Why the Colts are set up to have successful 2023 NFL season
The Indianapolis Colts have very little time to waste when the 2023 NFL season kicks off. That is because the team opens the year with three divisional games in the first five weeks. Indianapolis opens at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars before traveling to the Houston Texans in week two. Then, the Colts take on […]
The Indianapolis Colts have very little time to waste when the 2023 NFL season kicks off. That is because the team opens the year with three divisional games in the first five weeks.
Indianapolis opens at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars before traveling to the Houston Texans in week two. Then, the Colts take on the Tennessee Titans in week five. Ultimately, that stretch could help determine the AFC South standings.
However, if the Colts can survive the first month, things set up well. That's because Pro Football Focus ranks the team's schedule as the third easiest in the entire league. Therefore, Indianapolis might be very well be set up to make some noise.
PFF considers the Colts' week two game against the Texans as the easiest matchup on the schedule. There's a decent chance that the division showdown features both rookie quarterbacks in Anthony Richardson and CJ Stroud.
Whereas the toughest game on the schedule is the week 14 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on the road, per PFF. The Colts will be leaning on inexperienced corners, so the hope is that they are ready to go for that battle late in the year.
The AFC South is not a particularly strong division, and the Colts could take advantage of it. Their first two games come against division rivals, and the stretch of games after their Week 11 bye is not difficult outside of the road game against the Bengals.
All in all, Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson will determine just how good the Colts are in 2023. With that said, the schedule sets up relatively nicely for Indianapolis to take advantage and surprise.
