Colts 2025 NFL Schedule Released for Anthony Richardson, Daniel Jones' QB1 Battle

The Indianapolis Colts' path to potentially earning their first playoff berth since 2020 was revealed Wednesday.

As part of the NFL's league-wide schedule release, the Colts' 2025 schedule was fully unveiled, charting the course for third-year head coach Shane Steichen.

Analysis

The Colts have hovered around the .500 mark in recent years, going 9-8 in 2021 and 2023, and 8-9 last season. With better quarterback play, Indy could have been viewed as a perennial playoff team entering 2025.

Indianapolis controversially used the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft on quarterback Anthony Richardson, and it hasn't paid dividends yet.

While Richardson has an 8-7 record as a starter, he has completed just 50.6 percent of his passes for 2,391 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions over his first two seasons.

In an effort to face Richardson with some legitimate competition, the Colts signed former New York Giants quarterback and 2019 first-round pick Daniel Jones.

Over his final two seasons in New York, Jones went just 3-13 and threw 10 touchdowns compared to 13 interceptions, but he led the Giants to the playoffs in 2022 and will have a chance to prove that wasn't a fluke.

Aside from the quarterback situation, the Colts will feature running back Jonathan Taylor, fresh off a 1,400-yard rushing season, and a defense that struggled to the tune of ranking 29th in total defense and 24th in scoring defense last season.

Luckily for the Colts, their 2025 schedule does not appear to be particularly difficult despite the fact that they are playing a second-place schedule after finishing second in the AFC South last season.

The Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams are the Colts' 2025 opponents who made the playoffs last season, but more than half of them could legitimately be winnable games if the Colts get adequate quarterback play.

Pivotal Matchups

Given how wide open the AFC South could potentially be in 2025, divisional matchups against the Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans are undoubtedly of the most interest to Indy this season.

While the Texans have won back-to-back divisional titles, they lost several key players from their roster this offseason, most notably left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

Meanwhile, the Jags and Titans seem to have gotten better, as Jacksonville took wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft and the Titans may have found their franchise quarterback by taking Cam Ward No. 1 overall.

With the Texans potentially regressing and there being no guarantees for the Jaguars or Titans to take a big leap forward, the door could be cracked for the Colts to make a run at the division if they post a strong record in the AFC South.

Outside of the division, a road game against the Chiefs should be a great litmus test for where the Colts stand since the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs have reached the Super Bowl in three straight seasons.

In terms of back story, the home game against the Arizona Cardinals is most intriguing due to the head coach matchup.

Steichen and Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon respectively served as the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive and defensive coordinators when they reached the Super Bowl in 2022.

That suggests they should know how to attack each other, which figures to make for a fun chess match.