The 1972 Baltimore Colts season was the 20th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1972 season with a record of 5 wins and 9 losses, and finished third in the AFC East.
Offseason
On July 13, 1972, Robert Irsay bought the Los Angeles Rams and transferred ownership to Carroll Rosenbloom, in exchange for ownership of the Baltimore Colts.[1]
NFL Draft
Main article:
1972 NFL Draft
| Round |
Pick |
Player |
Position |
School/Club Team |
|---|
|
Regular season
The season began ominously for the Colts when they were defeated at home on opening day by the St. Louis Cardinals and their journeyman quarterback, Tim Van Galder. In week two, Johnny Unitas threw for 376 yards and three touchdowns, but it was far from enough as Joe Namath threw for 496 yards and six touchdowns to power the New York Jets to a 44–34 victory at Memorial Stadium, the Jets' first victory over the Colts since Super Bowl III.
In October, the Colts' season reached its nadir when it was shut out twice at home in a three-week stretch by the Dallas Cowboys, who undoubtedly wanted revenge for their loss to Baltimore in Super Bowl V, and the Miami Dolphins, who were on their way to a 17–0 season and their first Super Bowl championship under former Colts coach Don Shula.
Unitas made his final start in a Colts uniform in a week 12 victory over Buffalo.
Schedule
| Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Record |
Game Site |
Attendance |
| 1 |
September 17, 1972 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
L 3–10 |
0–1 |
Memorial Stadium |
53,562 |
| 2 |
September 24, 1972 |
New York Jets |
L 34–44 |
0–2 |
Memorial Stadium |
56,626 |
| 3 |
October 1, 1972 |
at Buffalo Bills |
W 17–0 |
1–2 |
War Memorial Stadium |
46,206 |
| 4 |
October 8, 1972 |
San Diego Chargers |
L 20–23 |
1–3 |
Memorial Stadium |
55,459 |
| 5 |
October 15, 1972 |
Dallas Cowboys |
L 0–21 |
1–4 |
Memorial Stadium |
58,992 |
| 6 |
October 22, 1972 |
at New York Jets |
L 20–24 |
1–5 |
Shea Stadium |
62,948 |
| 7 |
October 29, 1972 |
Miami Dolphins |
L 0–23 |
1–6 |
Memorial Stadium |
60,000 |
| 8 |
November 6, 1972 |
at New England Patriots |
W 24–17 |
2–6 |
Schaefer Stadium |
60,999 |
| 9 |
November 12, 1972 |
at San Francisco 49ers |
L 21–24 |
2–7 |
Candlestick Park |
61,214 |
| 10 |
November 19, 1972 |
at Cincinnati Bengals |
W 20–19 |
3–7 |
Riverfront Stadium |
49,512 |
| 11 |
November 26, 1972 |
New England Patriots |
W 31–0 |
4–7 |
Memorial Stadium |
54,907 |
| 12 |
December 3, 1972 |
Buffalo Bills |
W 35–7 |
5–7 |
Memorial Stadium |
55,390 |
| 13 |
December 10, 1972 |
at Kansas City Chiefs |
L 10–24 |
5–8 |
Arrowhead Stadium |
44,175 |
| 14 |
December 16, 1972 |
at Miami Dolphins |
L 0–16 |
5–9 |
Miami Orange Bowl |
80,010 |
Standings
See also
References
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