After a few weeks of questioning if the league would really change the number of games in their schedule for the first time in several decades, the NFL confirmed that the 17-game schedule is officially a reality, meaning that the Indianapolis Colts will get one more matchup against an NFC team to add to the docket in their 2021 schedule.
Using the new formula that was created for the purpose of deciding the matchups, the Colts will take on an NFC team that they played a few years ago, meaning that Indy will get one additional matchup against an NFC South team.
Normally, another matchup against a team that finished in second place in any specific division is not a big deal.
Unfortunately, the Colts have the misfortune of matching up against the defending Super Bowl champions next year.
Indianapolis will welcome Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Lucas Oil Stadium in 2021.
Brady has had plenty of memorable, or perhaps infamous, moments at the expense of the Colts, and this latest development shows that they can’t even avoid him when he’s in another conference.
every team's 17th game this year:
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 28, 2021
SEA at PIT
LAR at BAL
ARI at CLE
SF at CIN
GB at KC
CHI at LV
MIN at LAC
DET at DEN
WFT at BUF
NYG at MIA
DAL at NE
PHI at NYJ
NO at TEN
TB at IND
CAR at HOU
ATL at JAX
home team conference rotates
formula for the 17th game: https://t.co/u4n5fJZnpr pic.twitter.com/1DoqdEUXqb
The Colts will take on Tom Brady and the Bucs in their 17th game.
Indianapolis had a difficult enough journey to the top of the AFC South without Brady in the picture for next season. Indy was scheduled to take on the AFC East, which features Josh Allen’s Buffalo Bills as well as the up-and-coming Miami Dolphins, and the NFC West, arguably the best and deepest division in the game.
The Colts’ six division games this year will be even more important. They will play two games each against the troubled Houston Texans, a Jacksonville Jaguars team that is starting a very long rebuild, and a Tennessee Titans squad that lost some coaches and star offensive weapons during a tough offseason.
Indy matches up as well as anyone with the reigning champs, as they have the balance on offense and speed on defense to hold their own against such a deep team. However, given the Brady factor Colts fans know all too well, the Buccaneers have a very potent arrow in their quiver that could, unfortunately, sink Indy.
Carson Wentz and the Colts will have to fight through some of the toughest teams in the league to prove they can hold their own. While iron does indeed sharpen iron, which could help the Colts in the postseason, Indianapolis just got dealt another major roadblock in their quest to cement themselves among the NFL’s elite this season.
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