Release: Colts at Bills

DATE: Thursday, August 19, 2010
SITE:  Rogers Centre
KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m. (EDT)
CAPACITY: 49,000
SURFACE:Gameday 3D

Playing only the third game outside the United States in club history, the Indianapolis Colts, 0-1, meet the Buffalo Bills, 0-1, on Thursday, August 19 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada. Kickoff for the contest is 7:30 p.m. (EDT).

The Colts initiated preseason action last Sunday with a 37-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Buffalo lost 42-17 last Friday at Washington.

The Colts return to Anderson University for three practice days prior to heading to Toronto. The club will establish operations in Indianapolis upon returning from the battle with the Bills. Thursday's game will provide the club with its third foreign venue. Indianapolis bested Pittsburgh, 24-23, in Mexico City on August 19, 2000, but lost a 27-21 decision to Atlanta on August 6, 2005 in Tokyo. The Colts and Bills shared an AFC East rivalry from 1970-2001, with Buffalo owning a 35-30-1advantage in the league series. The Bills took a 30-7 home victory over the Colts on January 3, 2010 to conclude the last regular season. The preseason series dates back to 1969, with the Colts owning a 3-2 lead.

The Colts are owners of the NFL's best regular-season record (128-48) since the start of the 1999 season, while being the only team to earn 10 playoff appearances in the last eleven seasons, including a league-best eight consecutive post-season berths. Indianapolis has won 73 of its last 89 regular-season games. The Colts own a 98-29 record (counting the playoffs) since the start of the 2003 season and are 84-24 since 2004. From November, 2003 to December, 2009, the Colts produced a regular-season record of 81-19, tying New England (2003-09) for the NFL's best 100-game regular-season mark. Indianapolis' winning ways include a 38-10 record in AFC South play, while the club has owned or shared the lead in 112 of 136 weeks of the division's existence. The Colts won five AFC South championships from 2003-07, the best divisional-title streak in club history. The Colts were wire-to-wire divisional leaders during the 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 seasons. The club's nine playoff berths in the 2000-09 decade tied the NFL record set by Dallas (9) in the 1970s. Indianapolis is the only team since 2002 Realignment to earn annual double-digit victory totals and playoff berths. From 2008-09, the Colts set an NFL record with 23 consecutive regular-season victories (21, New England, 2006-08). The streak was the sixth 10 -game regular-season winning streak in franchise history (23, 2008-09; 13, 2005; 11, 1964; 11, 1975-76; 11, 1999; 10, 2005-06), the fourth since 1999. Caldwell became the only NFL rookie head coach to win his first 14 games in a season, surpassing Potsy Clark (8, Portsmouth, 1931), and he surpassed Wally Lemm (10, 1961 Houston Oilers-1962 St. Louis Cardinals) for the most consecutive wins to start a career. Caldwell also became the 2nd rookie head coach since the 1978 NFL move to a 16-game season to win 14 games (George Seifert, SF, 1989). Indianapolis extended its NFL record as the only franchise to win seven or more consecutive regular-season games in six consecutive seasons (8, 2004; 13, 2005; 9, 2006; 7 and 6, 2007; 9, 2008; 14, 2009). Additionally, the Colts posted their eighth consecutive 10 -victory season, setting the 2nd-longest such streak in NFL history (16, San Francisco, 1983-98; 7, Dallas, 1975-81). Indianapolis earned its seventh consecutive season with 11 victories, surpassing the NFL record it had shared with Dallas (6, 1976-81). The Colts extended their league mark to seven consecutive seasons (2003-09) with 12 victories. The Colts produced 115 victories for the 2000-09 decade, surpassing the league record of 113 by San Francisco from 1990-99.  

PERSONNEL REPORT:  Players last week who did not participate against San Francisco were QB-Tim Hiller, DBs-Kevin Thomas and Bob Sanders, TE-Dallas Clark, LBs-Clint Session and Ramon Humber, C-Jeff Saturday, OTs-Andrew Tyshovnytsky and Charlie Johnson, G-Jacques McClendon, WR-Pierre Garcon and DEs-Dwight Freeney and Keyunta Dawson.

TELEVISION/RADIO: WTTV-TV telecasts with Don Fischer, Mark Herrmann and Jeffrey Gorman (field reporter). 1070-The Fan/HANK-FM, 97.1 broadcasts with Bob Lamey, Will Wolford and Kevin Lee (field reporter). 

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NEXT WEEK: Indianapolis visits Green Bay on Thursday, August 26. Kickoff is 8:00 p.m. (EDT).  

WWW.COLTS.COM: Please check the official website of the Indianapolis Colts for the latest in team information and merchandise.

HEAD COACHES

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*               JIM CALDWELL* was named head coach of the Colts on January 13, 2009, and this marks his ninth season with Indianapolis. Caldwell joined the club in 2002 as quarterbacks coach before adding the title of assistant head coach prior to the 2005 season. Caldwell was promoted to associate head coach with the club prior to the 2008 season. From 2002-09, Caldwell has been a part of Colts teams that produced 10-6, 12-4, 12-4, 14-2, 12-4, 13-3, 12-4 and 14-2 records. Indianapolis is the only team to earn 12 victories in seven consecutive seasons, setting the NFL's all-time standard. Indianapolis has had eight consecutive 10 -victory seasons, setting the second-longest streak in NFL history (16, San Francisco, 1983-98; 7, Dallas, 1975-81), and the Colts have surpassed Dallas (1976-81) as the only franchise to earn at least eleven victories in seven consecutive seasons. The Colts also have earned an NFL-best eight consecutive playoff appearances, and Indianapolis is the only team to post double-digit victory seasons and playoff berths each season since the 2002 realignment. From 2008-09, Indianapolis set the NFL record with 23 consecutive regular-season victories (21 New England, 2006-08). Indianapolis also won 115 regular-season games from 2000-09, the most by a team in a decade in NFL history. From 2004-09, Indianapolis became the only NFL team to win at least seven consecutive games in six consecutive seasons (8, 2004; 13, 2005; 9, 2006; 7 and 6, 2007; 9, 2008; 14, 2009). In 2009, Caldwell became the 5th NFL rookie head coach to reach the Super Bowl.  Caldwell joined Chuck Knox (L.A. Rams, 1973), Red Miller (Denver, 1977), Mike Martz (St. Louis, 2000) and Josh McDaniels (Denver, 2009) as the only rookie head coaches in the Super Bowl era to start 6-0. He became the fourth coach ever to start 6-0 when succeeding a head coach who won 100 games (Blanton Collier, Cleveland, 1963, succeeded Paul Brown, 111 wins; Jack Pardee, Washington, 1978, succeeded George Allen, 116 wins; Josh McDaniels, Denver, 2009, succeeded Mike Shanahan, 146 wins; Caldwell, Colts, 2009, succeeded Tony Dungy, 139 wins). Caldwell joined the Colts after serving as quarterbacks coach with Tampa Bay in 2001. Caldwell has more than 20 years of collegiate coaching experience. He spent 1993-2000 as head coach at Wake Forest. He served as an assistant coach at Southern Illinois (1978-80), Northwestern (1981), Colorado (1982-84), Louisville (1985) and Penn State (1986-92). Caldwell has coached in six bowl games and won a national championship with Penn State in 1986. In addition to serving on Joe Paterno's title staff, Caldwell tutored under three other coaches who won collegiate crowns (Rey Dempsey, Southern Illinois; Bill McCartney, Colorado; Howard Schnellenberger, Louisville). Caldwell was a four-year starter at defensive back at Iowa and worked as a graduate assistant for Iowa in 1977. He holds a bachelor's degree from Iowa. Caldwell was born on January 16, 1955 in Beloit, Wis.

                CHAN GAILEY was named the 15th head coach in Buffalo history on January 19, 2010. Gailey has more than 30 years coaching experience, including field leadership experience in the collegiate and professional ranks. Gailey was head coach at Dallas 1998-99, leading the club to playoff appearances both seasons. He served as offensive coordinator with Denver 1989-90, Pittsburgh 1996-97, Miami 2000-01 and Kansas City 2008. Gailey has been a part of four Super Bowl teams (3, Denver; 1, Pittsburgh). He served as head coach at Georgia Tech 2002-07, earning a 44-33 overall record and becoming the first school coach to earn bowl appearances in six seasons to open a career. He served collegiately at Florida 1974-75, Troy State 1976-78 and Air Force 1979-82. Gailey played QB at Florida. He is a native of Gainesville, Ga.

COLTS/BILLS SERIES NOTES

                The Bills own a 35-30-1 edge in a series that dates back to 1970, when the teams were placed in the AFC East. The teams were twice-a-season combatants until the NFL realigned prior to the 2002 season. Buffalo defeated the Colts, 30-7, on January 3, 2010 in the regular-season finale. The outcome snapped a six-game Colts series winning streak. Buffalo used three scoring passes from QB-Ryan Fitzpatrick (16-25-155, 3 TDs), a 24-point first half burst, 248 rushing yards and three K-Rian Lindell field goals in defeating the Colts. Playing in 12-degree weather, a 12-mph win and snow throughout the game, Indianapolis finished the season with a 14-2 record. QB-Peyton Manning was 14-18-95, 1 int. while playing three possessions. TE-Dallas Clark was 7-52 receiving, while WR-Reggie Wayne was 5-21 as both finished with 100 seasonal receptions. On November 12, 2006, Indianapolis topped Buffalo, 17-16, at home to become the only team in NFL history to open consecutive seasons with 9-0 starts. Manning (27-39-236, 1 TD) directed an offensive attack that included RBs-Joseph Addai (13-78, 1 TD; 5t) and Dominic Rhodes (14-72) having productive rushing efforts. Manning hit Wayne on a 1t toss to open the club's scoring. Buffalo squared matters, 10-10, with a 68t fumble return just prior to the half. Lindell hit field goals of 22, 30 and 43 yards, but his 41-yard miss with 6:22 left gave the Colts a possession the club used to extinguish the clock. The teams battled in Orchard Park on November 23, 2003. A 14-point fourth-quarter rally erased an eleven-point deficit as the Colts earned a 17-14 win over the Bills. Manning (26-42-229) directed scoring drives of 61 and 83 yards that ended with RB-Edgerrin James (28-108, 2 TDs rushing; 14t, 1t) scoring runs. The final one came on fourth down with 1:38 left. The Indianapolis defense allowed 228 net yards and kept Buffalo in check throughout the game. LB-David Thornton's interception in the final minute sealed the win. Indianapolis topped the Bills twice in 2001, winning at the RCA Dome on September 23, 42-26, and at Orchard Park on November 11, 30-14. In the second meeting that year, rookie FA RB-Dominic Rhodes (34-100 rushing) and Manning (17-27-199, 1 TD, 33t rushing) spearheaded an offensive attack that was complemented by K-Mike Vanderjagt's three FGs (34, 41, 47 yards) and a defense that limited Buffalo to 232 yards while producing six sacks. Manning hit TE-Marcus Pollard on a 15t pass, then scored on a 33t rush to give the Colts a lead they would never relinquish. The Colts defense leveled QB-Rob Johnson six times and did not allow an offensive touchdown until 3:39 remained in the game. In the season's first meeting, the Colts rolled to 555 net yards and scored TDs on six straight possessions in earning a 42-26 win. Manning was 23-29-421, 4 TDs/2 ints., while WRs-Marvin Harrison (7-146, 3 TDS) and Jerome Pathon (9-168, 1 TD) and James (23-111, 1 TD rushing/4-48 receiving) had big days. James set a franchise record with his fifth consecutive 100 rushing game. The last renewal of the preseason series came on August 24, 2008, as the Colts christened Lucas Oil Stadium. Buffalo took a 20-7 victory.   

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

2009 RANKINGS (denotes ranking is tied)

RANKINGS            OFFENSE                     RANKING                         DEFENSE                   RANKING

                         Total    Rush      Pass         CONF.       NFL              Total     Rush   Pass         CONF.         NFL

Colts                 363.1     80.9     282.2       4-16- 2    9-32- 2           339.2   126.5   212.7       9-11- 9     18-24-14

Bills                  273.9   116.7     157.2     14-10-14   30-16-30           340.6   156.3   184.3     10-15- 2     19-30- 2

BEST NFL RECORDS DURING 1999-2009 REGULAR SEASONS

COLTS ARE NFL'S WINNINGEST TEAM FROM 1999-2009: The Colts stand as the NFL's winningest team since the start of the 1999 season. The Colts own a 128-48 record during that span.