The schedule has been released and we finally get to see the whole picture as the offseason progresses. The Colts currently have the 22nd ranked schedule in the NFL, but I feel that isn’t an accurate ranking. Whatever the case may be I’m going to breakdown the Colts schedule week by week and show that even with the 11th easiest schedule heading into the season it’s not going to be a walk in the park for our boys in blue.
Week 1: Detroit Lions-4:25pm
The Lions are going to be without Megatron and that is enough of a hit to that team. Stafford won’t be able to just loft a ball up for Johnson to go and get and the Colts won’t have to basically double team one guy all game. The Lions have always been, even with Johnson, a middle of the road team. They could be good or they could implode and it’s usually the latter. Luck and company will want to get this season off on the right foot and having an “easier” test in the Detroit Lions will be helpful.
Colts Win (1-0)
Week 2: @Denver Broncos-4:25pm
The Sheriff is gone and Osweiler isn’t there either. The Broncos are going to have to rely on Mark Sanchez or another mediocre quarterback they pick up this offseason. They don’t have much of a running game and with a bad quarterback there won’t be a ton of worry about Thomas or Sanders. The Denver defense is still going to be a huge challenge. They will find a way to replace Malik Jackson, if it’s even really needed, and I feel that Ware and Miller want to show everyone that last year wasn’t a fluke. If the Colts do finally address the offensive line issues then I think the Colts won’t have a ton to worry about. Luck went out last season for good but still was able to beat the eventual Super Bowl champions. I feel they have it in them to do it again.
Colts win (2-0)
Week 3: San Diego Chargers-4:25pm
This is the game that I hate so far. The Chargers have always been the thorn in the Colts side no matter who was quarterbacking the team. Rivers is getting older and really wants to make a run at at least one Lombardi trophy. Do the Chargers have enough in them to do that? Probably not, but I do feel that they will want to keep up their winning ways against the Colts. Luck and the boys will do what they can yet I feel they let this one slip away.
Colts lose (2-1)
Week 4: @ Jacksonville Jaguars-9:30am (2:30pm in London)
The dreaded trip to London will be a great trip for the Colts. The Jags have been improving every year for the last couple of years and this offseason they really looked to put their stamp on the 2016 season. With their additions, good draft position and Dante Fowler coming back they aren’t going to be easy to beat. However, Luck doesn’t want to come back this season and not do everything he can to go 6-0 in the AFC South. I feel the Colts will be a little peeved about letting one drop to the Chargers as well and the London crowd will be in for an entertaining game.
Colts win (3-1)
Week 5: Chicago Bears-1:00pm
It’s the return of Jerrell Freeman and you can bet he is coming with a chip on his shoulder. He knows this offense and will be invaluable to the Bears when preparing for this game. The Bears aren’t a great team at all, but I feel they will be able to come into LOS for the first time since 2008 and win. The Colts will do everything they can, but I feel they will be jet lagged from a battle with the Jags that the Bears will take advantage of them.
Colts lose (3-2)
Week 6: @ Houston Texans-8:30pm
Houston is the defending AFC South champions and they made some damn good upgrades to their offense. JJ Watt is a one man wrecking crew and Brock Osweiler will want to make his impression against the Colts a long lasting one. However, Luck will want to shine in prime time. By week 6 the offenses and defense should all be clicking at optimum speed. Luck will lead the Colts to a victory in Houston against their bitter divisional rival, but it’s going to be a tough game.
Colts win (4-2)
Week 7: @ Tennessee Titans-1:00pm
The Titans did something that hasn’t happened in a long time and that is trade away the number one pick in this year’s draft. I love the move personally as this will allow them to add so much more talent to a team that needs help everywhere. The Titans are doing what they can to build a contender. They just aren’t going to be quite there yet. The Colts will still have the Titans number this time and I feel this is the point where Luck’s name starts being thrown around as the NFL MVP.
Colts win (5-2)
Week 8: Kansas City Chiefs-1:00 pm
The last time the Chiefs went into LOS they walked out a loser and as part of one of the biggest comebacks in NFL Playoff history. You can bet that the organization as a whole still has that nasty taste in their mouths. Jamaal Charles is getting older, but the Chiefs still have two young backs to back him up and keep the ground and pound game going. The Chiefs are great at this type of offense and I feel that they will wear out the Colts defense quickly. Luck will try to re-kindle the comeback magic, but I feel he falls short on this one.
Colts lose (5-3)
Week 9: @ Green Bay Packers-4:25pm
The Packers have the easiest schedule this season and I feel that they will capitalize on that. It’s very possible the Packers could be 7-1 at this point in the season. With this game being in Green Bay in November the weather will be starting to get much colder and the Colts have never been a team that does well in cold weather games. That’s the case this time as well. The “Battle of 12’s” will be fun to watch. but I think Rodgers will overtake the game.
Colts lose (5-4)
Week 10: Bye Week
This is much needed for any team and the Colts are no exception. After two hard fought games the team will need to mend their wounded and prepare for battle as the second half of their season doesn’t get much easier.
Week 11: Tennessee Titans-1:00pm
The Titans by this point should be a little better than their earlier season match-up thought it’s still the Titans. The Colts, after the earlier season game, will have won 15 out of the last 16 times these two have matched up. The Colts will make it 16 out of 17.
Colts win (6-4)
Week 12: Pittsburgh Steelers- 8:30pm (Thanksgiving Night)
So the Steelers have owned the Colts the last few times they have played each other. Big Ben has been allowed to look like a football god when they have matched up and the Colts have been made to look like they are a terrible high school football team who has no idea of what they are doing. Those games have been in Pittsburgh also, this time is a little different. The Steelers will still have Big Ben and Antonio Brown but they will also have Le’Veon Bell this time around. I believe the Colts will put up a good fight, but I think that they will eventually succumb to the Steelers leaving all of the Colts Nation to sop up their tears with more dinner rolls.
Colts lose (6-5)
Week 13: @ New York Jets- 8:30pm (Monday Night)
Back to back prime time games for the Colts is always a good thing right? After a hard fought game against the Steelers, the Colts will shed those unwanted Turkey day pounds and give it right to Gang Green. The Jets don’t have a running game or a quarterback. Their defense is extremely tough though. Somehow I don’t feel that will be enough for the Jets to take this from the Colts. Indy will stroll out of the big apple with a W.
Colts win (7-5)
Week 14: Houston Texans-1:00pm
The Texans finally got their first win in Indy last year. In fact it was their first win and the game that sewed up the AFC South for them. The Colts and their fans haven’t forgotten about that. By this time in the season I feel Osweiler will show that he isn’t what we all thought he was and the Texans will be looking to salvage what they can. The Colts will be wanting to put a dagger through them and I’m going to say the final fatal shot of the game will be Mathis strip sacking Osweiler and scoring a touchdown himself.
Colts win (8-5)
Week 15: @ Minnesota Vikings-1:00pm
This is going to be a tough game. Peterson is still a big time work horse and Teddy Bridgewater is steadily getting better. The Vikings defense has also improved by leaps and bounds. The Colts will have their hands full for sure and if stopping the run is still a problem then we can look for Peterson to have a career day. The last time the Colts saw Peterson they held him to only 60 yards, but the previous time before that he had 160 yards. I think the Colts hold onto this one.
Colts win (9-5)
Week 16: @ Oakland Raiders-4:05pm
I could easily see this game being flexed to Sunday night football if that night’s match up is bogus. Oakland is a greatly improved team and they are going be the front runners in the AFC West this year in my opinion. Khalil Mack is a defensive superstar and does it all for the Oakland defense. He is a great leader and Derek Carr has been slowly turning into a quarterback you can’t write off. The Raiders offense has some good young talent and they will give the Colts a run for their money. Unfortunately I think the Raiders will be too much for the Colts in this one.
Colts lose (9-6)
Week 17: Jacksonville Jaguars-1:00pm
The Jags at this point will be ready for the season to be over. I think the Jags record next season will be 7-9 and that ninth loss will come at the hands of the Colts. This will be the complete sweep of the AFC South and once again crowning the Colts after the division champs.
Colts win (10-6)
A 10-6 record should get them into the playoffs and another division title. That’s a step in the right direction and what the team and this fan base need.
