]]. Marino led a 25-point fourth-quarter comeback for a 34–31 Dolphins win at the [[RCA Dome]], and then in [[Hard Rock Stadium|Miami]] Marino led another comeback to tie the game 34–34 with 36 seconds remaining; Manning, however, drove the Colts in range for a 53-yard field goal as time expired (37–34 Colts win).

The last truly meaningful matchup between the two franchises was in the 2000 season, when Miami edged out Indianapolis with an 11–5 record for the division championship. The two then met in the wild-card round where the Dolphins won in overtime 23–17 before [[2000 Oakland Raiders season|being blown out by Oakland 27–0]] (the Colts themselves had suffered a bitter loss to the Raiders in Week 2 of the season when the Raiders erased a 24–7 gap to win 38–31). In [[2002 Indianapolis Colts season|2002 the Colts]] moved to the newly created [[AFC South]] division; the two clubs met at the [[RCA Dome]] on September 15 where the Dolphins edged the Colts 21–13 after stopping a late Colts drive. The rivalry was effectively retired after this; the two clubs did meet in a memorable ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' matchup in 2009 where the Colts, despite having the ball for only 15 minutes, defeated the Dolphins 27–23.

The rivalry saw a rekindling after the [[2012 NFL draft]] brought new quarterbacks to both teams in [[Ryan Tannehill]] and Luck. The two met during the 2012 season with Luck breaking the rookie record for passing yards in a game in a 23–20 win over the Dolphins, but Tannehill and the Dolphins beat the Colts 24–20 the next season. The Dolphins win began a slump for Luck and the Colts against [[AFC East]] teams (eight straight losses by the Colts) that ended in December 2016 against the [[2016 New York Jets season|Jets]], when they defeated them by a score of 41–10. As of the 2023 season, the Dolphins lead the all-time series 48–28.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts vs. Miami Dolphins |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=clt&tm2=mia&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>