The Indianapolis Colts (0-0) are on the road to begin the 2022 regular season with a divisional bout at NRG Stadium against the Houston Texans (0-0) in Week 1.
The Colts have not won an opening day matchup to begin the campaign since the 2013 season.
The expectation is that they will come out with a win, though. Vegas currently has the Colts favored with the largest spread of the week while the experts around the league have all chosen to side with Indy coming out victorious.
Here’s how the Colts Wire staff feels about the outcome of the game:
Kevin Hickey: Colts 27, Texans 17
The Colts haven’t won a Week 1 game since the 2013 season and if there’s ever a time to snap the streak, it’s in this matchup. Though the end of the 2021 season proved that no game in the NFL is a locked-in win, the Colts are rightly viewed as favorites.
Getting off to a fast start in the passing game will be crucial for Matt Ryan, but the Texans have several question marks in the secondary. Expect Jonathan Taylor to finish with a massive game while the pass rush will be an aspect to watch in Gus Bradley’s new defense.
As long as the Colts don’t shoot themselves in the foot, they should snap the streak of losing on opening day.
Follow Kevin on Twitter (@KevinHickey11)
Cody Manning: Colts 31, Texans 17
The Colts organization understands the importance of getting the monkey off their back and avoiding their ninth straight opening season loss against the Texans. Frank Reich has his team geared up to come out and punch Houston in the mouth.
The offense looks crisp with Jonathan Taylor picking up chunk gains and Matt Ryan feeding off the play action to attack the secondary. Even without Shaquille Leonard the defense finds ways to create turnovers.
Newcomers, Stephon Gilmore gets an interception and Yannick Ngakoue creates a strip-sack fumble to give the offense the ball. Indianapolis pulls away early and never looks back.
Follow Cody on Twitter (@CodyTalksNFL)
John Alfieri: Colts 31, Texans 7
Nick Melillo: Colts 24, Texans 13
I think Texans running back Dameon Pierce will be a tough test running the ball when the defense struggled to stop the run in the preseason. But quarterback Matt Ryan will start stronger leading an offense with more weapons and break the Week 1 losing streak. Also, expect wide receiver Parris Campbell to have a big game out of the slot as it’s a weak point in Houston’s secondary.
Follow Nick on Twitter (@CircleCity21)
