Everybody already has the Indianapolis Colts figured out … or, at least they think they do.
In these NFL power rankings entering the 2026 season, their range is narrow:
- Third in the AFC South.
- 19th at best and 23rd at worst.
- Starters remaining healthy is mandatory for a chance to make the playoffs.
- Somebody from the NFC West is the league’s best team.
The Colts start the season at home against the Baltimore Ravens.
rank in Week 1
: 20th
- “Indy’s nine-figure investment in Alec Pierce came with immediate concerns when the receiver spent most of August on the PUP list following ankle surgery. He’s since practiced fully, but it’s fair to wonder how much the Colts can count on him against the Ravens in Week 1. Keenan Allen is expected to play in the opener despite his recent arrest on drunken driving charges, but expect plenty of work for Josh Downs and reliance on Jonathan Taylor in an offense that isn’t exactly fully equipped to start the season.”
20th
- “Injuries cost the Colts an opportunity to be the surprise team of 2025, and now they look destined to spend another season hovering around .500 in the hope that they can sneak into the playoffs as the seventh seed. It is imperative that the Colts get off to a good start to improve their chances. But they’ll be facing off against Baltimore, Kansas City, and Houston to start the season.”
21st
- Projected win total by Austin Mock: 8.3
“Daniel Jones has checked all the boxes after tearing his right Achilles, and the Colts were 8-2 before his injury last season. Still, trepidation remains. It’s one thing to look good in practice coming off an injury, and it’s another to do it in game action. We’re in wait-and-see mode with this team.”
23rd
- “The talent found on Indianapolis’ roster is obvious, but the squad’s depth is thin. If the Colts are going to play like the team that showed up during the first half of last season, its top players must remain on the field.”
23rd
- “They desperately need Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor to stay healthy.”
19th
Enjoying this article? Support our work with a small crypto donation.- “There are two teams I fear I have vastly underrated in my preseason power rankings, and the Colts are one of them. I still have my doubts about Daniel Jones’ ability to bounce back from a major injury again. But so far, so good for him.”
21st
- “This regime enters the season knowing they likely have to be a playoff team to stick around. I don’t think they are good enough to do that.”
22nd
“Seemingly healthy at long last, a team that’s poured so much of its resources into QB Daniel Jones, WR Alec Pierce and CB Sauce Gardner is compelled to prove it’s closer to the version that began 2025 with an 8-2 record … not the one which lost its final seven games.”
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(all times ET)
- Sun., Sept. 13: vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m., CBS (Preview)
- Sun., Sept. 20: at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m., NBC, Peacock (Preview)
- Sun., Sept. 27: vs. Houston Texans, 1 p.m., CBS (Preview)
- Sun., Oct. 4: vs. Washington Commanders in London, 9:30 a.m., NFL Network (Preview)
- Sun., Oct. 11: at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m., CBS (Preview)
- Sun., Oct. 18: vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., Fox (Preview)
- Sun., Oct. 25: at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m., CBS (Preview)
- Sun., Nov. 1: at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m., CBS (Preview)
- Sun., Nov. 8: vs. Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m., Fox (Preview)
- Sun., Nov. 15: vs. Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m., CBS (Preview)
- Thurs., Nov. 19: at Houston Texans, 8:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video (Preview)
- Sun., Nov. 29: vs. New York Giants, 1 p.m., Fox (preview)
- Week 13: Bye week
- Sun., Dec. 13: at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m., Fox (preview)
- Sun., Dec. 20: at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., CBS (preview)
- Sun., Dec. 27: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, TBA, TBA (preview)
- Sun., Jan. 3: at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m., Fox (preview)
- Sun., Jan 10: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, TBA, TBA (preview)
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(all times ET)
- Wed., Sept. 9: New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks, 8:20 p.m., NBC, Peacock (Preview)
- Thurs., Sept. 10: San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, 8:35 p.m., TV: Netflix (Preview)
- Sun., Sept. 13: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m., Fox (Preview)
- Sun., Sept. 13: Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m., CBS (Preview)
- Sun., Sept. 13: Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans, 1 p.m., CBS (Preview)
- Sun., Sept. 13: New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m., Fox (Preview)
- Sun., Sept. 13: Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m., CBS (Preview)
- Sun., Sept. 13: New York Jets at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., CBS (Preview)
- Sun., Sept. 13: Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m., Fox (Preview)
- Sun., Sept. 13: Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m., Fox (Preview)
- Sun., Sept. 13: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings, 4:25 p.m., CBS (Preview)
- Sun., Sept. 13: Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m., Fox (Preview)
- Sun., Sept. 13: Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 p.m., CBS (Preview)
- Sun., Sept. 13: Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m., Fox (Preview)
- Sun., Sept. 13: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants, 8:20 p.m., NBC, Peacock (Preview)
- Mon., Sept 14: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:15 p.m., ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes (Preview)
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NFL power rankings 2026: Where the Indianapolis Colts stand in Week 1
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