The 1970 Baltimore Colts season was the 18th season of the second Colts franchise in the National Football League (NFL). Led by first-year head coach Don McCafferty , the Colts finished the 1970 season with a regular season record of 11 wins, 2 losses, and 1 tie to win the first AFC East title. The Colts completed the postseason in Miami with a victory over the Cowboys in Super Bowl V , their first Super Bowl title and fourth NFL championship (1958 , 1959 , 1968 , and 1970).
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The Baltimore Colts playing against the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V Behind a offense constructed around short, ball-control throws, the 1970 Colts were the first team in NFL history to win a championship after gaining more yards passing than running over the course of the year.[1]
In February 1970, head coach Don Shula departed after seven seasons for the Miami Dolphins ,[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
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1970 Baltimore Colts staff
Front office
Coaching staff
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
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Schedule
More information Week, Date ...
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Record
Venue
Attendance
1
September 20
at San Diego Chargers
W 16–141–0
San Diego Stadium 47,782
2
Kansas City Chiefs L 24–441–1
Memorial Stadium 53,911
3
October 4
at Boston Patriots
W 14–62–1
Harvard Stadium 38,235
4
October 11
at Houston Oilers
W 24–203–1
Astrodome 48,050
5
October 18
at New York Jets
W 29–224–1
Shea Stadium 63,301
6
October 25
Boston Patriots W 27–35–1
Memorial Stadium
60,240
7
November 1
Miami Dolphins W 35–06–1
Memorial Stadium
60,240
8
at Green Bay Packers
W 13–107–1
Milwaukee County Stadium 48,063
9
November 15
Buffalo Bills T 17–177–1–1
Memorial Stadium
60,240
10
November 22
at Miami Dolphins
L 17–347–2–1
Miami Orange Bowl 67,699
11
November 29
Chicago Bears W 21–208–2–1
Memorial Stadium
60,240
12
December 6
Philadelphia Eagles W 29–109–2–1
Memorial Stadium
60,240
13
December 13
at Buffalo Bills
W 20–1410–2–1
War Memorial Stadium 34,346
14
New York Jets W 35–2011–2–1
Memorial Stadium
60,240
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
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Game summaries
Week 1
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
1
2 3 4 Total
• Colts 0
3 7 6
16
Chargers
0
0 7 7
14
Scoring summary 2 BAL Jim O'Brien 25-yard field goalColts 3–0 3 SD Gary Garrison 65-yard pass from John Hadl (Mike Mercer kick)Chargers 7–3 3 BAL Norm Bulaich 1-yard run (Jim O'Brien kick)Colts 10–7 4 BAL Jim O'Brien 34-yard field goal Colts 13–7 4 SD Gary Garrison 43-yard pass from John Hadl (Mike Mercer kick) Chargers 14–13 4 BAL Jim O'Brien 28-yard field goal Colts 16–14
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[7]
Week 2
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
1
2 3 4 Total
• Chiefs10
21 3 10
44
Colts
0
7 3 14
24
Scoring summary Q1 KC Richardson 48 yard pass from Dawson (Stenerud kick)KC 7–0 Q1 KC Stenerud 28 yard field goal KC 10–0 Q2 KC Holmes 13 yard pass from Dawson (Stenerud kick)KC 17–0 Q2 KC Robinson 46 yard fumble return (Stenerud kick)KC 24–0 Q2 KC Pitts 54 yard pass from Dawson (Stenerud kick)KC 31–0 Q2 BAL Jefferson 3 yard pass from Morall (O'Brien kick)KC 31–7 Q3 BAL O'Brien 26 yard field goal KC 31–10 Q3 KC Stenerud 17 yard field goal KC 34–10 Q4 KC Pitts 4 yard pass from Dawson (Stenerud kick) KC 41–10 Q4 BAL Hinton 21 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick)KC 41–17 Q4 BAL Mitchell 2 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick)KC 41–24 Q4 KC Stenerud 48 yard field goal KC 44–24
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[8]
Week 3
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
1
2 3 4 Total
• Colts0
7 0 7
14
Patriots
0
3 0 3
6
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[9]
Week 4
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
1
2 3 4 Total
• Colts7
10 0 7
24
Oilers
0
7 7 6
20
Date: October 11Location: Houston Astrodome , Houston Game start: 3:00 p.m. CDT Game attendance: 48,050Game weather: Indoors (dome)Referee: George Rennix Scoring summary Q1 BAL Maitland 2 yard run (O'Brien kick)BAL 7–0 Q2 BAL Jefferson 17 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 14–0 Q2 HOU LeVias 7 yard pass from Johnson (Gerela kick)BAL 14–7 Q2 BAL O'Brien 43 yard field goal BAL 17–7 Q3 HOU Hopkins 1 yard run (Gerela kick)BAL 17–14 Q4 HOU Gerela 27 yard field goal Tie 17–17 Q4 HOU Gerela 9 yard field goal HOU 20–17 Q4 BAL Jefferson 31 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick) BAL 24–20
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[10]
Week 5
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
1
2 3 4 Total
• Colts17
3 6 3
29
Jets
3
2 14 3
22
Scoring summary Q1 BAL O'Brien 28 yard field goalBAL 3–0 Q1 BAL Logan 31 yard interception return (O'Brien kick)BAL 10–0 Q1 BAL Mitchell 11 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 17–0 Q1 NYJ Turner 41 yard field goalBAL 17–3 Q2 BAL O'Brien 18 yard field goal BAL 20–3 Q2 NYJ Safety, Maitland tackled by Elliot in end zone BAL 20–5 Q3 BAL Grant 27 yard interception return (kick failed)BAL 26–5 Q3 NYJ Bell 17 yard pass from Namath (Turner kick)BAL 26–12 Q3 NYJ Boozer 1 yard run (Turner kick)BAL 26–19 Q4 BAL O'Brien 28 yard field goal BAL 29–19 Q4 NYJ Turner 42 yard field goal BAL 29–22
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[11]
This was the Super Bowl III rematch and it was truly a rematch but this time it favors the Colts as they opened up a 19–0 lead and never looked back. The Jets did mount a challenge led by Joe Namath 's 392 yards passing, but he also had 6 interceptions as the Colts gain some revenge on this day.
Week 6
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
1
2 3 4 Total
Patriots
0
3 0 0
3
• Colts3
14 3 7
27
Date: October 25Location: Memorial Stadium , Baltimore Game start: 2:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 60,240Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C); wind 6 mph (9.7 km/h)Referee: Bob Finley Scoring summary Q1 BAL O'Brien 12 yard field goalBAL 3–0 Q2 BOS Gogolak 15 yard field goalTie 3–3 Q2 BAL Maitland 5 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 10–3 Q2 BAL Jefferson 15 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 17–3 Q3 BAL O'Brien 48 yard field goal BAL 20–3 Q4 BAL Orr 26 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 27–3
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[12]
Week 7
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
1
2 3 4 Total
Dolphins
0
0 0 0
0
• Colts7
7 14 7
35
Scoring summary Q1 BAL Gardin 80 yard punt return (O'Brien kick)BAL 7–0 Q2 BAL Bulaich 1 yard run (O'Brien kick)BAL 14–0 Q3 BAL Duncan 99 yard kickoff return (O'Brien kick)BAL 21–0 Q3 BAL Hinton 32 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 28–0 Q4 BAL Mitchell 15 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick)BAL 35–0
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[13]
Week 8
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
1
2 3 4 Total
• Colts0
7 6 0
13
Packers
3
0 0 7
10
Scoring summary Q1 GB Livingston 20 yard field goalGB 3–0 Q2 BAL Hill 15 yard run (O'Brien kick)BAL 7–3 Q3 BAL O'Brien 42 yard field goal BAL 10–3 Q3 BAL O'Brien 29 yard field goal BAL 13–3 Q4 GB Grabowski 1 yard run (Livingston kick)BAL 13–10
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[14]
Week 11
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1
2 3 4 Total
Bears
17
0 0 3
20
• Colts0
14 0 7
21
Scoring summary Q1 CHI Farmer 20 yard pass from Concannon (Percival kick)CHI 7–0 Q1 CHI Percival 28 yard field goal CHI 10–0 Q1 CHI Coady 1 yard pass from Concannon (Percival kick)CHI 17–0 Q2 BAL Hill 1 yard run (O'Brien kick)CHI 17–7 Q2 BAL Jefferson 7 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)CHI 17–14 Q4 CHI Percival 27 yard field goal CHI 20–14 Q4 BAL Mackey 54 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 21–20
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[15]
Week 12
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
1
2 3 4 Total
Eagles
0
3 7 0
10
• Colts13
10 3 3
29
Scoring summary Q1 BAL Mackey 14 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 7–0 Q1 BAL Hinton 9 yard run (kick failed)BAL 13–0 Q2 BAL O'Brien 45 yard field goal BAL 16–0 Q2 PHI Moseley 38 yard field goalBAL 16–3 Q2 BAL Logan 33 yard interception return (O'Brien kick)BAL 23–3 Q3 BAL O'Brien 44 yard field goal BAL 26–3 Q3 PHI Snead 1 yard run (Moseley kick)BAL 26–10 Q4 BAL O'Brien 47 yard field goal BAL 29–10
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[16]
Week 13
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
1
2 3 4 Total
• Colts 10
0 7 3
20
Bills
7
7 0 0
14
Scoring summary 1 BAL Jim O'Brien 32-yard field goalColts 3–0 1 BUF Lloyd Pate 1-yard run (Grant Guthrie kick) Bills 7–3 1 BAL Tom Nowatzke 1-yard run (Jim O'Brien kick)Colts 10–7 2 BUF Marlin Briscoe 10-yard pass from Dennis Shaw (Grant Guthrie kick)Bills 14–10 3 BAL Norm Bulaich 2-yard run (Jim O'Brien kick)Colts 17–14 4 BAL Jim O'Brien 38-yard field goal Colts 20–14
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[17]
The Colts clinched the division title with the win.
Week 14
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
1
2 3 4 Total
Jets
7
7 3 3
20
• Colts0
14 7 14
35
Scoring summary Q1 NYJ Caster 15 yard pass from Woodall (Turner kick)NYJ 7–0 Q2 BAL Hinton 25 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick)Tie 7–7 Q2 NYJ Grantham 41 yard interception return (Turner kick)NYJ 14–7 Q2 BAL Hinton 7 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick) Tie 14–14 Q3 BAL Orr 18 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick)BAL 21–14 Q3 NYJ Turner 25 yard field goal BAL 21–17 Q4 NYJ Turner 29 yard field goal BAL 21–20 Q4 BAL Perkins 41 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick)BAL 28–20 Q4 BAL Hendricks recovered fumble in end zone (O'Brien kick)BAL 35–20
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[18]
Standings
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Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.More information AFC Central, W ...
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Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.More information AFC West, W ...
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Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
The team made it to the playoffs with the best record in the AFC. The Colts hosted both AFC playoff games that they played in. (It wasn't until the 1975 season that playoff teams were seeded by record; the fact that the Colts hosted both playoff games was just due to the rotation set up with the AFL–NFL merger .) The team won both AFC playoff games as well as Super Bowl V .
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Divisional
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1
2 3 4 Total
Bengals
0
0 0 0
0
• Colts7
3 0 7
17
Scoring summary Q1 BAL Jefferson 45 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 7–0 Q2 BAL O'Brien 44 yard field goal BAL 10–0 Q4 BAL Hinton 53 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 17–0
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The Colts hosted the Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round. The Colts relied on their defense, which had carried them all season, to best the Bengals 17–0, holding Cincinnati to only 139 total yards.[19]
Conference Championship
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1
2 3 4 Total
Raiders
0
3 7 7
17
• Colts3
7 10 7
27
Scoring summary Q1 BAL O'Brien 16 yard field goalBAL 3–0 Q2 BAL Bulaich 2 yard run (O'Brien kick)BAL 10–0 Q2 OAK Blanda 48 yard field goalBAL 10–3 Q3 OAK Biletnikoff 38 yard pass from Blanda (Blanda kick)Tie 10–10 Q3 BAL O'Brien 23 yard field goal BAL 13–10 Q3 BAL Bulaich 11 yard run (O'Brien kick) BAL 20–10 Q4 OAK Wells 15 yard pass from Blanda (Blanda kick)BAL 20–17 Q4 BAL Perkins 68 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick)BAL 27–17
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The Colts next hosted the Oakland Raiders for the AFC Championship game . The Colts jumped out to an early lead over the Raiders, 10–3 at halftime. Oakland came back to tie it up early in the 3rd quarter. The Colts would respond with a Jim O'Brien field goal and a second Bulaich touchdown. Johnny Unitas extended the lead with a 68-yard touchdown pass to Ray Perkins that made the score 27–17. The Colts would seal the win with an interception in the end zone.[20]
Super Bowl
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
1
2 3 4 Total
• Colts0
6 0 10
16
Cowboys
3
10 0 0
13
Scoring summary Q1 DAL Clark 14 yard field goalDAL 3–0 Q2 DAL Clark 30 yard field goal DAL 6–0 Q2 BAL Mackey 75 yard pass from Unitas (kick failed)Tie 6–6 Q2 DAL Thomas 7 yard pass from Morton (Clark kick)DAL 13–6 Q4 BAL Nowatzke 2 yard run (O'Brien kick)Tie 13–13 Q4 BAL O'Brien 32 yard field goal BAL 16–13
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The Colts made it to the Super Bowl for the second time in franchise history and played the Dallas Cowboys for the NFL championship. In the 2nd quarter, Johnny Unitas threw a pass that was tipped twice before John Mackey caught it for a 75-yard score. Later in the quarter Unitas was injured and Earl Morrall completed a sloppy and turnover-filled game: the Colts committed a total of 7 turnovers, the Cowboys 4. Following an interception by Mike Curtis , Jim O'Brien kicked the game-winning 32-yard field goal, giving Baltimore a 16–13 lead with 5 seconds left in the game, and the victory.[21]
"Johnny Unitas Was Unique," in Spencer Murray (ed.), Petersen's Pro Football: 1976 Annual. Los Angeles: Petersen Publishing Co. 1976; p. 84.
