The Colts were coming off a 10–6 record in
2010 and a second consecutive
AFC South championship, as well as a ninth consecutive playoff appearance. In 2011, the Colts were looking to set an NFL record for the most consecutive playoff appearances (10) and be the first NFL team to play a
Super Bowl in its
home stadium (
Super Bowl XLVI was held in
Indianapolis).
The Colts had placed their
franchise tag on star quarterback
Peyton Manning before the season started but he sat out the entire season due to neck surgery. The Colts turned to retired quarterback
Kerry Collins and then to
Curtis Painter, neither of whom could fill Manning’s void.
[1] The team finished the season with a 2–14 record, the worst regular season record by a Colts team since
1991, and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since
2001.