3 things to watch for when Colts' 2026 NFL schedule is announced
When the Colts' 2026 NFL schedule is announced, here are three things to watch for.
Although we know who the Indianapolis Colts' opponents are for this season, their full 2026 NFL schedule will be announced on Thursday, May 14. On paper, the Colts have one of the easier strength of schedules in football, but how the schedule shakes out can impact the difficulty of it as well. So as schedule leaks continue to drop and once the full 17-game schedule is announced, here are three things to keep your eyes on that could impact how the 2026 season unfolds.
When is the Colts' bye week? I imagine that every team is hoping that their bye lands somewhere in the middle of the season, but that won't be the case for everyone. The earliest bye is Week 5, which then means a team must play 13 consecutive weeks to close out the regular season.
On the flip side, the latest bye week comes in Week 14. Ideally, the Colts' bye will land in the Week 8-11 range, helping to split the season into two halves. Colts' rest advantage or disadvantage Sometimes it's not who you play, but when you play a team.
How many of the Colts' opponents are coming off their bye week or a Thursday night game the week prior? Do the Colts face any of their opponents on a short week of rest? Are opponents coming off of or in the midst of an extended road trip when facing the Colts?