Colts have the opportunity to put an end to troubling trend
It's official: the Indianapolis Colts will kickoff the 2023 NFL season against the Jacksonville Jaguars in week one. Fortunately, Indianapolis will get to host Jacksonville inside Lucas Oil Stadium for the opening matchup. The Colts have lost seven consecutive games to the Jaguars on the road. Getting the division rival seems to be much more […]
It's official: the Indianapolis Colts will kickoff the 2023 NFL season against the Jacksonville Jaguars in week one. Fortunately, Indianapolis will get to host Jacksonville inside Lucas Oil Stadium for the opening matchup.
The Colts have lost seven consecutive games to the Jaguars on the road. Getting the division rival seems to be much more promising. However, there is a different troubling trend that Indianapolis must put an end to.
Indianapolis has not won a season-opener since 2013. That's nine straight years where the Colts have started at 0-1 on the schedule. Putting an end to that – and beating an AFC foe – would signal big things for the franchise.
Especially with the franchise beginning a new era in multiple ways. Shane Steichen is entering his first season at the helm as head coach. Anthony Richardson is set to be the franchise quarterback – a spot that Indianapolis has been desperate at.
Therefore, there will be already be a ton of hype and excitement surrounding the Colts going into the matchup. That will only reach an entirely different level if Steichen and crew find a way to buck the trend that has haunted the team for nearly a decade.
Furthermore, the NFL did the Colts no favors with the schedule. In addition to opening the season with the Jaguars, Indianapolis will take on the Houston Texans in week two and then the Tennessee Titans in week five.
That means there will be three AFC South games in five weeks for Indianapolis. Fortunately, two of which will be at home. But the pressure will be on for the Colts to get off on the right foot quickly.
Shane Steichen has to be looking forward to getting his tenure with the Indianapolis Colts started in a big way. He undoubtedly has to know what's at stake as the Colts look to get into the win column to open the season.
