The Indianapolis Colts couldn't keep the momentum going last season. They were one of the feel-good stories of the first half of the campaign, with Daniel Jones playing the best football of his career, and then, disaster struck.
However, it's not all bad. While they failed to make the playoffs and lost their lead in the divisional race, things might be much easier in the upcoming campaign. They will now get to face a third-place schedule.
According to Sharp Football, the Colts will face the ninth-easiest schedule in the league, based on projected win totals from Vegas oddsmakers. That's also the easiest schedule in the AFC South, with the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans ranking 13th, 15th, and 26th, respectively.
Who will the Indianapolis Colts face in 2026?
The NFL rotates opponents every year. This time, Shane Steichen's team will face the AFC North and NFC East, as well as their usual meetings with the AFC South. They'll meet every team in the division twice, once at home and once on the road.
As a third-place team, the Colts will also face third-place teams in the AFC West (Kansas City Chiefs), NFC North (Minnesota Vikings), and AFC East (Miami Dolphins). Notably, only six of their games will be against playoff teams from the 2025 season.
Home
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Dallas Cowboys
- Houston Texans
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Miami Dolphins
- New York Giants
- Tennessee Titans
Away
- Cleveland Browns
- Houston Texans
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Minnesota Vikings
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Tennessee Titans
- Washington Commanders
Of course, the Colts must rely on much more than just an easier schedule to get the job done, especially in the division. The Jaguars had a quiet offseason, but the Texans revamped their defense. As for the Titans, they were one of the most aggressive teams in free agency, and they also had a solid haul in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Also, teams like the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, and Washington Commanders should all be better than they were last season, either because of health or some major offseason moves.
The Colts still need to add more firepower to the defensive line, and plenty of their success -- or lack thereof -- will also depend on whether Daniel Jones can get back to his pre-injury form. This could be a make-or-break season for Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard, and pressure will be on them from the jump.
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