With the release of all 32 NFL teams' schedules, teams like the Indianapolis Colts now know what lies ahead of them for the upcoming 2024 season.
From the jump, the Colts get right into a division matchup against the Houston Texans and CJ Stroud in Week 1 on September 8. That, of course, is a rematch from last year's Week 18 matchup that ultimately decided the AFC South division title.
The Colts ended up on the wrong side of things that day. But they also didn't have their No. 4 overall draft pick behind center. Anthony Richardson was sidelined after just four starts last season with season-ending shoulder surgery. Indianapolis hopes that this year, their second-year signal caller will have a clean bill of health and be ready to be competitive once again, not only in the division but in the AFC conference.
Based on projected win totals, the Colts actually have the seventh easiest schedule in the NFL in 2024, according to Sharp Football Analysis. But the Colts will have their work cut out for them in a season where the AFC will be highly competitive. In fact, they'll face four of last year's playoff teams from the conference (Dolphins, Texans, Steelers, Bills). They had better hope Richardson isn't just healthy but prepared.
The Colts face a rough start, then have an easy landing at the end of the 2024 NFL season
Although they may have one of the top 10 easiest schedules in the NFL in 2024, there's a lot that is going against the Colts in their schedule.
The Colts will be on the road quite a bit during the 2024 season. They'll have nine road games to eight home games. They also won't have a bye until Week 14 on December 8. Granted, the bye could be perceived as good or bad depending on how one views it.
Starting in December, the Colts have probably one of the easier schedules down the stretch. Three out of the five games will be part of those road games, but the opponents are very favorable. They'll face five teams that missed the playoffs last season in the Patriots, Broncos, Titans, Giants, and Jaguars. Needless to say, the lower portion of their 2024 schedule favors them way more than their first half of the season.
The Colts will need the best of Anthony Richardson early
Head coach Shane Steichen got the most that he could out of his Colts team and quarterback Gardner Minshew, who replaced Richardson after his injury. The Colts just missed the playoffs at 9-8. But the reins will be fully left up to the former Florida Gator quarterback this season, that is if he avoids any more injuries. Having just four starts under his belt means he is still just a rookie at the position, even if his tenure says otherwise.
The first nine weeks of the season will really be telling in terms of how much Richardson has progressed or will progress as an NFL quarterback. In three out of the first four weeks of the season, the Colts face three playoff teams from last year in the Texans, Packers, and Steelers. And even though the Bears weren't a playoff team last year, they'll be a much different team this coming season when they meet the Colts in Week 3 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Then a new set of challenges awaits when the Colts enter Week 5. In a 40-day span, the Colts will be in Indianapolis just once in Week 7 against the Dolphins. That game is sandwiched between four road games that start with the Jaguars in Jacksonville in Week 5 and end in Minnesota against the Vikings in Week 9. The other two away games will be critical division games at Tennessee in Week 6 and at Houston in Week 8.
This will be no easy task to overcome. But if the Colts want to make their way back to the postseason for the first time since 2020, this is their only path.
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