Colts must navigate difficult start to 2026 NFL season

The Indianapolis Colts will have to navigate a difficult start to the upcoming 2026 NFL season. Through the first five games of the season, the Colts face only two playoff teams from 2025, however, that doesn't tell the entire story either. In Weeks 1 and 2, the Colts take on Lamar Jackson's Ravens and then Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs.

Both teams are coming off missed postseason appearances, but anytime you face a team with elite quarterback play, there are going to be obvious challenges. In Week 3, the Colts face the Houston Texans , who boasted one of the stingiest and most disruptive defenses in football last season. Then, on offense, there is the combination of CJ Stroud and Nico Collins.

Week 4 consists of a trip to London to take on Washington, who is coming off a down season. That said, Jayden Daniels missed the majority of the year, and the games played abroad come with their unknowns. To round out this stretch, the Colts did not get a bye week following the London game.

Instead, they will be back on the road to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense. Three of these five games will be played on the road as well. For a team that has struggled to win games down the stretch over the years, the Colts do not want to put themselves in an early-season hole and have to play catch-up.