Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - INDIANAPOLIS COLTS SCHEDULE REVEAL: Team Featured in Prominent Windows

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Indianapolis Colts schedule has been revealed. Let's talk about big games. Let's talk about concerns. Let's talk about curses. Let's get to it. You are locked on Colts your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.

Starting point is 00:00:28 All right friends, thanks for tuning in and making us your first post schedule release listen of the day. This is your daily podcast covering your Indianapolis Colts, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. And this episode is brought to you by Fandool. Right now new

Starting point is 00:00:45 customers can go and get $200 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins so be sure to join in all the fun there. My name is Jake Arthur of horseshoehuddle.com I'm your resident credentialed media member for the site and what else will we be talking about at 9 p.m. on a Wednesday. The NFL has released its full schedule, which now means we know the order in which the Colts will get these opponents. And I'll be honest with you, I am a little surprised at how this went. The Colts, you know, really, really jockeyed for prime time exposure a couple years ago, and it did not go well. They finally got what they were asking for and they had a really subpar season.

Starting point is 00:01:29 They do only have one prime time game this year, but they have a lot of exposure otherwise. They have the Berlin game, which is a nine 30 AM kick that's nationally televised. They've got the week 16 matchup that I mentioned, Monday football against the 49ers, but they've got five late game windows for Sunday. Now some of those are because they're playing teams on the West Coast, but you know, they didn't have to make the Broncos at home a four o'clock kick or the Titans at home a

Starting point is 00:02:01 four o'clock kick. So I don't want to say the Colts are necessarily being intentionally featured, but they've got a real opportunity here to kind of open some eyes a little bit. So I'll go ahead and just roll through the schedule for you guys here. So starting with the preseason three games, of course, they're going to be at Baltimore against the Ravens at home against the Packers. And then they're going to finish things up on the road against the Bengals for the second year in a row.

Starting point is 00:02:29 Starting with week one of the regular season, it's at Lucas Oil Stadium against the Dolphins. Obviously, it's kind of a tough one. That's a very explosive offense. They're healthy again. Tyree kills, getting his wrist taken care of to a type of Ilo lo is back and healthy for now. So Devin H and really explosive type of player. So we know this is arguably the most explosive offense in the league, but the Colts have been doing everything they can to bolster that defense this year. So week two still at home against the Broncos. That's another late game kick. This one's interesting because the Colts had this game really handled against the Broncos. That's another late game kick. This one's interesting because the Colts had this game really

Starting point is 00:03:06 handled against the Broncos late last season and Denver. But Jonathan Taylor dropping the ball ahead of the goal line just really unraveled things and took what was a dominant Colts win and turned it into somehow they lost. So I really don't know how the Colts are going to match up against this Broncos team. You would think they still match up pretty favorably,

Starting point is 00:03:26 even though Bo Nicks kind of turned into a pumpkin in that one. But we'll see, obviously two tough matchups to start. You got to think they win at least one of those ones, but Owen too is not out of the question to start the season. Certainly, I guess good to get a couple tough matchups out of the way right away. And then week three on the road against the Titans, their first look at cam ward at quarterback week for another tough one on the road in Los Angeles, out on the West Coast against the Rams. That's a late kick.

Starting point is 00:03:57 They're then back at home against the Raiders and then back at home again, the following week, week six against the Arizona Cardinals. They head back to the West Coast after this one and week seven on the road against the Chargers. That's obviously another late kick. They come back to finish off their slate against the Titans at home in week eight. That's a four o'clock kick. So they'll already have two doses of cam ward. We'll see if it's Anthony Richardson versus Cam Ward. That obviously makes it a little more interesting. And then week nine at Pittsburgh against the Steelers. That's an early kick. And then it starts to get a little bit interesting. That's when they fly to

Starting point is 00:04:36 Berlin, Germany to kind of host the Falcons there. That's going to be nine 30 in the morning. So remember, set your fantasy lineups accordingly. That one going to be 930 in the morning. So remember, set your fantasy lineups accordingly. That one will be early. And then so obviously they have their bye week the following week in week 11. They gear up for a pretty interesting stretch at the end of the year. They get welcomed back from the bye week to a trip in Kansas City against the Chiefs. So on the road against the Chiefs, that one's tough. The Colts are the only team in the NFL that Patrick Mahomes has never beaten.

Starting point is 00:05:10 He's got a completely defeated record against them. So we'll see how that one goes. Back at home against the Texans, which I think is gonna shape up for a really interesting late season stretch. I think a lot of us feel that the Colts and Texans are going to be two teams just really kind of going back and forth for the AFC South lead hopefully at this point in the season. So that'll be a really, really important matchup week 13 again at home. Week 14, time to exercise a curse at Everbank Field and Jacksonville against the Jaguars on the

Starting point is 00:05:46 road again the following week up in the Pacific Northwest in Seattle against the Seahawks. That is a late kick. They then come back the following week for another NFC West matchup Lucas Oil Stadium 49ers Monday Night Football. That'll be a day one. Obviously the 49ersers is a well-traveled fan base. They've got fans everywhere. But hopefully, the Colts are doing well enough by this point to where people are wanting to hold onto their tickets and actually watch the Colts

Starting point is 00:06:13 pack Lucas Oil Stadium and create a really good environment. The final home game of the year is week 17, Lucas Oil Stadium against the Jaguars and then drum roll very big pivotal game week 18 in Houston against the Texans. Dayton time has not been released for this one yet. I think obviously they're waiting to see is this going to be a game where it's when and you're in into the playoffs like it was two years ago. I think there's a very strong chance of that. I like that it's in Houston because I don't think that is a place where the Colts have any problem winning. Now there have been instances lately where they have not

Starting point is 00:06:54 won or they've tied, but they look really, really good there. It's not a place where they don't travel well. Uh, so it being the Texans, it could be worse. It could. That could be their Jacksonville game week 18. But luckily it is in Houston where the Colts historically do pretty well. So overall, I think this, you know, it's, it's not an awful schedule. Again, I think it's like the eighth technically easiest in the NFL in terms of opponents winning percentage last year. So not really a murderer's row. I don't I don't see like any big clusters of concern or like

Starting point is 00:07:35 huge opportunities to make runs. I think it's a super well balanced schedule. So coming up, guys, we're going to talk about some of the bigger matchups in this one, you know, prime time games, which games are really intriguing. We're going to talk about some of the bigger matchups in this one, you know, primetime games, which games are really intriguing. We're going to talk about that in just a moment. The NBA playoffs are in full swing and every night delivers highlight worthy performances, major momentum shifts and can't miss moments. Whether it's a game winning shot or a breakout player, there's never been a better time to get in on the action. Vandal makes it easy to stay in the game before tip off and live. With player props, performance trends and same game parlays,

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Starting point is 00:09:07 All right. Welcome back every day. As if you haven't already, drop into the comments and let us know what's your record prediction for this team so far now that you know the now that you know the schedule. We obviously already knew the opponents, but now that you see what order it's in, what kind of stretches they might be facing, make sure you drop in and let us know what you think the record is going to be. So let's look at some of the more prominent games. The ones that really stuck out to me. So week one, the curse, I think it's what 2013 that it's been since they've won in week one. So they've got the Dolphins at home. Again, they've had plenty of opportunities at home

Starting point is 00:09:44 lately and haven't been able to close it out. The Dolphins is a tough one. Again, they've had plenty of opportunities at home lately and haven't been able to close it out. The Dolphins is a tough one. Again, super high flying offense, but big but here, the Colts have a very clear advantage in the trenches here and I still like them in this one. I know that Tyreek Hill can score at any moment. Jalen Wad Tyree score at any moment. Jalen moment. That offense is j such a well oiled machin. be indoors. It's early in like always when they're

Starting point is 00:10:15 cylinders. I don't care. think the Colts have done this off season uh to not blown away. I know the Colts beat the Dolphins at home last year, but you might as well throw that one away because the Dolphins were not the Dolphins at that time. Tua was out and nobody else can run that offense when he's not there.

Starting point is 00:10:37 But at full strength, it's gonna be a tough game, could be very high scoring, but I like the Colts in that one. Again, the Dolphins lines were just a mess going into the draft and it's going to be week one. It's hard to count on rookies to really fix those things right away. So the Colts have I think the the clearer advantages in the most important areas. We're talking about Curses, week 14 in Jacksonville Everbank Stadium. That one's interesting. So you look at it,

Starting point is 00:11:08 they have a really tough Houston matchup the week before. Luckily at home could be coming off an emotional high. And the week before that is Kansas City. And then right after it's kind of sandwiched into a trip in Seattle. So it's probably not the most ideal time for the Colts to be having this matchup. Uh, but you know, we're, we're, we're going to see it's, uh, at this point in the schedule, let's see,

Starting point is 00:11:39 you're making the push to hopefully be in the, in the playoff spot. You'd love to finish better than like nine and eight. You would hope by week 14, you're not losing these these stupid matchups against teams that the Colts should be favored in this one going into it. We'll I mean, by week 14, we're going to know the Jags have turned things around and if they're good or not, but I don't know. Nonetheless, week 10 against the Falcons, obviously in Berlin, the Germany game. Falcons are going to be pretty tough.

Starting point is 00:12:09 I think they've done enough to their defense to really become kind of a well-balanced team offensively. Obviously, they're going to be really good. Michael Pinnix, you know, Bijon Robinson, Drake London. They've got the pass catching weapons. They've got the quarterback now, we think. And then Jalen Walker and James Pierce with their first couple picks in the first round,

Starting point is 00:12:30 that's pretty tough. And then you add Xavier Watts as well. Like I think they've done some really nice things to their defense. So who knows how it goes, but I think it'll be more entertaining than the matchup against the Patriots a couple years ago in Germany. So that one, I think it's a pivotal game, but it's an NFC one as well. So it's not

Starting point is 00:12:52 the most consequential game in the world. So they got the bye week in week 11 coming back against the Chiefs on the road. This will be a statement game for the Colts.ts again by week 12. We should know what the trajectory of the team is like. We'll know if they're going to be a disappointing team if there's if they've still got those same warts where they have the no-show games or just you see a lack of effort if they look like if they look like they're having those low moments that we've seen from them over the past few years, then we're, we're going to know that this season is just, you know, it's not their time essentially. Um, but if, if they look like a tough team,

Starting point is 00:13:34 then I think this is a big barometer game for them. Uh, the chiefs, they were a really interesting team. They obviously made it to the Superbowl, but it was not the best chiefs team that we've seen. They got absolutely smoked by the Eagles in the Super Bowl. So we'll see if they're more on the low end of the spectrum Chiefs teams that we've seen, or if they're really kind of, you know, back and powerful when we've seen Patrick Holmes at his best. Uh, but no, this is a game where the Colts could make a huge statement. Uh,

Starting point is 00:14:04 so I like that being right there, especially right after the bye. He gives Shane Steichen and Louie and Arumo plenty of time to prepare for them. And Arumo has thrown Patrick Mahomes some curve balls in the past. So I think that's a really interesting one to keep an eye on. Obviously, week 16 at home against the 49ers on Monday Night Football. I like that one for the Colts., obviously they should be favored in that one. Chavarius Ward getting the chance to face his old team. Obviously the 49ers have a lot of good players still.

Starting point is 00:14:34 Brock Purdy, I think is an above average quarterback. Christian McCaffrey's Christian McCaffrey. Brandon Iuke when he's on and healthy, very good player. Ricky Pearsall, a guy that I like a lot But they lost so much this offseason And I just don't know that they've done enough in for agency in the draft to replace quite everything they've lost So I would think that the Colts should be favored in this one going into it I at least like them in this matchup. And then week 18 again at Houston.

Starting point is 00:15:06 This one is subject to flex. This could be again, just like 2023. Whoever wins gets the division title and gets into the playoffs. I could just even be a wild card spot doesn't matter. But it feels like the NFL was very intentional with this one knowing that it was probably going to carry a lot of weight. So I love the fact that the Colts have the Texans and what is kind of turning out to be a little bit of a budding rivalry.

Starting point is 00:15:33 I think the Colts are probably a little tired of losing to the Texans and there's been a lot of war words there in the past before EJ speeds on the Texans now. So I love the entertainment factor of this one, and I hope it is a play in game for either team to win and get in and that the the Colts can maybe exercise the demons that played them since 2023. And honestly, that loss that that, you know, failed conversion on fourth down in 2023 in the final game

Starting point is 00:16:03 kind of set the tone for the entire 2024 season and how it was a let down. So the Colts can kind of go full circle by getting retribution and winning this game and getting into the playoffs. If that is kind of what's on the docket, if that's what's at stake in that one. And then obviously I can mention they've got five late game window games, week two at home against the Broncos, week four on the road against the Rams, week seven on the road against the Rams week seven on the road against the Chargers week eight against the Titans at home and then week 15 on the road against the Seahawks so again lots of exposure for the Colts you know intentional or not and this this

Starting point is 00:16:40 one will be good because I think a lot of us when it comes to the Pro Bowl it comes to award season, the Colts aren't always the best team in the league, of course, but it does feel like some of their players get overlooked for certain things. And if this team is playing well, if they've got a few guys who are just kind of playing out of their minds,

Starting point is 00:16:58 a lot of eyes are gonna be on this team throughout the season. So if the Colts are doing their part in playing well, then I think there won't be as many issues with the Colts being overlooked. We can at least we can at least hope that much as well. So coming up guys, get ready to tell me what concerns you have with the schedule. I'll share mine. There's a couple here. I don't think it's it's the worst schedule in the world, but we'll talk about that in just a moment. Alright, so when we're talking about concerns with this schedule, mine doesn't even really necessarily have to be with the schedule as much as it is the opponents.

Starting point is 00:17:37 So the Colts will travel the seventh most miles in the NFL this year. I know that probably seems like whatever, but that can wear on a team throughout a season. So you've got the Berlin game week 10 all the way in Germany. And then they've got three separate trips out to the West Coast week four against the Rams just a few weeks later back in the same stadium week seven against the Chargers. And then near the end of the year up in the Pacific Northwest against the Seahawks. That's a that's a lot of travel and for a team that you know we'll see if they're mentally tough or not that can that can make a lot of teams really struggle. We've seen west coast teams struggle when they come to the east coast all the time so there's no reason to think that the Colts

Starting point is 00:18:21 couldn't have some problems with that many frequent trips on, you know, you know, obviously Germany is not to the West coast, but it's, it's much, much further. So that is one thing that maybe would give me pause before I like project what I would think the schedule should be or what their, what their win loss records should be. I don't think it's nothing. Maybe I'm looking a little bit too much into it, but I don't think that it's something

Starting point is 00:18:49 you could completely just discount. And then I think another, the other biggest concern I have, I think is starting the season against the Dolphins and Broncos. I'm much more confident against, with the Colts going against the Dolphins and getting that kind of, that monkey off their back, not having one week, one since 2013. Um, the Broncos, that one's really, really tough.

Starting point is 00:19:11 Uh, I think this team is going to be a tough out throughout the year. That often should be better. The defense should be even better. I love adding Jedi Baron in there with Patrick's for tan, the Sean Peyton, Bo Nicks combination should be clicking on all cylinders for a while now. So that could be a haymaker game where it's just really entertaining and it goes back and forth.

Starting point is 00:19:34 But those are two tough games nonetheless. So share with me what you guys think is your biggest concerns for the schedule this year. And we'll probably go over those in the coming days as well. So I think that's it, guys. You know, if you've got any more thoughts, be sure to share them again. Thank you for making us your first listen. Since the schedule came out now for your next listen, check out the Locked on NFL Scouting podcast.

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Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - INDIANAPOLIS COLTS SCHEDULE REVEAL: Team Featured in Prominent Windows

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