INDIANAPOLIS – It is a slate that is definitely tougher (on paper) than last year.
And it also includes some primetime flavor, too.
Here is the 2021 regular season schedule for the Colts:
Week 1: vs. Seahawks, September 12th (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
-Yes, the elephant in the room: the Colts haven’t won a season opener since 2013. Back in that ’13 season, a Russell Wilson/Andrew Luck matchup turned into a great back and forth game. The Seahawks, and Wilson, will return to Indy this fall to start the season. What a great opener for fans returning to Lucas Oil Stadium. Eight of the Colts past 11 season openers have occurred on the road.
Week 2: vs. Rams, September 19th (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
-Hello, Aaron Donald. The Colts will see one of the game’s best defensive players of all-time at Lucas Oil Stadium. This will be an awesome matchup in the trenches with the Colts offensive line facing the Rams defensive line. Matthew Stafford, who the Colts pursued before trading for Carson Wentz, will be the opposing QB. The 2013 season was the last time the Colts started the season with 2 straight home games.
Week 3: at Titans, September 26th (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
-This matchup was the lone primetime game that the Colts had in 2020, with a Thursday night in Nashville, one that Frank Reich’s team ran away with, winning 34-17. Eric Fisher’s status for an early-season matchup against Bud Dupree will be something to watch.
Week 4: at Dolphins, October 3rd (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
-For much of 2020, Miami looked like a playoff team. They are sticking with Tua Tagovailoa, with Jacoby Brissett now the backup in Miami.
Week 5: at Ravens, October 11th (Monday, 8:15 PM, ESPN)
-The Colts will see the Ravens in 2021 because both teams finished 2nd in their respective divisions. The Colts have not played on Monday Night Football since Week 15 of the 2019 season. Remember T.Y. Hilton had Baltimore as his other destination in free agency, had the Colts not re-upped their offer. This marks three straight games on the road for Indy.
Week 6: vs. Texans, October 17th (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
-For the first time in a long time, the Colts will be facing the Texans without Bill O’Brien and/or Romeo Crennel. It’s first-year head coach David Culley trying to steer the Texans ship amidst extremely rocky waters.
Week 7: at 49ers, October 24th (Sunday, 8:20 PM, NBC)
-Another road game in primetime on Sunday night. The Colts will face one of the better divisions in football next season in the NFC West. Many expect a bounce back season from DeForest Buckner’s former team, as he heads back to the Bay Area for this matchup. Will we see rookie Trey Lance under center for this one or is it a redshirt year for the young QB?
Week 8: vs. Titans, October 31st (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
-A home loss to the Titans back in late November, with the Colts having several COVID-19 issues, ultimately cost Indianapolis a chance at winning the AFC South. You know Denico Autry will again have this one circled on his calendar. These matchups will be massive in deciding the AFC South champ in ’21.
Week 9: vs. Jets, November 4th (Thursday, 8:20 PM, FOX/Amazon/NFL Network)
-A Thursday night HOME game for the Colts! It’s possible the Colts could see each of the top three picks at quarterback in 2021. This will be BYU’s Zach Wilson. Remember, the Jets interviewed Matt Eberflus for their head coaching position earlier this offseason.
Week 10: vs. Jaguars, November 14th (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
-Like the Texans, the Jaguars also bring a new head coach to the AFC South. Urban Meyer and Trevor Lawrence is easily the most enticing HC/QB duo in Jaguars franchise history.
Week 11: at Bills, November 21st (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
-It’ll be another trip back to western New York for the Colts this fall. The obvious storyline in this one will draw some extra attention. If you care about weather in New York at this time of the year, does late November avoid the worries that could be there in December? This is the only potential ‘bad weather’ game that you really see in November/December.
Week 12: vs. Buccaneers, November 28th (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
-This was the added game for the Colts when the NFL expanded schedules to 17 games for this season. With the Colts and Bucs both finishing 2nd in their respective divisions last year, they got matched up against each other. It’ll be Tom Brady returning to a place that hates him. And Bruce Arians returning to a place that loves him. This two-game stretch is a good one for Indy.
Week 13: at Texans, December 5th (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
-The second matchup with the Colts/Texans comes to start December. Will Deshaun Watson be the quarterback in Houston come the fall of 2021? That seems very, very up in the air this point of the offseason.
Week 14: BYE
Week 15: vs. Patriots, December 18th or 19th (TBD)
-Ah, yes. For the first time since 2018, the Colts will face Bill Belichick and the Patriots, and for the first time in Indy since 2015. The Colts have lost 7 straight to the Patriots with their last win coming in 2009. Will it be Mac Jones or Cam Newton under center for New England?
Week 16: at Cardinals, December 25th (Saturday, 8:15 PM, NFL Network)
-For the first time ever, the Colts will play on Christmas Day. This will be the first time that the Colts have faced the dynamic Kyler Murray, and they’ll also see DeAndre Hopkins again. Purdue product Rondale Moore was drafted by the Cardinals last month, too. And don’t forget about a potent edge duo in Chandler Jones and J.J. Watt.
Week 17: vs. Raiders, January 2nd (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
– This marks the 4th straight year that the Colts will play the Raiders, with both teams finishing 2nd in their respective divisions this past season. This is a return meeting in Indy from last December’s matchup in Las Vegas.
Week 18: at Jaguars, January 8th or 9th (TBD)
-For a second straight season, the Colts will see the No. 1 overall pick in Indy, with Trevor Lawrence now leading the Jaguars. This will also mark the second straight season in which the Colts have closed out the regular season playing Jacksonville. Remember, the Colts haven’t won in Jacksonville since…2014.
The 2021 preseason slate for the Colts will look like this:
-Panthers, Week 1
-at Vikings, Week 2
-at Lions, Week 3
