The formula the Colts are taking into the 2025 season feels familiar.
An Indianapolis Colts roster that looks otherwise competitive finds itself hoping for a resurgent season from a quarterback who has taken his lumps in the NFL so far.
The formula hasn’t worked in a while. Indianapolis has missed the playoffs for four consecutive seasons, and after a drought like that, there is pressure on general manager Chris Ballard, head coach Shane Steichen and quarterback Daniel Jones to produce results, particularly after the team’s controversial decision to start Jones over third-year quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Colts predictions for 2025 NFL seasonWeek 1, Sept. 7: Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m., Lucas Oil Stadium
Colts 28, Dolphins 24 (1-0)
The non-winning streak in openers has to end at some point, right? Miami’s defense has gone through an enormous makeover, a rebuild that still seems to be underway, and even though new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s secondary will be tested by the Dolphins’ speed, it feels like Jonathan Taylor and company can get it done offensively.
Week 2, Sept. 14: Denver Broncos, 4:05 p.m., Lucas Oil Stadium
Broncos 20, Colts 16 (1-1)
Vance Joseph’s complex, pressure-packed scheme puts pressure on the new members of the Indianapolis offensive line, Daniel Jones fails to finish enough drives and Bo Nix does just enough to hand the Colts their first loss.
Week 3, Sept. 21: at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., Nissan Stadium
Colts 27, Titans 17 (2-1)
Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick in an NFL draft thin on quarterback talent, gets tested early and often by Anarumo’s ability to disguise coverages and mix up pressures, leading to a “Welcome to the NFL” moment for the rookie.
Week 4, Sept. 28: at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m., SoFi Stadium
Rams 26, Colts 20 (2-2)
Assuming Matthew Stafford’s back isn’t acting up, he and head coach Sean McVay should be able to overcome Anarumo’s disguise and a young, up-and-coming Los Angeles defensive line proves to be too much to handle for the Colts up front.
Week 5, Oct. 5: Las Vegas Raiders, 1 p.m., Lucas Oil Stadium
Colts 31, Raiders 21 (3-2)
Las Vegas has a new head coach, Pete Carroll, and a new quarterback, Geno Smith, but it’s impossible to think of the Raiders as anything other than a mess until proven otherwise.
Week 6, Oct. 12: Arizona Cardinals, 1 p.m., Lucas Oil Stadium
Cardinals 17, Colts 13 (3-3)
Arizona’s defense under former Colts cornerbacks coach Jonathan Gannon was excellent against the run last season and difficult to read against the pass, a puzzle Indianapolis quarterback Daniel Jones fails to solve.
Week 7, Oct. 19: at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m., SoFi Stadium
Chargers 31, Colts 20 (3-4)
Laiatu Latu wreaks a little bit of havoc early against a Chargers line missing Rashawn Slater, but ultimately, Jim Harbaugh’s hard-nosed running attack seems suited to attack an Indianapolis run defense that looks like it could have problems once again.
Week 8, Oct. 26: Tennessee Titans, 4:25 p.m., Lucas Oil Stadium
Colts 27, Titans 21 (4-4)
By this point in the season, Ward is starting to find his footing, but it’s not enough to overcome another great performance by a surging Jonathan Taylor, especially with Charvarius Ward around to make life difficult for the rookie quarterback late.
Week 9, Nov. 2: at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m., Acrisure Stadium
Steelers 16, Colts 14 (4-5)
Pittsburgh’s a place that always seems to get the Colts. In this case, Aaron Rodgers comes up with a drive for a late field goal in a defensive battle between two teams trying to stay on the fringe of the playoff discussion.
Week 10, Nov. 9: Atlanta Falcons, 9:30 a.m., Olympic Stadium, Berlin
Colts 22, Falcons 16 (5-5)
For whatever reason, the international games always seem to be a little bit weird, and even though Atlanta has plenty of talent at the skill positions, the Falcons are breaking in an unproven player at quarterback in former Indiana passer Michael Penix Jr.
Week 11: ByeWeek 12, Nov. 16: at Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m., Arrowhead Stadium
Chiefs 23, Colts 14 (5-6)
Kansas City always seems to be scuffling a bit at this point of the season, but Steve Spagnuolo’s defense gets to Jones, opening the door for an efficient Patrick Mahomes performance to be enough for the win against Anarumo.
Week 13, Nov. 30: Houston Texans, 1 p.m., Lucas Oil Stadium
Texans 27, Colts 24 (5-7)
Houston’s offensive line makeover isn’t inspiring, but the Texans have the better quarterback in C.J. Stroud, a key factor in why this rivalry has been so Houston-sided for the last couple of years. With the Colts barely clinging to the edge of the playoff picture at this point, the calls for quarterback change would be starting to get loud.
Week 14, Dec. 7: at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m., Everbank Stadium
Jaguars 18, Colts 13 (5-8)
This streak does not have to end at some point. Based on a decade of games going to Duval County, the Colts are in trouble no matter what’s going on in Jacksonville’s world, and a clunker of an offensive performance at this point leads to potential change.
Week 15, Dec. 14: at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m., Lumen Field
Seahawks 21, Colts 13 (5-9)
Indianapolis turns to Anthony Richardson to stop the skid, but Mike McDonald’s varied, complex scheme gives Richards fits, leading to another loss that effectively ends any hope for a postseason berth.
Week 16, Dec. 22: San Francisco 49ers, 8:15 p.m., Lucas Oil Stadium
49ers 19, Colts 17 (5-10)
This game doesn’t actually get played on Monday Night Football. With both teams struggling, the NFL uses its flex power to move the game to Sunday, keeping the lack of firepower from both offenses out of the limelight.
Week 17, Dec. 28: Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m., Lucas Oil Stadium
Colts 31, Jaguars 20 (6-10)
Richardson plays well enough to stop the skid, but not well enough to silence the frustrations of a fan base missing out on a playoff berth for the fifth season in a row.
Week 18: at Houston Texans, NRG Stadium
Colts 27, Texans 24 (7-10)
Indianapolis finishes off its season on a note that leaves the Colts wondering what might have been, putting the final decision on organizational change in Carlie Irsay-Gordon’s hands heading into the offseason.
Joel A. Erickson covers the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.