User:WikiGiancarloC2/sandbox
Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee Titans
| |
| Location | Indianapolis, Nashville |
|---|---|
| First meeting | October 11, 1970 Colts 24, Oilers 20[1] |
| Latest meeting | December 3, 2023 Colts 31, Titans 28[1] |
| Next meeting | 2024 |
| Stadiums | Colts: Lucas Oil Stadium Titans: Nissan Stadium |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 59[1] |
| All-time series | Colts: 37-22[1] |
| Largest victory | Colts: 35-3 (2005) Titans: 45-26 (2020)[1] |
| Longest win streak | Colts: 11 (2011-2016) Titans: 5 (2020-2022)[1] |
| Current win streak | Colts: 2[1] |
| Championship Success | |
| Super Bowl Championships (2)[2][3]
Super Bowl Appearances (4)[2][3] Conference Championships Appearances (8)<[2][3] Division Championships (14)[2][3]
| |
The Colts–Titans rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans.[4][5]
During the 1960s, both teams competed in separate Leagues and went by different names, with the Colts identified as the Baltimore Colts and the Titans recognized as the Houston Oilers. Following a merger, the Colts and Oilers were both assigned to the American Football Conference, leading to sporadic matchups. A standout event during this period occurred when the Oilers ended their eighteen-game losing streak against the Colts and securing their sole victory of the season. Following a series of conflicting situations, both teams relocated. The Colts made their move to Indianapolis, while the Oilers found their new home in Nashville, Tennessee, where they underwent a name change and became the Tennessee Titans.
Background[edit]
The Indianapolis Colts originally played in Baltimore and were known as the Baltimore Colts and they began in the 1953 NFL season as a member of the National Football League.
The Tennessee Titans were originally known as the Houston Oilers, and they began in the 1960 AFL season as a charter member of the American Football League.
Due to being in separate leagues, the two teams couldn't compete against each other. However, a significant development occurred on June 8, 1966, when the American Football League and National Football League decided to merge. This merger led to the formation of a combined league, preserving the name and logo of the "National Football League," and was planned to kick off in the 1970 season, resulting in a single league with two conferences. The Baltimore Colts, originally in the Western Conference of the NFL, agreed to move conferences to become part of the American Football Conference (AFC) alongside the Oilers. However, the Colts were placed in the AFC East division, whereas the Oilers were placed in the AFC Central division.
1970s: Beginning[edit]
The Colts and Oilers had their inaugural meeting during the 1970 season on October 11 in Houston. Both teams had identical 2-1 records going into the game. During the 2nd quarter, the Colts established a 14-0 lead by executing scoring drives spanning 38 and 44 yards. However, the Oilers managed to recover a fumble at the Baltimore 8-yard line and scored their first points on a 7-yard pass. The Colts added a 43-yard field goal before halftime, securing a 17-7 lead. Although the Colts failed to score in the third quarter, the Oilers managed to score a rushing touchdown, narrowing the lead to 17-14. In the fourth quarter, the Oilers took the lead with two field goals by K Roy Gerela, making it 20-17 with only a few minutes remaining. However, with just 46 seconds left on the clock, future hall of famer QB Johnny Unitas connected with WR Roy Jefferson for a 31-yard touchdown pass, securing a 24-20 victory in their first game against the Oilers.[6][7]
After a promising beginning, the Oilers went 1-8-1 the rest of the season and concluded with a record of 3-10-1. Conversely, the Colts excelled, winning eight games, drawing one, and finishing with an impressive record of 11-2-1, the best in the newly established American Football Conference. In the playoffs, they shut out the Cincinnati Bengals and defeated the Oakland Raiders in the inaugural AFC Championship Game, paving the way for their second Super Bowl appearance. In Super Bowl V, the Colts avenged their upset defeat in Super Bowl III and defeated the Dallas Cowboys with a final score of 16-13, securing their first Super Bowl Championship.[8]
Oilers' Eighteen-game losing streak and solo victory[edit]
After winning 26-20 against the New York Jets, which later turned out to be their only win in their 1972 season, the Houston Oilers proceeded to lose eleven consecutive games to conclude the season. The team ended the season ranked second-to-last in the NFL for both points scored and points allowed, with the 26 points scored in the Jets game being their highest total for the entire season.[9] Entering the 1973 season, the Oilers embarked on a seven-game losing streak, which extended their total losing streak to eighteen games. Their defense, which was already performing poorly, deteriorated further, conceding 250 points and 2429 total yards in the past seven games.[10][11]
On November 4, they faced off against the Colts, who were also struggling, in Baltimore. By the end of the first half, the Oilers had built up a 21-3 lead as the Colts offense has surprisingly struggled scoring against the Oilers pathetic defense. In the second half, things started to change as the Colts scored two touchdowns and held the Oilers scoreless in the 3rd quarter. In the 4th quater, it was a back and forth until the Colts took a 27-24 lead At the two minute warning. The Oilers got the ball back
Following the win, the Oilers ended their eighteen-game losing streak, setting a record at the time post-merge. When considering losing streaks before the merge, it was the third longest losing streak of all time, only behind the Chicago Cardinals (29) and Raiders (19).[12][13][14] The Oilers' record-breaking losing streak post-merge would be surpassed a couple of years later when the newly established Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 0-26 in their first two seasons, which began with their inaugural game against the Oilers.[15][16] This victory would later be the Oilers' sole win in the 1973 season, as they concluded the season with a six-game losing streak, resulting in a 1-13 record.[11] Interestingly, the Colts later went winless in the shortened 1982 season due to a players' strike, finishing with a 0-8-1 record and last in the AFC, with the Oilers just above them with a 1-8 record.[17] The Oilers would later have another long losing streak in the 1982-1983 season, losing seventeen consecutive games.[18]
https://vault.si.com/vault/1973/11/12/after-18-dry-wells-a-little-gusher
Struggles and last Baltimore game[edit]
Making their debut on Monday Night Football, the Colts seized the opportunity to avenge their previous matchup against the Oilers. On November 1, amidst the 1976 season, the Colts showcased their dominance in Baltimore. With an impressive 31-0 lead going into the final quarter, they maintained their stronghold and emerged victorious with a 38-14 win.[19]
The early 1980s saw the Oilers and Colts struggle heavily. The Colts had one of the worst defenses in the 1981 season, as they finished with a 2-14 record.[20] In the shortened players' strike 1982 NFL season, the Colts finished 0-8-1, the worst record in the league.[21] The Oilers did not fare any better. Following a wild card defeat to the eventual Super Bowl Champions Raiders in the 1980 season,[22] the Oilers struggled to regain their relevance and endured consecutive losing seasons, including a 17-game losing streak from 1982-1983.[18] Due to their poor records, the Colts and Oilers held the top two picks in the 1983 NFL Draft, with the Colts being in position to draft future hall-of-famer QB John Elway. However, Elway refused to play for the Colts, citing concerns about his potential success with the team.[23] He later expressed his desire to play for a West Coast team, ruling out the Oilers.[24] In the end, the Colts drafted Elway but traded him to the Denver Broncos, who would lead them to five Super Bowl appearances and two Super Bowl championships.[25]
In the 1983 season finale held in Baltimore, the Colts emerged victorious with a 20-10 win over the Oilers, marking yet another disappointing season for both teams. It is worth mentioning that the Oilers' quarterback during that time was QB Oliver Luck, who would later become the father of QB Andrew Luck, a prominent quarterback for the Colts.[26] Although this game went unnoticed at the time, it gained significance later on as it marked the final game played by the Colts as a Baltimore team.[27]
1984-1997: Indianapolis Colts[edit]
Colts relocate to Indianapolis[edit]
Wait until Tennessee titans move to change?!
Even though he achieved success and won a Super Bowl Championship while in charge, former Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom was discontent with Baltimore Memorial Stadium and faced issues with Baltimore Orioles ownership over stadium revenues.[28] Consequently, after the 1971 season, Rosenbloom and then-owner of the Los Angeles Rams, Robert Irsay, exchanged ownership, with Rosenbloom taking over the Rams and Irsay acquiring ownership of the Colts. With no progress made on a new stadium being built for the team, Irsay began talking to Phoenix, Arizona and Indianapolis, Indiana about potentially moving his team. In response, March 27, 1984, the Maryland Senate passed legislation giving the city of Baltimore the right to seize ownership of the Colts by eminent domain. Facing pressure, Irsay called Indianapolis and they offered him to play in their newly construted stadium, Hoosier Dome. Irsay agreed and worried about the eminent domain bill signing into law, quickly called moving Mayflower trucks to move the Colts to Indianapolis, effectively becoming the Indianapolis Colts.
Baltimore was left without an NFL team until the 1996 season, which followed a similar controversial move as the Cleveland Browns relocated from Cleveland to Baltimore to become the Baltimore Ravens.[29] Interesting to note, the Ravens' final home game at Baltimore Memorial Stadium was against the Tennessee Oilers.[30]
In the 1984 season, The Colts met the Oilers at Houston on September 9 for their second game as an Indianapolis franchise.
1997-1999: Houston Oilers become Tennessee Titans, first playoff meeting[edit]
After years of thretaning, Bud Adams moved his team to Tennessee.
2012-2018: Andrew Luck Era[edit]
The Colts had the worse record last year (2-14) so they acquired the first pick in the 2012 NFL draft. They used to to select Stanford QB Andrew Luck.
Game results[edit]
| Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans Season-by-Season Results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1970s (Tie, 2–2)
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1980s (Colts, 4–3)
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2000s (Colts, 11-6)
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2010s (Colts, 16–4)
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2020s (Titans, 5–3)
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Summary of Results
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- ^ a b c d e f g "All Matchups, Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Indianapolis Colts Franchise Encyclopedia". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Tennessee Titans Franchise Encyclopedia". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Spradley, Jon (September 1, 2023). "Colts' rivalry problem: Tennessee Titans". StampedeBlue. Archived from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Glennon, John (October 9, 2023). "Once the bully, Titans see Colts turn tables in AFC South rivalry". NashvillePost. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "1970 Colts at Oilers week 4". Youtube. September 26, 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Colts Topple Oilers On Last‐Period Pass By Unitas, 24 to 20". The New York Times. October 12, 1970. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Colts Top Cowboys, 16-13". Washington Post. January 17, 1971. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "1972 Houston Oilers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "When The Houston Oilers Sprung A Leak". Sports History Network. September 11, 2020. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ a b "1973 Houston Oilers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Team Streak Stats Finder - Pro Football". Stathead Football`. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ Edholm, Eric (November 29, 2016). "Here are the longest losing streaks for all 32 NFL teams". Yahoo. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "All time losing streaks". mcubed. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "The Timeline: 0-26 Bucs". NFL. NFL Network. November 23, 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0 Houston Oilers 20". BucPower. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "1982 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro Football Refernce. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ a b "OILERS FINALLY WIN". The New York Times. November 14, 1983. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Mitchell, Jones Pace Colts' Romp". The New York Times. November 2, 1976. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "Worst NFL teams of all time". ESPN. Archived from the original on September 26, 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ Lamers, Ben (February 26, 2015). "Throwback Thursday: The 1980s". StampedeBlue. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "Greatest Moments: 1980 AFC Wild Card". Raiders. December 28, 2013. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "What if the Colts had called John Elway's bluff?". ESPN. February 24, 2007. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ Janofsky, Michael (April 15, 1983). "ELWAY RULES OUT COLTS, OILERS". New York Times. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ DiLalla, Aric (May 2, 2023). "'The shock waves may never subside': An oral history of the Broncos' franchise-altering trade for John Elway". DenverBroncos. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ DeArdo, Bryan (January 8, 2020). "Oliver Luck says his son, former NFL quarterback Andrew Luck, does not appear to have a desire to play again". CBSsports. Archived from the original on January 9, 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "Baltimore a winner in debut". August 4, 1996. Archived from the original on May 4, 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ Swift, E.M. (December 15, 1986). "NOW YOU SEE HIM, NOW YOU DON'T". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ Babington, Charles; Denlinger, Ken (November 7, 1995). "Modell Announces Browns' Move to Baltimore". Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ Odeniran, Wola (March 6, 2016). "Flashback Sunday: Ravens vs Oilers in last game at Memorial Stadium". BaltimoreBeatdown. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2024.