The Indianapolis Colts came into last year with hopes of hanging another banner in the rafters but was one of the more underachieving teams, setting them up with a more favorable schedule and improved roster in 2023. With more attention being paid to a hopefully improving team, how does the outlook appear for the Colts in 2023?
Indianapolis Colts Schedule and Opponents
While we won’t find out the Colts’ schedule for 2023 until the official NFL release in May, we already know their opponents for the upcoming season.
Home Games
- Houston Texans
- Tennessee Titans
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Rams
Away Games
- Houston Texans
- Tennessee Titans
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Atlanta Falcons
- Baltimore Ravens
- Carolina Panthers
- New England Patriots
- Cincinnati Bengals
As always, the Colts will face their division opponents at home and on the road. As part of the rotational schedule, the Colts and the AFC South will take on the entirety of the AFC North and NFC South.
The remaining three games on their schedule will come against the remaining two AFC teams that finished third in their division (Raiders and Patriots), as well as their “17th game crossover” against the Los Angeles Rams at home, who finished third in the NFC West in 2022.
Indianapolis Colts Strength of Schedule
The Colts and the AFC South, in general, have about as easy of a schedule in 2023 as you could ask for. Based on projected win totals, Indianapolis has the fourth-easiest strength schedule in the league. Their respective opponents combined to go 124-162-2 for a .434 record (29th).
Of the three remaining AFC South teams, Houston, Jacksonville, and Tennessee are tied for the 24th-ranked strength of schedule in the league for 2023.
Indianapolis Colts Record Prediction
Expectations were high for the Colts coming into last season. Not only were they expected to compete with Tennessee, but many felt the Colts could win the division outright. It wasn’t a ridiculous prediction, considering the acquisition of quarterback Matt Ryan to pair with one of the best running backs in the league with Jonathan Taylor, plus an underrated alpha receiver with Michael Pittman Jr. coming off a breakout season.
Instead, the Colts were one of the most disappointing teams last year. The tie against the Texans in Week 1 set the stage for the season for what was to come. Despite the Colts sitting around .500 for a decent chunk of the year, Ryan saw himself benched, Frank Reich was fired midseason and replaced with a very questionable interim hire of Jeff Saturday, and the Colts went 1-7 down the stretch to finish the season 4-12-1.
This may set me up for disappointment, but Indianapolis has a sneaky chance to be one of the most improved teams this season.
Everything that could have gone wrong did. But the stumbles of last year could lead to future success as now the Colts have a chance at drafting their next quarterback rather than continuing to take gambles on low-upside, aging signal-callers.
MORE: FREE NFL Mock Draft Simulator (With Trades)
Granted, they need to get it right. Sitting at No. 4, barring a trade, Indianapolis will choose from what is left rather than their choice of the litter, but a surprise, such as Will Anderson Jr. to the Texans, would keep the Colts looking at one of the top three. However, they also outwardly appear comfortable with Will Levis.
Whoever they decide on for the future will have one of the best developers at his side in new head coach Shane Steichen, who joins the team after spending time with the Eagles. Throw in better health for Taylor and the offensive line, and the Colts have a realistic shot at seven to eight wins in 2023.
As noted earlier, the 2023 schedule for the Colts is relatively easy. Only four teams on the schedule were in the postseason last year. One of those is the Buccaneers, who no longer have Tom Brady.
Teams mistaking the Colts as an inferior opponent could be surprised in the back half of the season when their QB gets more comfortable. If the defense does its job, Indianapolis could turn some heads in 2023 as they go through the 17-game schedule.
