Following the release of the 2023 NFL schedule, here is a game-by-game prediction of all 17 regular season games for the Indianapolis Colts.
It has been a busy offseason for the Indianapolis Colts. The offseason started with a long head coaching search that resulted in the team hiring offensive guru Shane Steichen. After that, Indy turned its attention to the draft, where the team set out to find a new franchise quarterback. Indianapolis did that, drafting Anthony Richardson, along with 11 other talented prospects.
Now, as the Colts prepare to put everything together for a bounce-back season, they now have a schedule. Indy knew it’s opponents already, but the actual order and times of the games are now official following the NFL’s schedule release.
Colts 2023 schedule
• Week 1: vs. Jaguars
• Week 2: at Texans
• Week 3: at Ravens
• Week 4: vs. Rams
• Week 5: vs. Titans
• Week 6: at Jaguars
• Week 7: vs. Browns
• Week 8: vs. Saints
• Week 9: at Panthers
• Week 10: at Patriots (Frankfurt, Germany)
• Week 11: Bye Week
• Week 12: vs. Buccaneers
• Week 13: at Titans
• Week 14: at Bengals
• Week 15: vs. Steelers
• Week 16: at Falcons
• Week 17: vs. Raiders
• Week 18: vs. Texans
Based on opponents alone, Indy’s schedule is considered one of the easiest in the league. However, the Colts are coming off a 4-12-1 season, so they must prove themselves. Let’s take a closer look at each week and predict the outcome of every game.
Week 1 - Colts vs. Jaguars
Indy always loses to the Jaguars in Jacksonville. However, this game isn’t in Jacksonville, so the Colts have a chance. The Jaguars are the defending champs of the AFC South, and they will enter the 2023 season with higher expectations, but they should also be better now that a standard is set.
Even still, Indy should be able to get a win here at home against the Jaguars. Regardless of the caliber of these two teams in a given year, they always win at home and split the series. The last time one of them swept the other was in 2017, when Jacksonville won both meetings by a combined score of 57-10.
Colts win (1-0)
Week 2 - Colts at Texans
Naturally, playing in the same division, Indianapolis and the Houston Texans will play each other twice. Last season, these teams had two dramatic games. In Week 1, Houston jumped out to a 20-3 lead, but the game ended in a 20-20 tie. In Week 18, with draft order implications, Houston recorded a win in a thrilling game that came down to the last second.
The two matchups this season have a chance to also be exciting, considering that both teams are in similar spots with first-year head coaches and rookie quarterbacks. However, since Indy has the better, more veteran roster, it should be able to pick up a win on the road in Houston.
Colts win (2-0)
Week 3 - Colts at Ravens
For a while, it seemed like Indianapolis had a chance to take Lamar Jackson from the Baltimore Ravens. But, that didn’t happen. Jackson ultimately signed a huge contract to remain with the Ravens, and now Baltimore has one of the most promising teams in the league after adding guys like Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers.
All that means for the Colts is that this will likely be a loss. Not only are the Ravens really talented, but this game will be in Baltimore. It’s asking a lot to ask a rebuilding Indianapolis team to go on the road and upset a Ravens team that is coming back with a vengeance after essentially losing a season to injury.
Colts lose (2-1)
Week 4 - Colts vs. Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are a much different team than they were two seasons ago. Even with elite players like Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp still on the roster, expectations are still low for the team that won a Super Bowl just two years ago.
With Matthew Stafford and Kupp now healthy, Los Angeles should be much more competitive than its 5-12 record of last season, however, there will still be a ton of weaknesses for this young Indianapolis team to exploit. Expect Indy to pull off an upset of sorts.
Colts win (3-1)
Week 5 - Colts vs. Titans
Unfortunately for Indianapolis, the Tennessee Titans have been dominating Indy in recent years. The Colts haven’t recorded a win against the Titans since their first matchup of the 2020 season. Since then, Tennessee has won five straight against Indy, sweeping the Colts in each of the last two seasons.
The good news, Tennessee finally seems to be regressing. The Titans didn’t win the division last year, and they arguably had the worst offseason of any AFC South team. This doesn’t mean that Indy will dominate them in the 2023 season, but, playing at home, Indianapolis should finally be able to get a win against the Titans.
Colts win (4-1)
Week 6 - Colts at Jaguars
Indianapolis hasn’t won a road game against the Jaguars since 2014. For whatever reason, the Colts just can’t win in Jacksonville. It doesn’t matter if the Jaguars are good or bad, what kind of season Indy is having, or if both teams are good or not, it’s just a streak that Indianapolis just can’t seem to break.
Will Indy snap the streak this season? Probably not. The Jaguars are coming off a 9-8 season where they won the AFC South. In their second season under Doug Pederson, Jacksonville’s young, talented core should be even better together and they should be able to extend this home streak against Indianapolis another year.
Colts lose (4-2)
Week 7 - Colts vs. Browns
The Cleveland Browns are coming off a chaotic 7-10 season. After trading a ton of picks to acquire Deshaun Watson, who was suspended for the first 11 games, Cleveland had a 3-3 record once Watson returned. The Browns will now try to put everything together and have a more promising season.
Going against Indy at Lucas Oil Stadium should make for a competitive matchup but it will likely result in a loss for Indianapolis. Cleveland is further along in its rebuilding process, and will likely have a better on-field product than it did last season.
Colts lose (4-3)
Week 8 - Colts vs. Saints
The New Orleans Saints are coming off a 7-10 season where they battled several injuries. Their offseason was highlighted by the addition of veteran QB Derek Carr. If New Orleans can stay healthy, they could be a factor in the mediocre NFC South, and also be a threat to the rest of the teams on its schedule.
That includes the Indianapolis Colts. Last season, the Saints went through a lot, and still won seven games against a pretty solid schedule. Expected to be better this season, the Saints should be able to pick up a win against Indianapolis.
Colts lose (4-4)
Week 9 - Colts at Panthers
This should be a very fun game, as it already has built-in storylines. After being fired by the Colts last season, Frank Reich quickly landed on his feet with the Carolina Panthers. Now, just a year later, Reich has a chance to hand Indianapolis a loss. Everyone loves a good revenge game.
In addition to the Frank Reich storyline, this could be a game of two first-round rookie quarterbacks. If Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson are starting, this could be the first matchup of their careers. So, who will win?
Both teams have solid defenses and promising young quarterbacks, but the Colts should be able to pull this one out. It should be an entertaining game with the storylines, and both squads have the rosters to make it competitive. Indy just has the edge.
Colts win (5-4)
Week 10 - Colts at Patriots (Frankfurt, Germany)
A good ol’ rivalry game, but this time, in Germany. Two seasons ago, Indianapolis and the New England Patriots restored the rivalry between the two franchises in a big way. In a thrilling Saturday-night game, the Colts got the best of the Patriots thanks to impressive performances from the defense and Jonathan Taylor. Unfortunately, New England reclaimed bragging rights last season by embarrassing Indy.
Will Indianapolis be able to reclaim the upper hand in this rivalry this season? Probably not. As great as it would be to get a win over the Patriots in Foxborough, it will be an uphill battle for one specific reason: Bill Belichick-led defenses feast on young quarterbacks. With Anthony Richardson, likely to be under center for the Colts, Belichick will surely bring out his best gameplan to confuse the young QB and hand Indy an L.
Colts lose (5-5)
Week 11 - Bye Week
Since Indianapolis has to travel to Germany for Week 10, the team will get the next week off. An earlier bye week than Indy has had in recent seasons.
Week 12 - Colts vs. Buccaneers
In the way-too-early 2024 mock drafts, experts are predicting that USC quarterback Caleb Williams, is drafted No. 1 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That’s because Tampa Bay’s roster has significantly declined in the last couple of seasons, and the Bucs are expected to struggle next season.
That means if Indianapolis takes care of business, it shoulda be able to get a win against the Buccaneers. The Colts will be at home, and Tampa Bay won’t have Tom Brady to help them out. This should be one of the many losses that the Buccaneers will have this coming season.
Colts win (6-5)
Week 13 - Colts at Titans
After winning the last five games against Indianapolis, the Titans look as vulnerable as they have in recent years. They have a bunch of different starters in key positions and the future of the quarterback position remains a mystery. Will Ryan Tannehill continue to start, or will one the younger guys, Malik Willis and Will Levis, step up and take the position?
Regardless, Indy isn’t quite in a position to dominate the Titans yet. The Colts may be able to split the series this upcoming season, but Tennessee is still likely to win at home. The Titans will be determined to prove that they are a still force in the division.
Colts lose (6-6)
Week 14 - Colts at Bengals
Indianapolis has to play the entire AFC North this season, and that’s a bit unfortunate because the AFC North is one of the best divisions in the NFL. Just about every team is good and they are all really tough. The Cincinnati Bengals may be the best team in the division.
The Bengals have won the division the last two seasons, lost in the Super Bowl two years ago and lost in the AFC Championship last season. They are clearly one of the best teams in the NFL. All that is to say that this will likely be a loss for Indianapolis. This is the NFL, and anything could happen, but Cincinnati is just on a different level than Indy right now.
Colts lose (6-7)
Week 15 - Colts vs. Steelers
No matter how bleak things look for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Tomlin is incapable of having a losing season. After everyone was convinced that last season would be the year, Pittsburgh fought to a 9-8 record and found a franchise quarterback in Kenny Pickett.
That winning record included a win against Indianapolis. With both teams facing off again this season, the Steelers should be able to get another win. Pittsburgh addressed several of its needs, and should be able to be even more competitive this season. That spells trouble for Indy.
Colts lose (6-8)
Week 16 - Colts at Falcons
Another NFC South opponent for Indianapolis. This game has a chance to be a strength-on-strength matchup. Arthur Smith and the Atlanta Falcons love to run the football, and they’re pretty good at it. Now, they’ll be adding generational running back prospect Bijan Robinson to the mix. Dropping Robinson into that offense is a recipe for success.
The Colts, on the other hand, are great against the run. With Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner on the interior defensive line, and Shaquille Leonard and Zaire Franklin at linebacker, Indy has been able to limit opponents on the ground. So which team’s strength will win and ultimately help their team win?
Let’s lean toward Indianapolis for this matchup. Both teams will likely be starting young quarterbacks, but the supporting cast for Anthony Richardson should help Indy get the W.
Colts win (7-8)
Week 17 - Colts vs. Raiders
Like Indy, last season was an extremely underwhelming year for the Las Vegas Raiders. Rock bottom may have been when the Raiders lost to Colts in Jeff Saturday’s first game as interim head coach. That was the only win for Indy under Saturday, and it made the Raiders the laughingstock of the NFL.
Vegas has now moved on from Derek Carr, making Jimmy Garoppolo the team’s starting quarterback. Despite only winning six games last season, the Raiders have the talent to win a bunch of games this season, especially if Jimmy G stays healthy. One of those wins should come against the Colts in Lucas Oil Stadium.
Colts lose (7-9)
Week 18 - Colts vs. Texans
Indianapolis and the Houston Texans were the two worst teams in the AFC South last season, and were also two of the worse teams in the league as a whole. Both teams will enter the 2023 season with the same circumstances: first-year head coaches and promising rookie quarterbacks.
In a game with Shane Steichen, DeMeco Ryans, Anthony Richardson, and CJ Stroud, expect the veterans for Indianapolis to be the difference makers. The Texans are the younger squad, and Indy currently has the better roster, especially defensively. The Colts should win this game behind a strong performance from their defense.
Colts win (8-9)
READ MORE: Where does Colts roster rank in AFC South?