1968 Baltimore Colts season
The 1968 Baltimore Colts season was the 16th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1968 season with a record of 13 wins and 1 loss. They won the Western Conference's Coastal division. They also won the NFL Championship Game in a shutout of the Cleveland Browns, but then lost to the Jets in Super Bowl III. Quarterback Johnny Unitas had been injured during the pre-season, so Earl Morrall led the offense. Coach Don Shula decided to bring Unitas back in during the second half of the Super Bowl, to no avail.
Regular season
Schedule
Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Record |
Game Site |
Attendance |
1 |
September 15, 1968 |
San Francisco 49ers |
W 27–10 |
1–0 |
Memorial Stadium |
56,864 |
2 |
September 22, 1968 |
at Atlanta Falcons |
W 28–20 |
2–0 |
Atlanta Stadium |
50,428 |
3 |
September 29, 1968 |
at Pittsburgh Steelers |
W 41–7 |
3–0 |
Pitt Stadium |
44,480 |
4 |
October 6, 1968 |
Chicago Bears |
W 28–7 |
4–0 |
Memorial Stadium |
60,238 |
5 |
October 13, 1968 |
at San Francisco 49ers |
W 42–14 |
5–0 |
Kezar Stadium |
32,822 |
6 |
October 20, 1968 |
Cleveland Browns |
L 20–30 |
5–1 |
Memorial Stadium |
60,238 |
7 |
October 27, 1968 |
Los Angeles Rams |
W 27–10 |
6–1 |
Memorial Stadium |
60,238 |
8 |
November 3, 1968 |
at New York Giants |
W 26–0 |
7–1 |
Yankee Stadium |
62,973 |
9 |
November 10, 1968 |
at Detroit Lions |
W 27–10 |
8–1 |
Tiger Stadium |
55,170 |
10 |
November 17, 1968 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
W 27–0 |
9–1 |
Memorial Stadium |
60,238 |
11 |
November 24, 1968 |
Minnesota Vikings |
W 21–9 |
10–1 |
Memorial Stadium |
60,238 |
12 |
December 1, 1968 |
Atlanta Falcons |
W 44–0 |
11–1 |
Memorial Stadium |
60,238 |
13 |
December 7, 1968 |
at Green Bay Packers |
W 16–3 |
12–1 |
Lambeau Field |
50,861 |
14 |
December 15, 1968 |
at Los Angeles Rams |
W 28–24 |
13–1 |
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
69,397 |
Standings
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Post-season
The team made it to the playoffs and hosted the Minnesota Vikings for the right to play in the NFL Championship Game. The Colts took a 21–0 lead and went on to win 24–14. They then traveled to Cleveland to take on the Browns. The Colts defense was on top of their game as they shut out the Browns 34–0 and won their 3rd championship. The 1968 Colts were being touted as "the greatest football team in history". In Super Bowl III, the Colts took on the heavy underdog New York Jets led by quarterback Joe Namath. Before the game, former NFL star and coach Norm Van Brocklin ridiculed the AFL, saying "This will be Namath's first Professional Football game." Three days before the game, Namath was being heckled in Miami and he responded by saying: "We’re going to win Sunday. I guarantee it."[1] The Jets beat the Colts 16–7. This game is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in American sports history.
Perhaps the biggest effect of the Colts' loss is that the predominant sentiment that the AFL was not strong enough to merge with the NFL was firmly squelched.
Awards
Earl Morrall: AP NFL MVP
Don Shula: AP NFL Coach of the Year
References
See also
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| | | The Franchise | |
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| Super Bowl Appearances (4) | |
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| League Championships (5) | |
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| Retired Numbers | |
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| Current League Affiliations | |
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