2010 Indianapolis Colts season
| 2010 Indianapolis Colts season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Jim Caldwell |
| General manager | Chris Polian |
| Owner | Jim Irsay |
| Home field | Lucas Oil Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 10–6 |
| Division place | 1st AFC South |
| Playoff finish | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) 17–16 |
| Pro Bowlers | QB Peyton Manning WR Reggie Wayne DE Dwight Freeney DE Robert Mathis |
| Uniform | |
 |
|
The 2010 Indianapolis Colts season was the franchise's 58th season in the National Football League, the 27th in Indianapolis, and the second under head coach Jim Caldwell. It was also the final season with Peyton Manning as the team's starting quarterback. Though the Colts failed to win 12 or more games for the first time since 2002, the team did win the AFC South division title for the seventh time in eight seasons, but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Having finished the season as the runner–up in the Super Bowl, the Colts held the 31st pick in each round. They had previously traded their sixth–round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for a seventh–round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
The Colts began their season at Reliant Stadium in an AFC South duel against the Houston Texans. Indianapolis started the season going 3-and-out on their first offensive possession of the new year. The Texans got good field position with a big punt return from Jacoby Jones to set up a 30-yard field goal to give them a 3–0 lead. The offense continued to struggle throughout the first half, getting two first downs on the next drive, however, eventually having to punt. The Texans continued to show energy on both offense and defense by scoring two more time, a field goal and a touchdown, giving the Texans a 13–0 lead halfway through the second quarter. The Colts eventually got the offense going late in the second quarter by scoring on a touchdown reception by Reggie Wayne, which broke the lead down to one possession. Adam Vinatieri made a 20-yard field goal at the end of the first half and the Colts went into the half trailing 13–10. The momentum was seemingly shifting to Indianapolis, until Houston took almost eight minutes off the third quarter clock on a 15-play drive, 13 rushes, that resulted in one of Arian Foster's rushing touchdowns on the day to give Houston a 20–10 lead. Peyton Manning and the offense struggled throughout the third quarter with missed opportunities and continued to shoot themselves in the foot with penalties. With the start of the fourth quarter Houston scored another touchdown and broke the game open. The Colts would eventually score two touchdowns late in the game, only when there was no chance of a comeback.
...
Wikipedia