Colts 2020 schedule: Predicting every game, week-by-week odds, matchups, projections - CBS Sports

Last season's Indianapolis Colts had to deal with a lot of things that they didn't plan for. Most notably, their starting quarterback unexpectedly retired just before the beginning of the season. They made do with Jacoby Brissett under center, but there's no question they would have preferred things to have gone a bit differently. 

This offseason, they made an aggressive move for an upgrade, signing Philip Rivers away from the only team he'd ever known. They gave Rivers some new weapons to work with as well, and they seem to have things moving in the right direction. They also have the league's friendliest schedules this season, facing opponents whose projected over/under win totals work out to only a 0.480 winning percentage. Will the Colts be able to ride the Rivers wave and a cupcake schedule to the playoffs? 

In celebration of (hopefully) football on the horizon, here's a way-too-early week-by-week prediction for all 16 of the Colts' regular season games on the schedule, complete with over/under win totals for every opponent courtesy of William Hill Sports Book, as well as the Week 1 and 2 lines. The Colts' O/U is 8.5:

Week 1 at Jaguars

Line: Colts -7
Opponent win total: O/U 4.5

Prediction: Sure, it's tough to go on the road in Week 1 -- especially after a strange offseason with while trying to work in a bunch of new pieces. But this Indianapolis team is just significantly better than the one down in Jacksonville. Philip Rivers throws for three scores in his debut and the Colts win 27-16.

Projected record: 1-0

Week 2 vs. Vikings

Line: Colts -3
Opponent win total: O/U 9

Prediction: Based on the way they went about their offseason, it seems like we have a pretty good idea of what kind of team the Colts want to be. You don't draft Jonathan Taylor in the second round to not use him -- even after signing Rivers. More likely, they want to use Taylor and Marlon Mack to control the clock and grind out wins. But the Vikings are better at that type of game already, and they have better weapons, too. Colts lose 23-20.

Projected record: 1-1

Week 3 vs. Jets

Opponent win total: O/U 6.5

Prediction: The Jets spent a ton of resources this offseason to upgrade the infrastructure around Sam Darnold. They did a pretty good job of it, and their offense should be improved. But the defense is going to have some issues, and they'll be on display here as the Colts win 33-21.

Projected record: 2-1

Week 4 at Bears

Opponent win total: O/U 8

Prediction: Going into Soldier Field is never easy. We don't yet know who will be under center for the Bears in this game, but we do know that it'll be tough for even the Colts to find sledding against their defense. This one becomes a grinding affair and the home team ekes out a tight victory. Colts lose 17-16.

Projected record: 2-2

Week 5 at Browns

Opponent win total: O/U 8.5

Prediction: Another tough road game for the Colts right here, though this time around they have the benefit of a slightly better matchup. Cleveland's defense ranked in the bottom half of the league last season, and was particularly weak against the run. Taylor comes through with 125 yards and two scores, and the Colts win 27-23.

Projected record: 3-2

Week 6 vs. Bengals

Opponent win total: O/U 5.5

Prediction: Joe Burrow tears up the Indianapolis defense ... but Rivers does the same to a Bengals point-prevention unit that added some talent this offseason but still leaves a whole lot to be desired. (When you basically import last season's Vikings corners, you're not necessarily doing it right.) Michael Pittman is the rookie with two scores this week as the Colts win 37-24.

Projected record: 4-2

Week 8 at Lions

Opponent win total: O/U 6.5

Prediction: Coming off of their Week 7 bye, the Colts continue to roll. This Detroit roster has a ton of holes and is no match for Rivers, Taylor, Pittman, T.Y. Hilton, and everybody else on the Indianapolis offense. Matt Patricia is put on notice after the Colts win 30-10.

Projected record: 5-2

Week 9 vs. Ravens

Opponent win total: O/U 11.5

Prediction: The winning streak was bound to end some time, and Lamar Jackson was just the guy to put a stop to it. Matt Eberflus' defense has no answers for Jackson in a blowout loss that causes people to wonder whether Indy's hot start was for real, or just the result of a soft schedule. Colts lose 40-14.

Projected record: 5-3

Week 10 at Titans

Opponent win total: O/U 8.5

Prediction: After getting embarrassed by the Ravens a week earlier, you'd think the Colts would come back with a vengeance, but the quick turnaround leads to their falling to the division rival Titans on Thursday Night Football and dropping out of first place in the AFC South for the first time since Week 5. Derrick Henry racks up 150 yards and three scores and the Colts lose 28-20.

Projected record: 5-4

Week 11 vs. Packers

Opponent win total: O/U 9

Prediction: Uh-oh. Three losses in a row have people wondering whether it was really a good idea to sign Rivers. He gets out-dueled by Rodgers in a shootout, with Rivers' three interceptions looking like the deciding factor. Colts lose 30-27 in OT.

Projected record: 5-5

Week 12 vs. Titans

Opponent win total: O/U 8.5

Prediction: That's more like it. The Colts get back on track at home, riding their run game and efficient passing from Rivers to a win over the Titans, who looked like they might be about to pull away with the division lead. Instead, the Colts shut down Henry (64 yards on 26 carries), control the clock (37 minutes of possession to 23 for Tennessee), and win 23-13.

Projected record: 6-5

Week 13 at Texans

Opponent win total: O/U 8

Prediction: Bouncing back from their three-game losing streak, the Colts appear to be back on track. Going on the road for a divisional win in Houston, Rivers and co. deal a (seemingly) decisive blow to the Texans' playoff hopes, garnering themselves a decisive victory to jump back into the playoff picture. Colts win 24-14.

Projected record: 7-5

Week 14 vs. Raiders

Opponent win total: O/U 7.5

Prediction: Just like that, Indy is on another three-game winning streak. The Raiders just do not have the horses (pun intended) on defense to keep up with Indy here, especially in the domed environment on the road. Rivers has his best game of the year as the Colts win 39-20.

Projected record: 8-5

Week 15 vs. Texans

Opponent win total: O/U 8

Prediction: Another three-game winning streak is snapped, though this time it's rather unexpectedly. After scoring a decisive win in Houston two weeks earlier, the Colts drop a game to the Texans in their own building, allowing Houston to jump back into the playoff picture. J.J. Watt dominates the line of scrimmage and the Colts lose 27-17.

Projected record: 8-6

Week 16 at Steelers

Opponent win total: O/U 9

Prediction: It's tough sledding for the Indianapolis offense once again, as the ferocious Pittsburgh defense makes things incredibly tough for Rivers, forcing him into two interceptions. The Colts hold Ben Roethlisberger and the Steeler offense to only 20 points, but they still can't find a way to score a win on the road. Colts lose 20-17.

Projected record: 8-7

Week 17 vs. Jaguars

Opponent win total: O/U 5.5

Prediction: Indy enters Week 17 needing to win in order to make the playoffs, with multiple chances to get there. If they win and the Titans lose, the Colts win the AFC South by virtue of holding the ace in the hole on a three-team tiebreaker. If they win and the Titans beat the Texans, then the Colts need some help elsewhere in order to land the No. 6 seed. They do their part and take care of the Jaguars here. Colts win 27-14.

Projected record: 9-7

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2020-05-19 19:00:14Z
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