2021 Indianapolis Colts season

The 2021 season was the Indianapolis Colts' 69th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 38th in Indianapolis. It was their fourth season under head coach Frank Reich and fifth under the leadership of general manager Chris Ballard. Despite having 7 Pro Bowlers and 5 AP All-Pros, the Colts failed to improve upon their 11–5 record from the previous season, after a Week 12 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Colts were eliminated from the postseason in the final week of the season after a stunning loss to the 2–14 Jacksonville Jaguars and the Pittsburgh Steelers beating the Baltimore Ravens the same day.

Draft
Pre-draft trades
 * The Colts traded their 3rd-round pick in 2021 along with a conditional 2nd-round pick in 2022 to the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Carson Wentz.

Preseason
The Colts' preseason opponents and results are mentioned as below:

Schedule
The Colts' 2021 schedule was announced on May 12.

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Week 1: vs. Seattle Seahawks
With their 8th straight season-opening defeat, the Colts started 0–1.

Week 2: vs. Los Angeles Rams
With the loss, the Colts started 0–2 for the first time since 2017.

Week 3: at Tennessee Titans
With this loss, the Colts started 0–3 for the first time since 2011.

Week 4: at Miami Dolphins
With their first win of the season, the Colts improved to 1–3.

Week 5: at Baltimore Ravens
Despite leading by as many as 19 points late in the third quarter and by 16 points midway through the fourth quarter, the Colts collapsed and were defeated in overtime after allowing 3 consecutive touchdown drives. With the heartbreaking loss, the Colts fell to 1–4.

Week 6: vs. Houston Texans
The Colts recorded their third consecutive win over the Texans, and improved to 2–4.

Week 7: at San Francisco 49ers
The Colts dominated the 49ers on the road. Carson Wentz scored 3 total touchdowns and the defense forced four turnovers against the 49ers' offense. With the win, the Colts improved to 3–4.

Week 8: vs. Tennessee Titans
The Colts blew another large lead and were defeated by the Titans in overtime after two costly interceptions from Wentz. With the loss, the Colts fell to 3–5 and were swept by the Titans for the first time since 2002.

Week 9: vs. New York Jets
This was the first NFL game that ended in a 45–30 score, making a scorigami. The win improved the Colts to 4–5.

Week 10: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
With their fourth consecutive home win over the Jaguars, the Colts improved to 5–5.

Week 11: at Buffalo Bills
This was the Colts' second scorigami of the season, as a 41–15 score had never occurred in the NFL before. Arguably the team's most impressive win of the season, Jonathan Taylor dominated Buffalo's defense with 5 total touchdowns, improving the Colts to 6–5 and over .500 for the first time all season.

Week 12: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Colts blew a 10-point lead and turned the ball over five times, dropping them to 6–6.

Week 13: at Houston Texans
With their fourth straight win over the Texans, and first shutout win since 2018, the Colts improved to 7–6 heading into their bye week.

Week 15: vs. New England Patriots
With the win, the Colts improved to 8–6 and beat the Patriots for the first time since Week 10 of the 2009 season.

Week 16: at Arizona Cardinals
Christmas Day games

The Colts overcame several injuries and positive COVID-19 tests on their offensive line and defensive backfield to defeat the skidding Cardinals, improving them to 9–6 and putting them on the cusp of clinching a playoff berth.

Week 17: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
With this loss, the Colts fell to 9–7 and were prevented from clinching a playoff berth this week.

Week 18: at Jacksonville Jaguars
In a shocking fashion, the Colts were upset by the 2–14 Jaguars thus ending their playoff hopes, as the Steelers won earlier that day.