1953 Baltimore Colts season
| 1953 Baltimore Colts season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | [John Mcarthy |
| Owner | Carroll Rosenbloom (primary) |
| Home field | Memorial Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 3–9 |
| Division place | 5th NFL Western |
| Playoff finish | did not qualify |
The 1953 Baltimore Colts season was the first season for the team in the National Football League. The Colts had a record of 3 wins and 9 losses and finished fifth in the Western Conference.
In January 1953, a Baltimore-based group led by Carroll Rosenbloom won the rights to a new Baltimore franchise.[1][2] Rosenbloom was granted an NFL team, and awarded the holdings of the defunct Dallas Texans organization, which lasted only one season. The new team was named the Colts after the previous team that folded after the 1950 season; Baltimore was without a team in 1951 and 1952.
The 1953 Colts have the unusual distinction of having a losing record, despite having a league-leading 56 defensive takeaways.[3] Baltimore had a winning record after five games, defeating neighbor Washington before a capacity crowd of over 34,000 at Memorial Stadium,[4] then lost seven straight to finish the season.
Regular season
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game Site | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 27 | Chicago Bears | W 13–9 | 1–0 | Memorial Stadium | |
| 2 | October 3 | Detroit Lions | L 17–27 | 1–1 | Memorial Stadium | |
| 3 | October 11 | at Chicago Bears | W 16–14 | 2–1 | Wrigley Field | |
| 4 | October 18 | at Green Bay Packers | L 14–37 | 2–2 | City Stadium | |
| 5 | October 25 | Washington Redskins | W 27–17 | 3–2 | Memorial Stadium | |
| 6 | October 31 | Green Bay Packers | L 24–35 | 3–3 | Memorial Stadium | |
| 7 | November 7 | at Detroit Lions | L 7–17 | 3–4 | Tiger Stadium | |
| 8 | November 15 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 14–45 | 3–5 | Shibe Park | |
| 9 | November 22 | Los Angeles Rams | L 13–21 | 3–6 | Memorial Stadium | |
| 10 | November 29 | San Francisco 49ers | L 21–38 | 3–7 | Memorial Stadium | |
| 11 | December 5 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 2–45 | 3–8 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | |
| 12 | December 13 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 14–45 | 3–9 | Kezar Stadium | |
Standings
| NFL Western Conference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | CONF | PF | PA | STK | ||
| Detroit Lions | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | 8–2 | 271 | 205 | W6 | |
| San Francisco 49ers | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | 8–2 | 372 | 237 | W4 | |
| Los Angeles Rams | 8 | 3 | 1 | .727 | 7–3 | 366 | 236 | W2 | |
| Chicago Bears | 3 | 8 | 1 | .273 | 2–7–1 | 218 | 262 | L2 | |
| Baltimore Colts | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | 2–8 | 182 | 350 | L7 | |
| Green Bay Packers | 2 | 9 | 1 | .182 | 2–7–1 | 200 | 338 | L5 | |
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
See also
References
- ↑ "Baltimore assured NFL franchise". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. January 7, 1953. p. 29.
- ↑ "Historical highlights of Colts". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. South Carolina. March 30, 1984. p. C4.
- ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2012, in the regular season, sorted by descending Takeaways. The total is tied for the 6th most in NFL history.
- ↑ "Colts defeat 'Skins, 27-17". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. October 26, 1953. p. 28.