As fans everywhere watched in anticipation of a glimpse at football during the offseason, the 2016 NFL Regular Season schedule was announced Thursday night. The Indianapolis Colts have one of the more interesting roads to Super Bowl 51 in Houston.
Opening at Home:
The Colts will welcome former head coach Jim Caldwell and the Detroit Lions back to Lucas Oil Stadium for the 2016 season opener.
The Lions finished 2015 with a disappointing 7-9 record, finishing third in the NFC North. Notably, the Lions also lost future hall-of-fame receiver Calvin Johnson to retirement in the offseason.
Thanksgiving:
The Colts will host the Pittsburgh Steelers at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thanksgiving, Indianapolis’ first ever home game on turkey day. According to the NFL, all Thursday night games will be a part of the NFL’s color rush, featuring color-on-color jerseys. Rumors are flying that the Colts might wear all blue for the first time in team history.
Ten Year Anniversary:
2016 marks the 10th anniversary of the Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl XLI championship season, and the Chicago Bears, whom the Colts defeated 29-17 in Miami, will visit the Colts in week 5 of the regular season. This matchup will be the first between the two since quarterback Andrew Luck’s rookie season, when the Bears defeated the Colts 41-21 at Soldier Field.
The Colts lead the series, however, 23-19.
Toughest Stretch:
The Indianapolis Colts elected to not have a bye week following their journey to London in week 4 against the Jaguars, thus leading to what might be the toughest stretch of the 2016 season. The Colts’ will fly home from London after week 4, returning to face the Chicago Bears for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff in week 5, just six days later. Weeks 6 and 7 don’t get any easier, going to Houston on Sunday night in week 6 and Tennessee in week 7. The team will not see their bye week until week 10.
Did the NFL Schedule release get you pumped up for football? Check out our Colts VIP Tailgate, hosted before EVERY Colts home game! We’d love to see you there, beginning September 11 vs. the Detroit Lions!