"Way-Too-Early" NFL 2008 Season Predictions: Indianapolis Colts

[NEsince92]

Andrew submitted his already. I'll do mine tomorrow.

Vs. Chicago

Chicago lost a whole heap of talent this off-season, and won’t have what it takes to compete in 2008. Indianapolis starts the season off on the right foot as they win at home against the Bears, firing on all cylinders.

Colts 17 Bears 7

@ Minnesota

Minnesota did one of the best jobs this off-season. They greatly helped both their offense and defense, and should stay in this game until the end. This is a great improvement from last year, when they would have been blown out of the water by the powerful Colts.

Colts 28 Vikings 21

Vs. Jacksonville

The Jaguars showed that are a force to be reckoned with in the 2007 Playoffs, but I cannot see Indianapolis slowing down any this early in the season. This game has a possibility of being a shootout, and the team with more offensive weapons should win this time.

Colts 35 Jaguars 24

@ Houston

The Colts have had trouble keeping the Texans down in recent years. They have won the last three out of four, but not many blowouts from this rivalry. History doesn’t lie, and this game should be close until the end.

Colts 28 Texans 24

Vs. Baltimore

The Ravens may have something going by Week 6, but nothing to stop the mighty Colts. Who wants to wager whether Troy Smith will start this game?

Colts 35 Ravens 7

@ Green Bay

Nobody likes to travel to Green Bay, however this year may be different if the Packers don’t have anything going right for them. If Brett Favre is still in Mississippi at this time, the Colts should squeak out another victory to remain perfect on the season.

Colts 14 Packers 9

@ Tennessee

One thing that really surprises me is that the Titans didn’t draft a receiver in the first few rounds. It is almost as if they enjoy watching Vince Young getting thrown on his butt while desperately searching for one of his tight ends.

Colts 17 Titans 7

Vs. New England

The home field advantage should be crucial for the Colts in this Week 9 match up (whether or not they pump in crowd noise is beside the point). This game should be almost identical to last year’s game between these two teams, only with a different outcome.

Colts 17 Patriots 14 OT

@ Pittsburgh

This is the second good game in as many weeks for Indianapolis. This game will be fun to watch, and will come down to the wire. The Colts will make some crucial errors down the stretch to earn their first loss.

Colts 21 Steelers 24

Vs. Houston

More of the same in this game. Indianapolis will dominate both sides of the ball as they look for the best playoff seed available.

Colts 28 Texans 14

@ San Diego

Chances are that at 9-1 the Colts don’t need this game very much. However, with the Patriots steamrolling again, every win counts. Indianapolis will play this game hard, but I expect the Bolts to come out on top in San Diego.

Colts 21 Chargers 31

@ Cleveland

These middle-of-the-season games will prove to be back-breakers for the Colts. They face some very tough teams, and hope to keep their starters healthy at the same time. Cleveland should be playing for their lives in this game, and I expect them to upset the Colts here.

Colts 10 Browns 14

Vs. Cincinnati

To put it plainly, the Bengal defense stinks. There is no way around that Achilles heel, expect to score more in a shootout. This won’t happen because Indianapolis has one of the best defenses in the league.

Colts 35 Bengals 21

Vs. Detroit

If Jon Kitna makes a preseason wins prediction like he did last year, there should be no cause to worry when facing them in Week 15. Detroit will probably be playing for their postseason lives, but the Colts would love nothing more than to play spoiler.

Colts 28 Lions 17

@ Jacksonville

Jacksonville just doesn’t have that great of a team. Indianapolis will play this game tough, as the starters won’t be expecting much playing time next week.

Colts 17 Jaguars 7

Vs. Tennessee

Most starters will be benched early on for the Colts, and the Titans may be playing for a Wild Card spot. I think they come out on top against the Indianapolis backups.

Colts 14 Titans 21

Final Colts record: 12-4

[joewillett]

Indy vs. Chicago

As a Bears fan, I would love for an upset. However, that won't happen. Peyton Manning will pick apart the Bears defense and the Bears will pick apart the Bears offense by themselves while the Colts defense will be able to sit on the sidelines without worrying about giving up to many points.

Colts 28 Bears 7

Indy at Minnesota

The Vikings are going to be a good team this season and will probably make the playoffs. That being said, they still aren't in the Colts stratosphere.

Colts 21 Vikings 17

Indy vs. Jacksonville

The Jaguars are going to be tough, especially since they have Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves coming off the edges. Their defense is going to be one of the best in the NFL, and they could just knock off the Colts who they have been working to beat for a while.

Colts 17 Jags 20


Indy at Houston

The Texans were a surprise team last season, and they will make a few more strides this season as well, but they still aren't top tier like the Colts are.

Colts 31 Texans 17

Indy vs. Baltimore

The Ravens have what it takes to be the worst team in the NFL this season. I really don't think that they will even be a blip on the Colts' radar.

Colts 38 Ravens 7

Indy at Green Bay

Green Bay is going to be a wild card. Their entire season hangs on how well Aaron Rodgers comes into the starting spot, but that won't matter in the Colts game. This will, however, be a largely defensive game.

Colts 17 Packers 10

Indy at Tennessee

Vince Young is going to be involved in a make-or-Vick season. If he's great as a passer as well as a runner, he will be a Pro Bowler. If not, he will be stuck as Michael Vick. This game hangs on how that turns out, I think the Colts will win.

Indy 24 Titans 20

Colts vs. New England

This will be the match-up of the season. Both teams coming in with just 1 loss and vying for home-field advantage (San Diego included in the battle). I think that the Pats come out in a close one.

Colts 21 Pats 24 OT

Indy at Pittsburgh

A good game, Rashard Mendenhall will be an MVP candidate at this point (he's from Illinois, he's gotta be). But the Colts will still win, in a close one however, and yet another draining game for Colts.

Colts 17 Steelers 14 OT

Indy vs. Houston

The Texans are working on a Wild Card spot, but the Colts also are working towards a high playoff seed for some home games as well. A good game, but the Colts still win.

Colts 28 Texans 20

Indy at San Diego

Peyton Manning and crew head into San Diego to face the Colts, the 3rd part in the Pats-Colts-Bolts threesome at the top of the AFC. The Colts suffer their 3rd loss of the season.

Colts 21 San Diego 27

Indy at Cleveland

The Browns are a good team again, but they face a Colts team that is pissed off that it hasn't beaten a lot of great teams. They go on a rampage and demoralize the Browns while trying to prove that they are still at the top.

Colts 35 Browns 14

Indy vs. Cincinnati

The Bengals are going to be horrible, and the Colts are going be high on a blowout victory.

Colts 28 Bengals 7

Indy vs. Detroit

I think Jon Kitna is saying 16-0 this season, because last season wasn't unreal enough. But the Colts game will at least give you an early indicator that that ain't happening.

Colts 28 Lions 17

Indy at Jacksonville

After a tough one in the first game, the Colts are looking for revenge against a Jacksonville team that is trying to take the AFC South from them.

Colts 20 Jags 17

Indy vs. Tennessee

The Titans are possibly playing for their lives at this point, whereas the Colts will be comfortably in the playoffs. However, they could be looking for a higher seed and hoping to leap-frog the Chargers or Pats.

Colts 24 Titans 23

Final Record: 13-3

[NEsince92]

I know it's been a month. Sorry guys...

Look for me to finish the Colts piece by the weekend. If you're still up for it, we'll go from there.