What is the Indianapolis Colts’ 2021 NFL schedule, how many primetime games do they play, and who are the toughest and easiest opponents on their schedule this season?
Indianapolis Colts Preseason Schedule
All times listed below are Eastern Time.
PS1: vs. Panthers | TBD
PS2: at Vikings | TBD
PS3: at Lions | TBD
Indianapolis Colts Schedule | 2021 Regular Season
All days are Sunday unless otherwise noted. All times listed below are Eastern Time.
Week 1: vs. Seahawks | 1 PM | FOX
Week 2: vs. Rams | 1 PM | FOX
Week 3: at Titans | 1 PM | CBS
Week 4: at Dolphins | 1 PM | CBS
Week 5: at Ravens | MNF | 8:15 PM | ESPN
Week 6: vs Texans | 1 PM | CBS
Week 7: at 49ers | 8:20 PM | NBC
Week 8: vs Titans | 1 PM | CBS
Week 9: vs. Jets | TNF | 8:20 PM | NFLN/FOX/Amazon
Week 10: vs Jaguars | 1 PM | CBS
Week 11: at Bills | 1 PM | CBS
Week 12: vs Buccaneers | 1 PM | FOX
Week 13: at Texans | 1 PM | CBS
Week 14: BYE
Week 15: vs. Patriots | TBD
Week 16: at Cardinals | SAT | 8:15 PM | NFLN
Week 17: vs Raiders | 1 PM | CBS
Week 18: vs Jaguars | 1 PM | CBS
How many primetime games do the Colts play in 2021?
The Colts will play four primetime games in 2021. They will be against the Ravens in Week 5, the 49ers in Week 7, the Jets in Week 9, and the Cardinals in Week 16.
When is the Colts’ bye week?
The Colts’ bye will be in Week 14.
Colts’ strength of schedule and win/loss prediction
It does not get much more middle of the pack than the Colts’ 2021 schedule. According to Vegas’ projected win totals, the Colts have the 15th easiest strength of schedule. Additionally, both their home and road schedules sit very much in the middle of the NFL. Their home schedule ranks as the 13th easiest, while their road schedule is the 14th toughest.
Toughest opponents
The schedule for the Colts in 2021 breaks down very evenly. They play five games against teams projected to win fewer than seven games, and five against teams projected to win more than 10. Those “tougher” games come against the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Indianapolis will get an opportunity for a revenge game against the Bills after Buffalo knocked them out in the playoffs last season. The Colts have also last both of their last two meetings with the Ravens, including a 24-10 defeat last season. The games against the Rams and 49ers will be tough, with both expected to be playoff contenders in 2021.
The matchup with the Buccaneers means the Colts face a familiar foe in Tom Brady. Indianapolis has lost the last eight straight games against Brady-led teams, including two playoff games. Facing the Buccaneers is one of the toughest “17th games” for any team in the league.
Easiest opponents
The five games on the Colts’ 2021 schedule against teams projected to win fewer than seven games feature some recognizable opposition. Four of those games will be played against the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Indianapolis’ recent history against the Texans is extremely favorable. They have defeated their division rivals in seven of the past nine meetings, including once in the playoffs.
Against the Jaguars, on the other hand, the Colts have struggled recently. In fact, Jacksonville’s only victory of 2020 came against the Colts in Week 1. Additionally, over the past 10 matchups, the Colts have won just four times.
The other “easier” game on the schedule comes against the New York Jets. However, with a new head coach in Robert Saleh, and a rookie quarterback in Zach Wilson, it is hard to project how good the Jets will be in 2021. The Colts really need to win all five of these games to put themselves in a position to win the AFC South this season.
2021 season prediction
Having your easiest games fall within the division can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you get to face easier teams twice in the season. Still, being in the division, those teams usually know your style well, and can often spring a surprise. The Colts cannot afford to drop more than one game against the Jaguars and Texans in 2021.
The remainder of the Colts’ 2021 schedule is reasonably tough. The games against the Bills and Ravens will be a good indicator of where Indianapolis sits in terms of the AFC. So much of the Colts’ success this season rides on them getting the best out of Carson Wentz. If they can get him playing to a high level, then a first division crown since 2014 could be in the cards.
Projected 2021 record: 10-7