The Indianapolis Colts came quite close to securing a playoff berth in 2023, and that was with Anthony Richardson appearing in just four games due to a concussion and season-ending shoulder injury.
Now fully recovered, Richardson is looking to ensure a postseason breakthrough for a team that showed serious promise even with a depleted roster at times last season. He will do so with playmakers in Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr. and AD Mitchell while facing this schedule:
2024 Indianapolis Colts Schedule
Drawn up to perfection. 🖍️
📺 2024 Schedule Release on NFLN pic.twitter.com/iajAkYCJCZ
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 16, 2024
Without further delay. #ForTheShoe
📺 2024 Schedule Release on NFLN pic.twitter.com/WapibyiXux
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 16, 2024
Analysis
The Indianapolis season was successful in 2023 but that doesn’t mean the franchise didn’t attack the offseason.
The Colts agreed to extensions with Pittman, Zaire Franklin, Kenny Moore II, Grover Steward and Tyquan Lewis. These moves solidified the team’s defensive unit, while Pittman remains a top receiving option for Richardson.
The most high-profile free agent is probably the player Indianapolis hopes barely touches the field. The Colts signed quarterback Joe Flacco to a one-year deal worth up to $8.7 million. This shores up the position behind Richardson, much like Gardner Minshew II did in 2023.
Flacco signed with the Cleveland Browns late into 2023 and had an excellent run, steering the team to a 4-1 record and a wild card berth. He won Comeback Player of the Year honors for his play and is rewarded with a deal in Indianapolis.
Other notable signings include safety Julian Blackmon and defensive tackle Raekwon Davis.
In the 2024 NFL Draft, Indianapolis secured edge rusher Laiatu Latu in the first round. He was the first defensive player taken in the draft and could be a huge piece to the Colts defense.
The Colts spent its second round pick on wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, who could be another solid option for Richardson. The Colts made seven additional picks in the draft on players who can contend for roster spots on both offense and defense.
Pivotal Matchups
The battles within the Division will be notable, as the AFC South could be considered pretty wide open.
The Colts, Texans and Jaguars all finished above .500 in 2023. The Titans struggled to a 6-11 record, but still could pull off a major turnaround if it gets proper development on the roster.
The AFC South has been won by the Texans, Jaguars and Titans respectively in the last three seasons and has not had a repeat winner since Tennessee did so in 2020 and 2021. Indianapolis could be next in that succession and securing a strong record against those teams could be crucial to that goal.
Indianapolis will be playing at MetLife Stadium twice in 2024 as it plays both the New York Giants and New York Jets. It’s the first time the Colts have played away against both franchises in a season since 2006. Indianapolis won both games that season.
The Colts will also see two of the top three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft as it is set to host the Chicago Bears and Caleb Williams and will travel to Foxborough to take on Drake Maye and the New England Patriots. Additionally, the Colts will face No. 10 pick J.J. McCarthy and No. 12 pick Bo Nix, meaning it sees four of the six first-round quarterbacks from the Draft.
