Indianapolis Colts Schedule: Toughest three-game stretch

The Indianapolis Colts face a difficult three-game stretch from Weeks 10-12 that could have a big impact on their 2024 season depending on the outcome of those games.

In Week 10, the Colts face the Buffalo Bills at home at 1 p.m.

In Week 11, the Colts travel to New York to take on the Jets in their only primetime game of the year, which takes place on Sunday Night Football.

Then in Week 12, the Colts are back at home to take on the Detroit Lions at 1 p.m.

Last season, both the Bills and Lions were playoff teams, with the Lions on the verge of making it to the Super Bowl. Once again, both teams expect to be among the elite in their respective conferences.

The Jets' 2023 season was wiped out by Aaron Rodgers' Achilles tendon injury, but his return makes them a playoff contender and a team we know has Super Bowl aspirations.

In each of these games, the Colts will have to deal with high-level quarterback play, with Buffalo and Detroit each averaging the first six points per game scored in 2023.

On the other hand, the Bills and Jets had two of the better defenses in the NFL last season in terms of points allowed per game. Detroit was very good against the run but struggled against the pass.

The good news for the Colts is that two of those three games will be at home. However, the Colts will complete a two-game road trip against Houston and Minnesota before their game against Buffalo in Week 10 – meaning three of those four games will be on the road from Weeks 8-11.

This stretch of play also takes place in the second half of the season, before the Colts had their late bye in Week 14. For reasons of peace, there will be no grace period in advance.

Despite being without Anthony Richardson for most of last season, the Colts finished the year 9-8, narrowly missing the playoffs. Continuity was the theme of the offseason, with GM Chris Ballard prioritizing retention of his own players, and that element – on both sides of the ball – must be a catalyst in the 2024 season.

“Once you have your system in place, it helps tremendously, especially if the players understand the terms and terminology,” head coach Shane Steichen said. “But I really try to stay current because this league is constantly changing. So if we can do that and build on what we did last year, I’m looking forward to the 2024 season.”

Ultimately, games are not played on paper and who knows, maybe there will be another part of the game during the season that will prove to be the most difficult. But as we sit here in mid-May with nothing to worry about but paper, these three games could play a key role in shaping the Colts' season.

The story originally appeared on Colts Wire