Indianapolis Colts 2023 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images)

Key Players Returning:

RB Jonathan Taylor, WR Alec Pierce, WR Michael Pittman, TE Jelani Woods, OC Ryan Kelly, OG Quenton Nelson, OT Braden Smith, DE Dayo Odeyingbo, DE Kwity Paye, DT DeForest Buckner, NT Grover Stewart, LB Zaire Franklin, LB Shaquille Leonard, LB EJ Speed, CB/KR Isaiah Rodgers, NB Kenny Moore II, FS Rodney Thomas II, SS Julian Blackmon, KR Dallis Florwers and PT Rigoberto Sanchez.

Key Players Departing:

QB Matt Ryan (retired), WR Parris Campbell (Giants), OT Matt Pryor (49ers), DE Yannick Ngakoue (UFA), LB Bobby Okereke (Giants), CB Stephon Gilmore (Cowboys), CB Brandon Facyson (Raiders), SS Rodney McLeod (Browns), PR Keke Coutee (UFA), PK Chase McLaughlin (Buccaneers) and PT Matt Haack (Cardinals).

Key Players Added:

QB Gardner Minshew (Eagles), WR/PR Isaiah McKenzie (Bills), DE Samson Ebukam (49ers) and PK Matt Gay (Raiders).

Draft Picks:

Round 1: 
Pick 004 – WR Alec Pierce (Cincinnati)
Round 2:  Pick 044 – CB Julius Brents (Kansas State)
Round 3:  Pick 079 – WR Josh Downs (North Carolina)
Round 4:  Pick 106 – OT Blake Freeland (BYU)
Round 4:  Pick 110 – DT Adetomiwa Adebawore (Northwestern)
Round 4:  Pick 141 – CB Darius Rush (South Carolina)
Round 5:  Pick 158 – FS Daniel Scott (California)
Round 5:  Pick 162 – TE Will Mallory (Miami, FL)
Round 5:  Pick 176 – RB Evan Hull (Northwestern)
Round 6:  Pick 211 – DE Titus Leo (Wagner)
Round 7:  Pick 221 – CB Jaylon Jones (Texas A&M)
Round 7:  Pick 236 – OT Jake Witt (Northern Michigan)

2022 Results:

W01  @ Texans  T | OT  20-20
W02  @ Jaguars  L  0-24
W03  CHIEFS  W  20-17
W04  TITANS  L  17-24
W05  @ Broncos  W | OT  12-9
W06  JAGUARS  W  34-27
W07  @ Titans  L  10-19
W08  COMMANDERS  L  16-17
W09  @ Patriots  L  3-26
W10  @ Raiders  W  25-20
W11  EAGLES  L  16-17
W12  STEELERS  L  17-24
W13  @ Cowboys  L  19-54
W15  @ Vikings  L | OT  36-39
W16  CHARGERS  L  3-20
W17  @ Giants  L  10-38
W18  HOUSTON  L  31-32

Team Info:

2022 Overall:  4-12-1 (3rd in AFC South)

Home:  2-6
Road:  2-6-1
South:  1-4-1
AFC:  4-7-1
NFC:  0-5

Head Coach:  Shane Steichen

Indianapolis:  0-0
Career:  0-0
Playoffs:  0-0

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Sam Ehlinger (64-101, 573 yards, 63.4%, 5.7 avg., ,3 TD, 3 INT)
Rushing:  Jonathan Taylor (192 car., 861 yards, 4.5 avg., 4 TD)
Receiving:  Michael Pittman Jr. (99 rec., 925 yards, 9.3 avg., 4 TD)
Yard After Catch:  Michael Pittman Jr. (357)
TD’s Scored:  Michael Pittman Jr./Jonathan Taylor (4)
Sacks:  DeForest Buckner (8)
Tackles:  Zaire Franklin (167)
Interceptions:  Rodney Thomas II (4)
Pass Deflections:  Stephon Gilmore (11)
Tackles For Loss:  Zaire Franklin (12)
Forced Fumbles:  Zaire Franklin (3)
Kick Returns:  Dallis Flowers (23 ret., 715 yards, 31.1 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns:  Dallis Flowers (3 ret., 13 yards, 4.3 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  None
Punting:  Matt Haack (70 punts, 3133 yards, 44.8 avg., 28 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  10  Gardner Minshew
RB:  28  Jonathan Taylor
WR:  14  Alec Pierce
WR:  11  Michael Pittman Jr.
WR:  6  Isaiah McKenzie
TE:  9-  Jelani Woods
LT:  79  Bernard Raimann
LG:  56  Quenton Nelson
OC:  78  Ryan Kelly
RG:  75  Will Fries
RT:  72  Braden Smith
KR:  33  Dallis Flowers
PK:  7  Matt Gay

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  51  Kwity Paye
NT:  90  Grover Stewart
DT:  99  DeForest Buckner
DE:  52  Samson Ebuikam
LB:  44  Zaire Franklin
LB:  53  Shaquille Leonard
LB:  45  EJ Speed
CB:  29  JuJu Brents
CB:  34  Isaiah Rodgers Jr.
FS:  25  Rodney Thomas II
SS:  32  Julian Blackmon
PR:  6  Isaiah McKenzie
PT:  8  Rigoberto Sanchez

Team Grades

Offense

Quarterbacks:  B
Running Backs:  B
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  C

Defense:

Defensive Line:  A
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  B

Special Teams:

Kick Returners:  A
Punt Returners:  B
Kicking:  A
Punting:  A

Schedule:

09/10 
JAGUARS  |  Indianapolis leads the series 27-17.  The Colts are 11-9 since 2013 and their last series home loss (0-27) was in 2017.

09/17  @ Texans  |  Indianapolis leads the series 32-10-1.  The Colts are 14-6-1 since 2013 and their last series road win (31-0) was in 2021.

09/24  @ Ravens  |  Indianapolis leads the series 10-7.  The Colts lost (25-31) the last series meeting in 2021.

10/01  RAMS  |  Indianapolis trails the series 8-10-1.  The Colts lost (24-27) the last meeting between teams in 2021.

10/08  TITANS  |  Indianapolis leads the series 35-22.  The Colts are 12-8 since 2013 and their last series home win (38-10) was in 2018.

10/15  @ Jaguars  |  The Colts last series road win (44-17) was in 2014.

10/22  BROWNS  |  The series is tied 15-15.  The Colts lost (23-32) the last meeting between teams in 2020.

10/29  SAINTS  |  Indianapolis trails the series 5-9.  The Colts lost (7-34) the last meeting between teams in 2019.

11/05  @ PANTHERS  |  Indianapolis trails the series 2-5.  The Colts won (38-6) the last meeting between teams in 2019.

11/12  @ Patriots  |  Indianapolis trails the series 30-53.  The Colts are 1-6 since 2013 and their last series won (27-17) was in 2021.

11/26  BUCCANEERS   |  Indianapolis leads the series 8-7.  The Colts lost (31-38) the last meeting between teams in 2021.

12/03  @ Titans  |  The Colts last series road win (34-17) was in 2020.

12/10  @ Bengals  |  Indianapolis leads the series 20-12.  The Colts won (31-27) the last meeting between teams in 2020.

12/16  STEELERS  |  Indianapolis trails the series 6-25.  The Colts are 0-7 since renewing the series in 2014 and their last series win (24-20) dates back to 2008.

12/24  @ Falcons  |  Indianapolis leads the series 15-2.  The Colts won (27-24) the last meeting between teams in 2019.

12/31  RAIDERS  |  Indianapolis trails the series 10-11.  The Colts are 4-3 since 2013 and their last series loss (20-23) was in 2021.

01/07  TEXANS  |  The Colts last series home win (31-3) was in 2021.

Prediction:

Home:  8-1
Road:  3-5
South:  4-2
AFC:  7-5
NFC:  4-1

Overall:  11-6 (2nd in AFC South – Eliminated by Browns in Wild Card)

Series Histories:
  Histories are from the inception of the first Super Bowl season through present day.  Meetings prior to 1966 are not included.  Playoff wins are included in the year the season took place.  For example, if a team won a wildcard game in January of 2023, the game will be listed under the 2022 season.