The 2013 season was the Indianapolis Colts' 61st in the National Football League (NFL), their 30th in Indianapolis and their second under head coach Chuck Pagano, who missed most of the 2012 season due to treatment for leukemia. Throughout the season, the Colts wore a patch to recognize the 30th season since their move to Indianapolis.
While losing their Week 14 match-up against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Colts clinched their 15th division title after the Denver Broncos defeated the Tennessee Titans and their first without Peyton Manning. The Colts matched their 2012 record of 11âÂÂ5, and went undefeated within the division during the season.
In the AFC wild card game against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Colts rallied to turn a 38âÂÂ10 Chiefs' lead into a 45âÂÂ44 victory for the second-largest comeback in NFL playoff history. It is behind the Buffalo Bills who rallied from a 32-point deficit in the 1993 AFC Wild Card Game. The Colts' season came to an end with a 43âÂÂ22 loss to the New England Patriots in the divisional round.
Notes
For the first time since the 2002 season, the Colts did not play the New England Patriots during the regular season. The ColtsâÂÂPatriots rivalry had become one of the most known in modern era sports. However, they did play each other in playoffs.
One highlight of the 2013 Colts season was a trip to San Francisco to play the 49ers. This game marked the return of starting quarterback Andrew Luck to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he played three seasons of college football at Stanford University, which for his first two years there was coached by Jim Harbaugh, then-coach of the 49ers. Luck got the better of his old coach with a 27âÂÂ7 statement victory.
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
The Colts began their 2013 season at home, for the first time since 2009, against the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders, who received the opening kickoff, would turn the ball over on a Terrelle Pryor interception by Colts cornerback Greg Toler. The interception would allow Andrew Luck and the Colts offense to drive down the field and score the first touchdown of the season on a pass from Luck to Reggie Wayne. Heading into the second quarter, the Colts defense would continue to prevent the Raiders from scoring, forcing Oakland to punt on second drive of the game. Luck would again lead the Colts down the field in an eight play, 69-yard drive that would result in a touchdown pass from Luck to tight end Dwayne Allen, giving the Colts an early 14âÂÂ0 lead. Pryor and the Raiders would respond for the first time on their next offensive drive, which ended in a touchdown run from Darren McFadden. Defensive stops by both the Colts and the Raiders would ensure no further scoring in the half and would allow Indianapolis to head into halftime with the 14âÂÂ7 lead. Indianapolis was forced to punt on their first offensive possession of the second half, while the Raiders would drive down to the Colts 20-yard line and would score on a Sebastian Janikowski field goal, cutting the Colts lead to 14âÂÂ10 lead. The Raiders would again begin to drive down the field and would score the go ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter on a pass from Denarius Moore from Terrelle Pryor, giving the Raiders a 17âÂÂ14 lead. Andrew Luck, on the next Colts offensive drive, would lead the team down the field, 71 yards in 11 plays, with Luck himself scoring the game-winning touchdown on a 19-yard run. Pryor and the Raiders would drive down to the Colts 24-yard line, though the drive would end with an interception by Antoine Bethea, sealing the Colts victory.
With the win, the Colts went to 1âÂÂ0 on the season and extended their home winning streak to seven games. This was the last time the Colts would win a season opener until 2025.
The Colts faced the Miami Dolphins in week two, a rematch of the 23âÂÂ20 Colts victory during the 2012 season. This game also marked the second meeting between Andrew Luck of the Colts and Ryan Tannehill of the Dolphins, both sophomore quarterbacks. Indianapolis, who received the opening kickoff, were unable to score on their first drive, unlike the Dolphins who drove down 58 yards in six plays, while scoring on a Tannehill pass to wide receiver Mike Wallace, giving the Dolphins an early 7âÂÂ0 lead. The Colts would respond with a long drive of their own, however they would be able to put it into the endzone, settling instead for an Adam Vinatieri field goal. The Dolphins would strike again, this time scoring in just two plays following a Tannehill 67-yard pass and a Lamar Miller touchdown run. The Colts, who entered the second quarter trailing 14âÂÂ3, quickly scored their first touchdown on the day with an Andrew Luck pass to tight end Coby Fleener. After trading possessions, the Indianapolis offense would strike again, scoring their second touchdown of the quarter and taking the first lead of the day, though it would be taken away by a Caleb Sturgis field goal to end the half, with the teams going into halftime tied at 17. Indianapolis would drive down on their first possession of the second half, though a touchdown would be nullified by an illegal shift penalty and forcing the Colts to settle for a field goal. Midway through the third quarter, the Dolphins would score the go ahead touchdown on a Charles Clay run, putting them ahead 24âÂÂ20. On their last offensive possession of the day, Luck and the Colts would drive down to the Miami 23-yard line, though the comeback would fall short following a sack of Luck on fourth down.
With the loss, the Colts went to 1âÂÂ1 on the season and lost their first home game since September 23, 2012.
The Colts fell behind 21âÂÂ3 before rallying to defeat the Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football 27âÂÂ24.
With the loss, the Colts dropped to 8âÂÂ5, however, they clinched the AFC South division title after the Broncos defeated the Titans later in the evening.
With the win, the Colts improved to 9âÂÂ5 and 12âÂÂ0 at home against the Texans.
With the win, the Colts were the only team during the 2013 season to sweep all of their division rivals.