Since our last release of predictions, when the schedule was released in May, a lot has changed for the Indianapolis Colts. The team has fully come together and is ready to start the Anthony Richardson era on Sunday, September 10.
This season brings new talent to some key positions, but is it enough to compete in newly aquired head coach Shane Steichen's first season with the team? How much will Jonathan Taylor not being available hurt the team moving forward?
After seeing all of the moves made by NFL teams heading into Week 1, we can now start to really see how things will shape up. Of course, injuries are always a concern, but in a perfect world, each team stays healthy and has a real shot at winning a title. Let’s see how Indianapolis will do in 2023.
Week 1 - Colts vs. Jaguars
It has been 10 years since the Colts defeated the Oakland Raiders 21-17 in Week 1. That was the last time the Colts have won their first game of the season. That was Andrew Luck's second season after a playoff appearance in his first year in the NFL. Those were what people called the good times.
The last time Indy opened up against the Jaguars was in 2020 in Jacksonville and many thought it was going to be a dominant victory. Turns out, everyone was massively wrong. The Colts slowly bounced back that season led by QB Phillip Rivers, but the season was in rough shape to start the season by losing to a weak Jacksonville team.
Now the Jaguars are one of the hottest teams in the AFC with their star quarterback Trevor Lawrence and newly acquired receiver Calvin Ridley.
With this being opening night and the first time Colts fans have a chance to see Anthony Richardson in person at home in full pads, it will be a special day. Emotions might be high, but even the best have a hard time winning the season opener. Remember when Andrew Luck lost to the Bears in a beat down?
Colts are going to have it rough to start the season and will lose a game that should be won. Steichen and Richardson start the season off with a loss and no where to go, but up.
Colts lose (0-1)
Previous prediction: Colts win (1-0)
Week 2 - Colts at Texans
Two weeks and two divisional opponents. Of course if the Colts want to stay relivent early, they need to win one of these first two. What better way to win than by beating the QB that was drafted just before you with the second-overall pick in the draft? This will be the first of what will likely be many battles between the No. 2 and No. 4 picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Stroud vs Richardson. Ryans vs Steichen. All four of these people are in their first season with their teams and have a lot to prove. Fortunately for the Colts, they have a better overall roster and pull out a win in Houston.
Colts win (1-1)
Previous prediction: Colts win (2-0)
Week 3 - Colts at Ravens
It's too early in the season to be very optimistic about this game. Lamar Jackson is on a revenge tour to prove to 31 teams that he is an MVP-caliber quarterback that deserves every penny he is getting from Baltimore. With the additions of Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers to the offense, Lamar has the best receiving options of his career.
Don’t expect much https://t.co/Kv0IYYlRzh pic.twitter.com/KAE35mkSsr
— Justin Bauerle (@justinbauerle) September 5, 2023
The Colts secondary should not be trusted yet. With an entirely new cornerback room (except Kenny Moore II), the unit has a lot to prove. Dallis Flowers and Darrel Baker Jr. were given the nods over second-round pick JuJu Brents and left the Colts to even cut standout rookie Darius Rush.
The Colts lose this one in a massive way early in the season in Baltimore.
Colts lose (1-2)
Previous prediction: Colts lose (2-1)
Week 4 - Colts vs. Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are still paying for what they had to do to win the Super Bowl a few years back. After putting everything on the line, they've had to ship away Jalen Ramsey to save on the cap. They were likely hoping Aaron Donald would retire so they could save there, too.
Now, their roster is one of the youngest in the league, even having some of the older guys starting including Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald, and Cooper Kupp.
The team is just in a different state and coming to Indianapolis is not going to be easy for them. These two teams are in about the same boat when it comes to expectations, but the Colts are one season ahead after finding their young franchise quarterback.
The Rams will be in the running for Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or Michael Penix Jr. in 2024. Even after drafting Stetson Bennett, those are going to be better options.
Colts win (2-2)
Previous prediction: Colts win (3-1)
Week 5 - Colts vs. Titans
This is a big week for all of Indianapolis. It's Titans week at home and the first chance that All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor can be removed from the PUP list. The biggest question surrounding this game comes to the Taylor situation. Will he finally be healthy enough to play and be removed from the list? Will he continue to have an ankle injury keeping him away from the field.
Both sides of this train need to come together and work something out before Week 5. Nick Bosa recently worked out a massive deal so that San Francisco can have him ready for Week 1. Is the relationship able to be fixed? Yes. Will it take some work to get that way? For sure. Have we seen Jonathan Taylor in a Colts uniform for the last time in 2022? Quite possibly.
Even with Taylor back, this game is tough. The advantage the Colts have is a strong defensive front that can reduce the amount of damage that a fresh Derrick Henry brings.
It's going to be up to the offense to beat the Titans defense, which could prove to be difficult.
Colts lose (2-3)
Previous prediction: Colts win (4-1)
Week 6 - Colts at Jaguars
It's been a long time since the Colts have won in Jacksonville, dating back to the 2014 season. That season, the Colts made a trip to the AFC Championship where they were blown out by the New England Patriots 45-7.
Since that defeat to the Patriots, the Colts have been in a tail spin and have not fully recovered. This could be the season the Colts get the job done though. My anticipation is that Jonathan Taylor has returned to the team and is proving his way to a contract extension.
A mixture of Richardson and Taylor bully the Jaguars defensive front to a massive ground attack with a few receiving touchdowns from Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs.
The Colts win in a dominant fashion and put the Colts-can't-win-in-Jacksonville narrative to bed.
Colts win (3-3)
Previous prediction: Colts lose (4-2)
Week 7 - Colts vs. Browns
The Cleveland Browns are not the jokes they once were. After paying a massive amount of money for their new franchise quarterback (and former divison rival) Deshaun Watson, the Browns are in the hunt to win a crowded AFC North.
Coming to Indy won't be easy to keep on a roll, but the Browns find a way to get it done both on the ground and in the air. Watson is 2-4 against the Colts in his career with the Texans. Those were different teams and Watson has never had a defense of this caliber.
Colts lose (3-4)
Previous prediction: Colts lose (4-3)
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.
Week 12 - Colts vs. Buccaneers
It's way too early to decide that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to be an early favorite in the Caleb Williams sweepstakes, but let's be serious. There are two real contenders for the No. 1 overall pick and thats Tampa and Arizona.
The Colts are coming off a long break and get to ease back in with a game against a team that is likely tanking for the No. 1 pick. Baker Mayfield is not a scary threat and the Colts take advantage of it.
Colts win (6-5)
Previous prediction: Colts win (6-5)
Week 13 - Colts at Titans
The Colts just haven't done so well against Tennessee in recent years and as much as the organization needs that train to stop, it just doesn't yet. The Titans get off to an early lead and the Colts can't seem to catch back up on the road.
Taylor has another decent performance that just can't top it off for the win. The angry runner is still looking for that contract extension, but this week proves that he is willing to take a beating to earn his money.
The Colts organization realizes what they have and begin negotiating an extension.
Colts lose (6-6)
Previous prediction: Colts lose (6-6)
Week 14 - Colts at Bengals
After taking a beating on the road in Tennessee, the Colts have to travel down I-74 to play against a Super Bowl contender and it's going to be brutal.
At this point, the Bengals can count their losses on two or three fingers and are looking to lock up a first-round bye within the next couple of weeks. The Bengals annialiate the Colts while their down and give them zero chances to score. The Bengals blank the Colts and win big.
Colts lose (6-7)
Previous prediction: Colts lose (6-7)
Week 15 - Colts vs. Steelers
After two tough losses, the Pittsburgh Steelers come to town and Mike Tomlin is looking to keep his streak of never finishing below .500, which just so happens to be in jeopardy at this point.
Tomlin seems to have Indy’s number and find ways to get it done when it matters the most, which is what they do here. Anthony Richardson doesn't appear to have a great game, turning the ball over a few times.
The Steelers pull out a close one and get the win and improve to being over .500 while the Colts continue to slide.
Colts lose (6-8)
Previous prediction: Colts lose (6-8)
Week 16 - Colts at Falcons
Indy is in a funk right now after losing three straight games. This is the point of the season where you think it's time to pack it in and just get experience where you can.
In true Indianapolis Colts fashion, they prove that to be wrong and the Colts have a massive day that is enjoyable to watch. Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor combine on the ground for 300 yards rushing with four touchdowns between the two.
This is in large part to Chris Ballard getting a deal done with Jonathan Taylor that week and extending him to a three-year deal that will carry him into Anthony Richardson's final year of his rookie contract.
This appears to be the good times and what Colts fans should look forward to in future years with two electric runners on the field at all times.
Colts win (7-8)
Previous prediction: Colts win (7-8)
Week 17 - Colts vs. Raiders
After a big win in Atlanta, Indy comes home to play against Josh McDaniels and the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders are fighting to stay alive and after an embarrassing loss to the Colts in Jeff Saturday's first game as head coach and only win of his career, they mean business.
With Jimmy Garoppolo out with an injury (again), it's rookie QB Aiden O'Connell starting at quarterback. The former Boilermaker gets the job done and gets a big win.
Colts lose (7-9)
Previous prediction: Colts lose (7-9)
Week 18 - Colts vs. Texans
This seems like deja vu playing the Texans in Week 18, needing a loss to improve draft position, doesn't it? Indy wants to come out here and get a big win, but Stroud proves why Houston selected him with the No. 2 overall pick.
In addition to Stroud, the No. 3 overall pick Will Anderson has a monster day getting to Richardson three times and disrupting his play. The Texans squeak out a victory to end the Colts season looking to improve next year after finishing 11th in the AFC and third in the division.
Colts win (7-10)
Previous prediction: Colts win (8-9)