Final game-by-game predictions for the Colts heading into the 2023 NFL season
Week 8 - Colts vs. Saints
The New Orleans Saints are coming off a dreadful season where they had two former first-round picks at quarterback and couldn't quite figure out how they wanted to play. With no real receiving threats and Alvin Kamara not having a good season either, they were awful.
This year, they went out and spent the money to get former Raider Derek Carr to be the new face of the franchise. Pair him with Chris Olave and a healthy Alvin Kamara (suspended first three games of the season) and Michael Thomas (hopefully) and the Saints might be going places this year.
There is a lot to be seen from both of these teams, but expectations are that the Saints are in a much better place. Especially if rumors about Davante Adams being traded before the deadline are true. Could Adams pair up with Carr in New Orleans to put them over the top in that receiver room?
All of these are reasons that could lead anyone to believe the Colts will upset the Saints in this game at home.
Colts win (4-4)
Previous prediction: Colts lose (4-4)
Week 9 - Colts at Panthers
At that half-way point, the season projections are looking to be the same after starting the first eight games at .500. How does Indianapolis end the second half of the season though? It starts here against former Colts head coach Frank Reich and the No. 1 overall pick in the draft Bryce Young.
How far will Young have come by now with all of the former quarterbacks in his ear on how to be a better player on their offense? This will be the second game that rookie Anthony Richardson plays against the other first round quarterbacks, and just like before, he pulls out every stop to prove that he was the best selection in the draft.
Colts win (5-4)
Previous prediction: Colts win (5-4)
Week 10 - Colts at Patriots (Frankfurt, Germany)
Road games are tough, but out of country games are even tougher. The Colts head to Europe to play against one of their biggest rivals in a previous era, the New England Patriots.
Indy hasn't been the same team since the smack down in the AFC Championship, but that was the Tom Brady New England Patriots, not the Mac Jones Patriots. A battle between two teams that are on the bridge to being in the middle of the road isn't a great matchup to show Germany, but what European game is?
The Patriots get the job done on the road and put away the Colts early.
Colts lose (5-5)
Previous prediction: Colts lose (5-5)
Week 11 - Bye Week
This came at the best moment. The Colts are coming back from Europe and need the extra break to get settled back in. After 10 weeks, they are still sitting at .500 and need to improve if they have hopes to make the playoffs.
This is the breaking point for the organization. You have three options: Win out and get in the playoffs, start losing to improve your draft position, or be average and continue your road to 9-8 or 8-9 and miss out on both.