1973 Baltimore Colts season

1973 Baltimore Colts season
Head coach	Howard Schnellenberger
Home field	Memorial Stadium
Results
Record	4–10
Division place	T-4th AFC East
Playoff finish	did not qualify

The 1973 Baltimore Colts season was the 21st season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1973 season with a record of 4 wins and 10 losses, and finished tied for fourth in the AFC East with the New York Jets. The Colts lost the tiebreaker to the New York based on head-to-head series (0–2).

The Colts were the only team to lose to the Houston Oilers, bowing 31-27 in week eight at home. The Oilers broke an 18-game losing streak with the victory.

The 1973 season was the first year since 1955 in which long-time quarterback Johnny Unitas was not on the roster.

Regular season

Before the 1973 season, the Colts traded their long-time quarterback, Johnny Unitas, to the San Diego Chargers. Unitas had been splitting quarterback duties with Earl Morrall and Marty Domres over the past few seasons. Unitas played one season for San Diego before retiring.

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Game Site	Attendance
1	September 16, 1973	at Cleveland Browns	L 14–24	0–1	Cleveland Municipal Stadium	74,303
2	September 23, 1973	New York Jets	L 10–34	0–2	Memorial Stadium	55,942
3	September 30, 1973	New Orleans Saints	W 14–10	1–2	Memorial Stadium	52,293
4	October 7, 1973	at New England Patriots	L 16–24	1–3	Schaeffer Stadium	57,044
5	October 14, 1973	at Buffalo Bills	L 13–31	1–4	Rich Stadium	78,875
6	October 21, 1973	at Detroit Lions	W 29–27	2–4	Tiger Stadium	48,058
7	October 28, 1973	Oakland Raiders	L 21–34	2–5	Memorial Stadium	59,008
8	November 4, 1973	Houston Oilers	L 27–31	2–6	Memorial Stadium	52,707
9	November 11, 1973	at Miami Dolphins	L 0–44	2–7	Miami Orange Bowl	60,332
10	November 18, 1973	at Washington Redskins	L 14–22	2–8	RFK Stadium	52,675
11	November 25, 1973	Buffalo Bills	L 17–24	2–9	Memorial Stadium	52,250
12	December 2, 1973	at New York Jets	L 17–20	2–10	Shea Stadium	51,167
13	December 9, 1973	Miami Dolphins	W 16–3	3–10	Memorial Stadium	58,446
14	December 16, 1973	New England Patriots	W 18–13	4–10	Memorial Stadium	52,065

Standings

AFC East
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Miami Dolphins	12	2	0	.857	7–1	9–2	343	150	W1
Buffalo Bills	9	5	0	.643	6–2	7–4	259	230	W4
New England Patriots	5	9	0	.357	1–7	3–8	258	300	L2
New York Jets	4	10	0	.286	4–4	4–7	240	306	L2
Baltimore Colts	4	10	0	.286	2–6	2–9	226	341	W2

^[1]

References

1. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 296

See also

• History of the Indianapolis Colts
• Indianapolis Colts seasons
• Colts-Patriots rivalry