INDIANAPOLIS – For a second straight year, the Colts will face 7 playoff teams from the previous season.
In addition to the Colts playing their normal AFC South slate, the Colts will take on the AFC West, NFC East and travel to take on the Vikings in 2022.
Here is the 2022 regular season schedule for the Colts:
Week 1: @Texans, September 11th (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
-Yes, the elephant in the room: the Colts haven’t won a season opener since 2013. Will it still be Davis Mills under center for a second straight year in Indy? Lovie Smith is now the head man in Houston. Honestly, the Colts probably got one of their ‘easiest’ games on the schedule to try and end this horrid streak.
Week 2: @Jaguars, September 18th (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
-It’s jarring to type this: the Colts have lost 7 straight meetings to the Jaguars when playing away from Jacksonville (6 in Jacksonville, 1 in London). On paper, despite two road games, this start is much easier than the Seahawks/Rams gauntlet to start last season.
Week 3: vs. Chiefs, September 25th (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
-It’s quite the first home matchup of the 2022 season. Patrick Mahomes has never played in Indianapolis, so that adds to this intrigue.
Week 4: vs. Titans, October 2nd (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
-Will it come down to these two teams again for the AFC South? The Colts will play all three of their AFC South foes in the first four weeks of the season.
Week 5: @Bronocs, October 6th (Thursday, 8:15 PM, Amazon Prime)
-It’s an early Thursday nighter for the Colts. Denver didn’t mess around this offseason in trading for Russell Wilson. New head coach Nathaniel Hackett comes over from Green Bay to be the Broncos head coach. This stretch of Chiefs/Titans/Broncos could be the toughest of the season.
Week 6: vs. Jaguars, October 16th (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
-At least the Colts can beat the Jaguars in Indy. Last year, Doug Pederson was visiting the Colts training camp at Grand Park. Now, he’ll be facing his good friend Frank Reich inside of Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts and Jaguars will wrap up their seasonal slate by Week 6.
Week 7: @Titans, October 23rd (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
-It’s five divisional games in the first seven weeks. Just like last season, the Colts and Titans will have both of their meetings before November. The Colts, with a hobbled Carson Wentz, lost in Nashville last September.
Week 8: Commanders, October 30th (Sunday, 4:25 PM, FOX)
-Well, I don’t think the Carson Wentz tribute video will get much play for this one. It’ll be Philadelphia and Washington as the two NFC East opponents coming to Lucas Oil Stadium in 2022.
Week 9: @Patriots, November 6th (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
-Is this rivalry back on? The Colts finally got over the New England hurdle this past December. In Foxborough though, the Colts have lost 6 straight meetings (dating back to 2006).
Week 10: @Raiders, November 13th (Sunday, 4:05 PM, CBS)
-These two teams have met annually in Frank Reich’s now 5 seasons. It’ll be the Colts going back to Vegas looking to avenge a critical home loss this past season. And they’ll see Davantae Adams in this one with Yannick Ngakoue going back to Las Vegas.
Week 11: vs Eagles, November 20th (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
-Frank Reich will welcome back his former offensive coordinator in Nick Sirianni for this one. The Eagles made a surprise run to the playoffs, led by Jalen Hurts, last year. Zach Pascal will make his return to Lucas Oil Stadium, where fans always enjoyed his pre-game catch activities.
Week 12: vs. Steelers, November 28th (Monday, 8:15 PM, ESPN)
-Stop the presses! This is the first of two home primetime games for the Colts! Typically, it’s the Colts having to travel to Pittsburgh for this matchup. But the Colts will host a Pittsburgh team moving in a different quarterback direction. Will it be Mitchell Trubisky or Kenny Pickett starting for the Steelers?
Week 13: at Cowboys, December 4th (Sunday, 8:20 PM, NBC)
-It’s a return to Jerry’s World for the first time since 2014 for the Colts, and this one is on Sunday Night Football. The Cowboys will have a few extra days of prep for this one, playing on Thanksgiving the week prior.
Week 14: BYE
-For a second straight year, the Colts will have the latest bye week in the NFL.
Week 15: @Vikings, December 17th or 18th (TBD)
-Good thing this one is indoors. With the Vikings finishing 2nd in the NFC North this past year, they match up against the Colts (2nd place in the AFC South) for that 17th game on the schedule. The Vikings are led by new head coach Kevin O’Connell, who comes over after being the Rams offensive coordinator.
Week 16: vs. Chargers, December 26th (Monday, 8:15 PM, ESPN)
-This is going to be a fun one to watch inside of Lucas Oil Stadium, and it makes sense it’ll earn a primetime slot. Justin Herbert will be an entertaining opposing QB for Colts fans to see against Gus Bradley, who was the Chargers defensive coordinator from 2017-20.
Week 17: @Giants, January 1st (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
-Let’s check the weather on this outdoor New Year’s Day game. The Colts played on Monday Night Football in their last road trip to take on the Giants (December 2014). New York hired Brian Daboll from Buffalo as their new head coach.
Week 18: vs. Texans, January 7th or 8th (TBD)
-The Colts will open and close the season with the Texans. Indy has had good control over Houston in recent seasons. The Colts/Texans meeting in Houston has lacked some juice after pivotal matchups from about 2014-18.
