- 1 Indianapolis Colts vs Baltimore Ravens: continuity against a rebuild
- 2 Baltimore Ravens: it still starts with Lamar Jackson
- 3 Indianapolis Colts: Daniel Jones back, and a stronger supporting cast around him
- 4 NFL Prediction Indianapolis Colts vs Baltimore Ravens
- 5 First, a word on our free picks
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information moves
- 8 Your role
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the visuals…
Indianapolis Colts vs Baltimore Ravens: continuity against a rebuild 
Baltimore head into this season with the same quarterback, the same offensive identity and the same ambitions they had a year ago. Indianapolis, by contrast, is starting over with a first-stringer coming back from an Achilles tear.
That gap in continuity is the key to this Week 1 opener at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 13h00 ET, in the first regular-season game for both teams.
Still, Indianapolis is not showing up empty-handed. The franchise has settled its quarterback depth chart and strengthened several other areas of the roster.
The Colts also have enough talent on defense to stop this turning into a runaway. Their back end has been heavily reshaped.
Playing indoors on the Lucas Oil Stadium artificial surface also suits tempo. Neither offense will have to fight the elements.
So the real question is simple: can the Colts drag this into a slow, ugly game, or will Baltimore force them to play catch-up?
Baltimore Ravens: it still starts with Lamar Jackson 
Lamar Jackson remains the starting point for any defensive plan against Baltimore. His presence changes the shape of the field and forces opponents to deal with three threats at once.
Indianapolis has to handle designed quarterback runs, improvised scrambles and the straight passing game all in the same scheme. Discipline on the defensive line becomes the first requirement.
Miss one lane and a long third down can turn into a first down in a flash. That is the price of going up against a player like this.
The Ravens also have enough around their No 1 to avoid leaning on him alone. The offense can attack from different angles instead of asking the best defender on the other side to win every snap.
That matters against an Indianapolis defense with talent at every level. Forcing the Colts to cover the whole field is smarter than trying to win a head-on brawl.
Baltimore’s biggest edge is how obvious they are. Everybody knows what the Ravens want to do. The hard part is stopping it.
At this time of year, that kind of stability is often worth more than raw talent that hasn’t been sharpened yet. The timing is already there. No need to build it from scratch.
Expectations in Baltimore go way beyond simply making the playoffs. This team is aiming for January and then some.
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Indianapolis Colts: Daniel Jones back, and a stronger supporting cast around him 
Daniel Jones is entrenched as the starter after signing an extension with Indianapolis in March 2026. His 2025 season ended in December, when he was placed on injured reserve after tearing his Achilles.
He spent the offseason rehabbing and said he was ready at the start of September. The Colts kept him out of their first preseason game on purpose, which tells you exactly where their priorities were for Week 1.
His mobility is the toughest variable to read. Indianapolis does not need him running all over the place, but his ability to move inside the pocket will matter against Baltimore’s pressure.
The depth chart behind him is now settled too: Anthony Richardson Sr. won the backup job, with Riley Leonard third. That clears up a problem that had lingered in previous seasons.
Jonathan Taylor still leads the backfield and remains the main way to control the clock. Keep him involved and you keep Jackson on the sideline.
The offensive line lines up Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Tanor Bortolini, Matt Goncalves and Jalen Travis. That group has to hold long enough for the passing game to breathe.
Keenan Allen was brought in to give Jones a seasoned target in the middle of the field. Tight end Tyler Warren is another potential piece, if he is fit enough to go at the start.
On defense, the interior is built around DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, with Laiatu Latu bringing edge pressure. That trio has the tools to bother Baltimore at the line of scrimmage.
The secondary pairs Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward Sr. and Camryn Bynum, a group built to make life awkward for the passing game. Indianapolis has clearly spent to avoid being bullied in this kind of matchup.
NFL Prediction Indianapolis Colts vs Baltimore Ravens
Our prediction: Baltimore to win
The Colts have enough to keep this close, especially if Taylor can eat clock on the ground and the secondary limits the explosive plays. A one-score game for long stretches is a realistic script.
But the difference comes at quarterback. Jackson arrives with a polished offensive system, while Jones is returning from a major injury against elite opposition.
Baltimore simply has more ways to create a deciding play. That is usually what separates Week 1 games, when timing is still shaky and cohesion is not quite there yet.
Baltimore Ravens to win in Indianapolis.
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