2004 Indianapolis Colts season

The 2004 Indianapolis Colts season was the 52nd season for the team in the National Football League (NFL) and 21st in Indianapolis. The 2004 Colts season began with the team trying to maintain or improve on their 12–4 record from 2003, and advance further into the playoffs. The Colts finished the season 12–4, and defeated the Denver Broncos for the second straight time in the playoffs, but they were halted in the Divisional round by the defending and eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, their second straight loss in the playoffs to them.

2004 Indianapolis Colts season
OwnerJim Irsay
General managerBill Polian
Head coachTony Dungy
Home fieldRCA Dome
Results
Record12–4
Division place1st AFC South
Playoff finishWon Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Broncos) 49–24
Lost Divisional Playoffs
(at Patriots) 3–20
Pro BowlersQB Peyton Manning
RB Edgerrin James
WR Marvin Harrison
OT Tarik Glenn
DE Dwight Freeney
Uniform

Peyton Manning had one of the best seasons ever by an NFL quarterback (and the best season of his Indianapolis career), throwing 49 touchdown passes and breaking the previous record of 48 held by Dan Marino. At season's end, Peyton Manning was named the NFL MVP. For the season the Colts set an NFL record with 51 total touchdown passes. The Colts led the NFL with 522 points scored. The Colts tallied more points in the first half of each of their games of the 2004 season (277 points) than seven other NFL teams managed in the entire season.[1]

Despite throwing 49 touchdown passes, Peyton Manning attempted fewer than 500 passes for the first time in his NFL career.[2] Sports statistics site Football Outsiders calculates that Manning had the best-ever season by a quarterback, play-for-play, in 2004.[3][4]

The 2004 Colts are the only team in NFL history to convert five or more passing touchdowns in a game four different times during the regular season.[5]

Offseason

Free Agency

During Free Agency, the Colts failed to re-sign linebacker Marcus Washington and cornerback Walt Harris. Both signed with the Washington Redskins in free agency.

NFL Draft
Main article: 2004 NFL draft
2004 Indianapolis Colts draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
2 44 Bob Sanders *  Safety Iowa from Pittsburgh
3 68 Ben Hartsock  Tight end Ohio State from Cleveland
3 69 Gilbert Gardner  Linebacker Purdue from Atlanta
4 107 Kendyll Pope  Linebacker Florida State from Pittsburgh
4 125 Jason David  Cornerback Washington State from Philadelphia via Atlanta
5 141 Jake Scott  Guard Idaho from Cleveland
6 173 Von Hutchins  Cornerback Mississippi from Cleveland
6 193 Jim Sorgi  Quarterback Wisconsin
7 229 David Kimball  Kicker Penn State from St Louis
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents
2004 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Josh Thomas Defensive end Syracuse
Ben Utecht Tight end Minnesota

Roster
Indianapolis Colts 2004 final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen
  • 64 Rick DeMulling C/G
  • 71 Ryan Diem T
  • 76 Makoa Freitas T
  • 78 Tarik Glenn T
  • 61 Trevor Hutton G
  • 65 Ryan Lilja G
  • 56 Tupe Peko G
  • 63 Jeff Saturday C
  • 73 Jake Scott G

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

  • 26 Waine Bacon CB/S
  • 28 Idrees Bashir FS
  • 41 Cory Bird SS
  • 42 Jason David CB/PR
  • 20 Mike Doss SS
  • 39 Anthony Floyd FS
  • 25 Nick Harper CB
  • 27 Von Hutchins CB
  • 29 Joseph Jefferson CB
  • 21 Bob Sanders FS/SS
  • 38 Gerome Sapp SS

Special teams

 Reserve lists
  • 72 Thomas Houchin DE (IR)
  • 57 Jim Nelson LB (IR)
  • 30 Donald Strickland CB (IR)
  • 91 Josh Thomas DE (IR)
  • 47 Ben Utecht TE (PUP)
  • -- Patrick Venzke T (IR)
  • 52 Keyon Whiteside LB (IR)


Practice squad

  •  6 Tom Arth QB
  • 35 Ran Carthon RB
  • 49 Bryan Fletcher TE
  • 14 Eric Hill WR (IR)
  • 36 Tom Lopienski FB
  • 53 Andre Sommersell LB
  • 11 John Standeford WR
  • 60 Jason Stewart DT
  • 31 Jarrell Weaver S


Rookies in italics
 53 active, 8 inactive, 8 practice squad

Preseason
Date Opponent Result Game Site NFL Recap
August 14, 2004 at San Diego ChargersW 21–17Qualcomm StadiumRecap
August 21, 2004New York JetsL 7–31RCA DomeRecap
August 28, 2004Buffalo BillsW 30–17RCA DomeRecap
September 3, 2004at Cincinnati BengalsL 13–16Paul Brown StadiumRecap

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site NFL Recap
1 September 9at New England PatriotsL 24–270–1Gillette StadiumRecap
2 September 19at Tennessee TitansW 31–171–1The ColiseumRecap
3 September 26Green Bay PackersW 45–312–1RCA DomeRecap
4 October 3at Jacksonville JaguarsW 24–173–1Alltel StadiumRecap
5 October 10Oakland RaidersW 35–144–1RCA DomeRecap
6Bye
7 October 24Jacksonville JaguarsL 24–274–2RCA DomeRecap
8 October 31at Kansas City ChiefsL 35–454–3Arrowhead StadiumRecap
9 November 8Minnesota VikingsW 31–285–3RCA DomeRecap
10 November 14Houston TexansW 49–146–3RCA DomeRecap
11 November 21at Chicago BearsW 41–107–3Soldier FieldRecap
12 November 25at Detroit LionsW 41–98–3Ford FieldRecap
13 December 5Tennessee TitansW 51–249–3RCA DomeRecap
14 December 12at Houston TexansW 23–1410–3Reliant StadiumRecap
15 December 19Baltimore RavensW 20–1011–3RCA DomeRecap
16 December 26San Diego ChargersW 34–31 (OT)12–3RCA DomeRecap
17 January 2at Denver BroncosL 14–3312–4Invesco FieldRecap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings
AFC South
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(3) Indianapolis Colts 12 4 0 .750 5–1 8–4 522 351 L1
Jacksonville Jaguars 9 7 0 .563 2–4 6–6 261 280 W1
Houston Texans 7 9 0 .438 4–2 6–6 309 339 L1
Tennessee Titans 5 11 0 .313 1–5 3–9 344 439 W1
AFC[6]
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division leaders
1 Pittsburgh Steelers North 15 1 0 .938 5–1 11–1 .484 .479 W14
2 New England Patriots East 14 2 0 .875 5–1 10–2 .492 .478 W2
3[lower-alpha 1] Indianapolis Colts South 12 4 0 .750 5–1 8–4 .500 .458 L1
4[lower-alpha 1] San Diego Chargers West 12 4 0 .750 5–1 9–3 .477 .411 W1
Wild cards
5[lower-alpha 2] New York Jets East 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 .523 .406 L2
6[lower-alpha 2] Denver Broncos West 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 .484 .450 W2
Did not qualify for the postseason
7[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4] Jacksonville Jaguars South 9 7 0 .563 2–4 6–6 .527 .479 W1
8[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4] Baltimore Ravens North 9 7 0 .563 3–3 6–6 .551 .472 W1
9[lower-alpha 3] Buffalo Bills East 9 7 0 .563 3–3 5–7 .512 .382 L1
10 Cincinnati Bengals North 8 8 0 .500 2–4 4–8 .543 .453 W2
11[lower-alpha 5] Houston Texans South 7 9 0 .438 4–2 6–6 .504 .402 L1
12[lower-alpha 5] Kansas City Chiefs West 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 .551 .509 L1
13[lower-alpha 6] Oakland Raiders West 5 11 0 .313 1–5 3–9 .570 .450 L2
14[lower-alpha 6] Tennessee Titans South 5 11 0 .313 1–5 3–9 .512 .463 W1
15[lower-alpha 7] Miami Dolphins East 4 12 0 .250 1–5 2–10 .555 .438 L1
16[lower-alpha 7] Cleveland Browns North 4 12 0 .250 1–5 3–9 .590 .469 W1
Tiebreakers[lower-alpha 8]
  1. Indianapolis clinched the AFC #3 seed instead of San Diego based upon head-to-head victory.
  2. New York Jets clinched the AFC #5 seed instead of Denver based upon better record against common opponents (New York Jets were 5–0 to Denver’s 3–2 against San Diego, Cincinnati, Houston, and Miami).
  3. Jacksonville and Baltimore finished ahead of Buffalo because they each defeated Buffalo head-to-head.
  4. Jacksonville finished ahead of Baltimore based upon better record against common opponents (Jacksonville were 3–2 against Baltimore’s 2–3 versus Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Buffalo and Kansas City).
  5. Houston finished ahead of Kansas City based upon head-to-head victory.
  6. Oakland finished ahead of Tennessee based upon head-to-head victory.
  7. Miami finished ahead of Cleveland based upon head-to-head victory.
  8. When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.

Game summaries

Week 1: at New England Patriots
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 17 0724
Patriots 3 10 14027

at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

  • Game time: 9:00 pm EST/8:00 pm CST
  • Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C), Cloudy, warm, and humid
  • Game attendance: 68,756
  • TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels, John Madden

Week 2: at Tennessee Titans
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 3 0 72131
Titans 7 3 7017

at The Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST/12:00 pm CST
  • Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C), Sunny
  • Game attendance: 68,932

Week 3: vs. Green Bay Packers
Period 1 2 34Total
Packers 14 3 7731
Colts 21 14 01045

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis

  • Game time: 4:15 pm EST/3:15 pm CST
  • Game weather: Game played indoors
  • Game attendance: 57,280
  • TV announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver (Sideline Reporter)

Week 4: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 7 3 7724
Jaguars 0 3 31117

at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST/12:00 pm CST
  • Game weather: 85 °F (29 °C), Sunny and Clear
  • Game attendance: 73,114

Week 5: vs. Oakland Raiders
Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 0 7 0714
Colts 7 14 01435

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST/12:00 pm CST
  • Game weather: Game played indoors
  • Game attendance: 57,230

Week 7: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Period 1 2 34Total
Jaguars 0 10 31427
Colts 0 14 01024

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis

  • Game time: 12:00 pm EST/11:00 pm CST
  • Game weather: Game played indoors
  • Game attendance: 56,615

Week 8: at Kansas City Chiefs
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 7 7 14735
Chiefs 7 24 01445

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST/12:00 pm CST
  • Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C), Clear
  • Game attendance: 78,312

Week 9: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 6 81428
Colts 7 7 71031

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis

  • Game time: 9:00 pm EST/8:00 pm CST
  • Game weather: Game played indoors
  • Game attendance: 57,307
  • TV announcers: Al Michaels, John Madden

Week 10: vs. Houston Texans
Period 1 2 34Total
Texans 0 0 7714
Colts 7 14 21749

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST/12:00 pm CST
  • Game weather: Game played indoors
  • Game attendance: 56,511

Week 11: at Chicago Bears
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 7 20 14041
Bears 3 0 0710

at Soldier Field, Chicago

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST/12:00 pm CST
  • Game weather: 43 °F (6 °C), Partly Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 61,908

Week 12: at Detroit Lions
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 13 14 14041
Lions 6 3 009

at Ford Field, Detroit

  • Game time: 12:30 pm EST/11:30 pm CST
  • Game weather: Game played indoors
  • Game attendance: 63,107

Week 13: vs. Tennessee Titans
Period 1 2 34Total
Titans 24 0 0024
Colts 17 14 101051

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST/12:00 pm CST
  • Game weather: Game played indoors
  • Game attendance: 57,278

Week 14: at Houston Texans
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 14 0 3623
Texans 0 7 7014

at Reliant Stadium, Houston

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST/12:00 pm CST
  • Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), Clear
  • Game attendance: 70,762

Week 15: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 3 3 14020
Ravens 3 0 7010

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis

  • Game time: 8:30 pm EST/7:30 pm CST
  • Game weather: Game played indoors
  • Game attendance: 57,240
  • TV: ESPN

Week 16: vs. San Diego Chargers
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Chargers 7 10 77031
Colts 0 9 715334

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST/12:00 pm CST
  • Game weather: Game played indoors
  • Game attendance: 57,330
  • TV: CBS

Week 17: at Denver Broncos
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 7 7 0014
Broncos 7 13 10333

at Invesco Field, Denver

  • Game time: 4:15 pm EST/3:15 pm CST
  • Game weather: 32 °F (0 °C), Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 75,149
  • TV announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms

Postseason schedule
Further information: 2004–05 NFL playoffs
Playoff round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Host stadium NFL recap
Wild Card January 9Denver Broncos (6)W 49–241–0RCA DomeRecap
Divisional January 16at New England Patriots (2)L 3–201–1Gillette StadiumRecap

Postseason results

AFC Wild-Card Playoff Game: vs. Denver Broncos
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 3 14724
Colts 14 21 01449

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST/12:00 pm CST
  • Game weather: Game played indoors
  • Game attendance: 56,609
  • TV: CBS

AFC Divisional Playoff game: at New England Patriots
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 3 003
Patriots 0 6 7720

at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

  • Game time: 4:45 pm EST/4:45 pm CST
  • Game weather: 25 °F (−4 °C), Cloudy, Cold, Snow
  • Game attendance: 68,756
  • TV: CBS

Awards and records

See also

References
  1. Ferraro, Michael X.; Veneziano, John (2007). Numbelievable!. Chicago: Triumph Books. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-57243-990-0.
  2. Ferraro, Michael X.; Veneziano, John (2007). Numbelievable!. Chicago: Triumph Books. p. 146. ISBN 978-1-57243-990-0.
  3. Football Outsiders: QUARTERBACKS 2004
  4. Football Outsiders: Final 2011 DVOA Ratings Stats calculated from 1992–2011
  5. Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the NFL, in the regular season, requiring Passing TD >= 5, sorted by most games in season matching criteria.
  6. "2004 Conference Standings". NFL.com. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  7. Maxwell Football Club – Bert Bell Award Past Recipients Archived June 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
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