Good, bad and ugly from Colts' 2026 NFL schedule
Now that we know what the Colts' 2026 NFL schedule looks like, here is the good, bad, and ugly from how it fell.
Going beyond who the Indianapolis Colts face on a weekly basis, how the NFL schedule falls can also dictate how challenging the upcoming season might be. Now that we know what the Colts' exact 2026 schedule looks like, let's highlight the good, the bad, and the ugly from it. The good from the Indianapolis Colts 2026 NFL schedule Colts finish at home: The Colts close out the regular season with two of their final three games taking place at home.
Perhaps if Indianapolis finds themselves in some must-win situations -- which has been the case the last few years -- being at Lucas Oil Stadium will help. Two prime-time games: After having only one prime-time game last season, the Colts got a second in 2026. They face the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football in Week 2 and the Texans on Thursday Night Football in Week 11.
Only 4 playoff teams from 2025 on the schedule: Overall, the Colts' strength of schedule is one of the easier ones on paper. In part, that's due to them facing only four 2025 playoff teams -- among the fewest in the NFL. From Weeks 6 through 10, the Colts face only one playoff team from last season.
Perhaps an opportunity to bank some wins midseason. The bad from the Indianapolis Colts 2026 NFL schedule A tough stretch to start the season: A fast start feels like a must for the Colts this year. They will need to be at their best right away in order to earn some early-season victories.