1966 Baltimore Colts season
{{short description|14th season in franchise history; second "Playoff Bowl" win}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL team season
| team = Baltimore Colts
| year = 1966
| record = 9–5
| division_place = 2nd NFL Western
| owner = Carroll Rosenbloom
| general manager = Don "Red" Kellett
| coach = Don Shula
| stadium = Memorial Stadium
| radio = WCBM
| playoffs = Won NFL Playoff Bowl
(vs. Eagles) 20–14
| shortnavlink = Colts seasons
|pro_bowlers=DE Ordell Braase, CB Lenny Lyles, TE John Mackey, QB Johnny Unitas|AP_All-pros=TE John Mackey}}
The {{nfly|1966}} Baltimore Colts season was the 14th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1966 season with a record of 9 wins and 5 losses and finished second in the Western Conference.
Personnel
= Staff/coaches =
| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left; border: 2px solid black;" |
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;border:2px solid grey; background-color:#002c5f;color:white;" | 1966 Baltimore Colts staff |
|---|
style="font-size:95%;" valign="top" | Front office
Coaching staff
Offensive coaches
|style="width;25px;" | |style="font-size:95%" valign= "top" | Defensive coaches
|
= Roster =
{{NFL season roster
| year = 1966
| team = Baltimore Colts
| quarterbacks =
{{NFLplayer|15|Gary Cuozzo}}
{{NFLplayer|19|Johnny Unitas}}
| running_backs =
{{NFLplayer|44|Gerry Allen|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|45|Jerry Hill|d=American football}}
{{NFLplayer|33|Tony Lorick}}
{{NFLplayer|41|Tom Matte}}
{{NFLplayer|24|Lenny Moore}}
{{NFLplayer|34|Bob Baldwin|FB|d=American football}}
| wide_receivers =
{{NFLplayer|82|Raymond Berry}}
{{NFLplayer|28|Jimmy Orr}}
{{NFLplayer|87|Willie Richardson}}
{{NFLplayer|47|Al Snyder}}
{{NFLplayer|84|Neal Petties}}
| tight_ends =
{{NFLplayer|88|John Mackey|d=American football}}
{{NFLplayer|86|Butch Wilson}}
{{NFLplayer|36|Barry Brown|d=American football}}
| offensive_linemen =
{{NFLplayer|77|Jim Parker|d=American football|T}}
{{NFLplayer|62|Glenn Ressler|G}}
{{NFLplayer|71|Dan Sullivan|d=American football|G}}
{{NFLplayer|52|Dick Szymanski|C}}
{{NFLplayer|72|Bob Vogel|T}}
{{NFLplayer|73|Sam Ball|T}}
{{NFLplayer|68|Alex Sandusky|G}}
{{NFLplayer|67|Dale Memmelaar|G}}
| defensive_linemen =
{{NFLplayer|81|Ordell Braase|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|85|Roy Hilton|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|76|Fred Miller|d=defensive lineman|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|83|Andy Stynchula|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|74|Billy Ray Smith|d3=Sr.|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|79|Lou Michaels|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|89|Gino Marchetti|DE}}
| linebackers =
{{NFLplayer|55|Jackie Burkett}}
{{NFLplayer|32|Mike Curtis|d=American football}}
{{NFLplayer|53|Dennis Gaubatz}}
{{NFLplayer|66|Don Shinnick}}
{{NFLplayer|31|Steve Stonebreaker}}
{{NFLplayer|35|Ted Davis|d=American football|LLB}}
| defensive_back =
{{NFLplayer|40|Bobby Boyd|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|30|Alvin Haymond|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|20|Jerry Logan|S}}
{{NFLplayer|43|Lenny Lyles|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|46|Jim Welch|S}}
{{NFLplayer|42|George Harold}}
{{NFLplayer|25|Tom Bleick}}
| special_teams =
{{NFLplayer|49|David Lee|d=punter|rookie=y|P}}
{{NFLplayer|75|Lou Michaels|K}}
| reserve_lists =
| practice_squad =
}}
Regular season
= Schedule =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}}"| Week
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}}"| Date !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}}"| Opponent !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}}"| Result !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}}"| Record !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}}"| Venue !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}}"| Attendance |
|---|
| style="background:#fcc"
! 1 | {{dow tooltip|September 10, 1966}} | at Green Bay Packers | L 3–24 | 0–1 | 48,650 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 2 | September 18 | at Minnesota Vikings | W 38–23 | 1–1 | 47,426 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 3 | September 25 | W 36–14 | 2–1 | 56,715 |
| style="background:
! 4 |colspan="6"| Bye |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 5 | October 9 | at Chicago Bears | L 17–27 | 2–2 | 47,452 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 6 | October 16 | W 45–14 | 3–2 | Memorial Stadium | 60,238 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 7 | October 23 | W 20–17 | 4–2 | Memorial Stadium | 60,238 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 8 | October 30 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 17–3 | 5–2 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 57,898 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 9 | November 6 | W 37–10 | 6–2 | Memorial Stadium | 60,238 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 10 | November 13 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 19–7 | 7–2 | 58,850 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 11 | November 20 | at Detroit Lions | L 14–20 | 7–3 | 52,383 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 12 | November 27 | L 7–23 | 7–4 | Memorial Stadium | 60,238 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 13 | December 4 | W 21–16 | 8–4 | Memorial Stadium | 60,238 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 14 | {{dow tooltip|December 10. 1966}} | L 10–14 | 8–5 | Memorial Stadium | 60,238 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 15 | December 18 | at San Francisco 49ers | W 30–14 | 9–5 | 40,005 |
| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}}"
|colspan="8"| Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text. |
= Standings =
{{1966 NFL Western standings}}
= Game summaries =
== Week 3: vs San Francisco 49ers ==
{{Americanfootballbox|title=Week Three: San Francisco 49ers (0–0–1) at Baltimore Colts (1–1)|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}};text-align:center;|stadium=Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland|weather={{convert|56|F|C}}|date=September 25|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196609250clt.htm Box Score]|H3=6|R3=0|H4=14|R4=7|R1=7|R2=0|H1=6|H2=10|Home=Colts|Road=49ers|scoring=First quarter
- BAL – Lou Michaels 41-yard field goal. Colts 3–0.
- SF – Bernie Casey 20-yard pass from John Brodie (Tommy Davis) kick. 49ers 7-3.
- BAL – Lou Michaels 37-yard field goal. 49ers 7-6
Second quarter
- BAL – Lou Michaels 25-yard field goal. Colts 9-7.
- BAL – John Mackey 57-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Lou Michaels kick). Colts 16-7
Third quarter
- BAL – Lou Michaels 23-yard field goal. Colts 19–7.
- BAL – Lou Michaels 30-yard field goal. Colts 22-7.
Fourth quarter
- BAL – Lenny Moore 1-yard run (Lou Michaels kick). Colts 29–7.
- BAL – Butch Wilson 7-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Lou Michaels kick). Colts 36–7.
- SF – Kent Kramer 17-yard pass from George Mira (Tommy Davis kick). Colts 36–14.|stats=Top passers
- 49ers – John Brodie – 16/25, 159 yards, TD, INT
- Colts – Johnny Unitas – 14/30, 225 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
- 49ers – Ken Willard – 10 rushes, 33 yards
- Colts – Tony Lorick – 18 rushes, 110 yards
Top receivers
- 49ers – Dave Parks – 4 receptions, 52 yards
- Colts – John Mackey – 3 receptions, 76 yards, TD|state=autocollapse}}
== Week 5: at Chicago Bears ==
{{Americanfootballbox
|bg=
|bg2=
|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}};text-align:center;
|state=autocollapse
|title=Week Five: Baltimore Colts (2–1) at Chicago Bears (1–2)
|date=Sunday, October 9
|time=
|road=Colts
|R1= 0|R2=3 |R3=7 |R4=7
|home=Bears
|H1=10 |H2=0 |H3=10 |H4=7
|stadium=Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
|attendance=
|weather={{convert|67|F}}, wind 12 mph
|referee=
|TV=
|TVAnnouncers=
|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196610090chi.htm Box Score]
|scoring=
;First Quarter
- CHI – Roger LeClerc 42-yard field goal – Bears 3–0
- CHI – Joe Fortunato 24-yard fumble return (Roger LeClerc kick) – Bears 10–0
;Second Quarter
- BAL – Lou Michaels 13-yard field goal – Bears 10–3
;Third Quarter
- CHI – Gale Sayers 30-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick) – Bears 17–3
- CHI – Roger LeClerc 27-yard field goal – Bears 20–3
- BAL – Bobby Boyd 37-yard interception return (Lou Michaels kick) – Bears 20–10
;Fourth Quarter
- CHI – Gale Sayers 7-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick) – Bears 27–10
- BAL – John Mackey 79-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Lou Michaels kick) – Bears 27–17
|stats=
Top Passers
- Colts – Johnny Unitas, 18/38, 274 Yds, TD, 2 INT
- Bears – Rudy Bukich, 8/15, 96 Yds, INT
Top Rushers
- Colts – Tom Matte, 4 Rush, 57 Yds
- Bears – Gale Sayers, 18 Rush, 106 Yds, 2 TD
Top Receivers
- Colts – John Mackey, 2 Rec, 89 Yds, TD
- Bears – Jimmy Jones, 3 Rec, 64 Yds
}}
== Week 6 vs Detroit Lions ==
{{Americanfootballbox|title=Week Six: Detroit Lions (2–3) at Baltimore Colts (2–2)|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}};text-align:center;|H3=7|R3=7|H4=14|R4=7|R1=0|R2=0|H1=7|H2=17|stadium=Memorial Stadium, Baltimore|date=October 16|weather={{convert|64|°F|°C}}|Home=Colts|Road=Lions|scoring=First Quarter
- Baltimore– Tony Lorick 5-yard rush (Michaels kick), Colts 7–0.
Second Quarter
- Baltimore – Tom Matte 28-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Michaels kick), Colts 14–0.
- Baltimore – John Mackey 51-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Michaels kick), Colts 21–0.
- Baltimore – Lou Michaels 47-yard field goal, Colts 24–0.
Third Quarter
- Detroit – Pat Studstill 4-yard pass from Milt Plum (Walker kick), Colts 24–7.
- Baltimore – Jimmy Orr 3-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Michaels kick), Colts 31–7.
Fourth Quarter
- Baltimore – Raymond Berry 17-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Michaels kick), Colts 38–7.
- Detroit – Pat Studstill 99-yard pass from Karl Sweetan (Walker kick), Colts 38–14.
- Baltimore – Willie Richardson 5-yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Michaels kick), Colts 45–14.|stats=Top Passers
- Lions – Milt Plum: 16/28, 107 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Colts – Johnny Unitas: 18/27, 218 yds, 4 TD
Top rushers
- Lions – Amos Marsh: 11 car, 36 yds
- Colts – Tom Matte: 13 car, 73 yds.
Top receivers
- Lions – Pat Studstill: 6 rec, 141 yds. 2 TD
- Colts – Jimmy Orr: 6 rec, 78 yds. 1 TD|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196610160clt.htm Box Score]}}
== Week 14: vs. Green Bay Packers ==
{{Americanfootballbox
|bg=
|bg2=
|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}};text-align:center;
|state=collapsed
|title=Week Fourteen: Green Bay Packers (10–2) at Baltimore Colts (8–4)
|date=Saturday, December 10
|time=
|road=Packers
|R1=7 |R2=0 |R3=0 |R4=7
|home=Colts
|H1=0 |H2=10 |H3=0 |H4=0
|stadium=Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
|attendance=
|weather={{convert|21|°F|°C}}
|referee=
|TV=
|TVAnnouncers=
|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196612100clt.htm Box Score]
|scoring=
First quarter
- GB – Elijah Pitts 42-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick)
Second quarter
- BAL – Tony Lorick 1-yard run (Lou Michaels kick)
- BAL – Lou Michaels 26-yard field goal
Fourth quarter
- GB – Elijah Pitts 2-yard run (Don Chandler kick)
|stats=
Passing
- GB – Bart Starr 7/15, 96 yards, TD
- BAL – Johnny Unitas 11/24, 140 yards, 3 INT
Rushing
- GB – Elijah Pitts 11 att, 43 yards, TD
Jim Taylor 17 att, 43 yards - BAL – Jerry Hill 25 att, 88 yards
Receiving
- GB – Elijah Pitts 4 rec, 79 yards, TD
- BAL – Raymond Berry 4 rec, 59 yards
}}
Quarterback Zeke Bratkowski, in relief of Bart Starr, who suffered a muscle spasm in the first half, directed an 80-yard drive in the fourth quarter that resulted in a go-ahead touchdown run by Elijah Pitts for the Packers. John Unitas then led the Colts to the Green Bay 15, but there lost a fumble which came to be known as the 'Million Dollar Fumble', to secure the Packers' win that clinched the Western Conference title for Green Bay.{{cite magazine|title=THE $1,000,000 FUMBLE|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1966/12/19/614155/the-1000000-fumble|magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=December 19, 1966}}
Playoff Bowl
{{main article|Playoff Bowl}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}}"| Round
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}}"| Date !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}}"| Opponent !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}}"| Result !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}}"| Record !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}}"| Venue !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1966|border=2}}"| Attendance |
|---|
| style="background:#cfc"
! Playoff Bowl | January 8, 1967 | W 20–14 | 1–0 | 58,088 |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Indianapolis Colts}}
{{Indianapolis Colts seasons}}
{{1966 NFL season by team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1966 Baltimore Colts Season}}
Category:Baltimore Colts seasons
{{Americanfootball-season-stub}}