The Indianapolis Colts enter 2026 trying to finish what looked like a breakthrough season before everything unraveled. Indianapolis started 7-1 in 2025, but injuries and a brutal second half turned that start into an 8-9 finish. Daniel Jones’ torn Achilles was the biggest blow, cutting short a season in which the Colts offense had shown just how dangerous it could be with him under center.
Now Jones is back, Jonathan Taylor remains at the center of the offense, and Indianapolis gets another opportunity to turn last year’s flashes into a complete season. This page will keep the 2026 Colts schedule, TV channels and streaming information together in one place while also explaining what to do if you’re out of market, dealing with a blackout or trying to access your normal stream while traveling. Already need the VPN instructions? Jump directly to our Colts VPN setup.
Indianapolis Colts 2026 Schedule & TV Guide
We’re putting the schedule near the top this time so you don’t have to dig through a season preview just to find out where Indianapolis is playing.
September & October
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV / Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 13 | vs. Baltimore Ravens | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 2 | Sept. 20 | at Kansas City Chiefs | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| 3 | Sept. 27 | vs. Houston Texans | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 4 | Oct. 4 | vs. Washington Commanders — London | 9:30 AM | NFL Network |
| 5 | Oct. 11 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 6 | Oct. 18 | vs. Tennessee Titans | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 7 | Oct. 25 | at Minnesota Vikings | 1:00 PM | CBS |
November
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV / Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Nov. 1 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 9 | Nov. 8 | vs. Dallas Cowboys | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 10 | Nov. 15 | vs. Miami Dolphins | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 11 | Nov. 19 | at Houston Texans | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| 12 | Nov. 29 | vs. New York Giants | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 13 | — | BYE | — | — |
December & January
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV / Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Dec. 13 | at Philadelphia Eagles | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 15 | Dec. 20 | at Tennessee Titans | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 16 | TBD | vs. Cincinnati Bengals | TBD | TBD |
| 17 | Jan. 3 | at Cleveland Browns | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 18 | TBD | vs. Jacksonville Jaguars | TBD | TBD |
Week 16 and Week 18 still have broadcast details to be finalized, and eligible late-season games can move under the NFL’s flexible scheduling rules.
Colts Broadcasts to Know
There are a few games worth planning for now.
- Week 2 at Kansas City is a Sunday night game on NBC.
- Week 4 against Washington isn’t actually being played in Indianapolis. The Colts head to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London for a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff on NFL Network.
- Week 11 at Houston is a Thursday night game carried by Prime Video.
For the regular Sunday CBS and FOX games, your location can determine which matchup your local affiliate actually carries.
Trying to Watch the Colts? Start Here
You don’t need to understand every NFL broadcasting rule to figure out where to watch. Start with four questions.
Is the Colts game on your local CBS or FOX station?
Yes → Use your normal local provider or streaming option.
CBS or FOX is showing another team instead?
Check NFL Sunday Ticket → Many Sunday afternoon NFL games are distributed regionally. For eligible Colts games that aren’t carried by your local affiliate, Sunday Ticket is the primary U.S. out-of-market option.
Is it a national or streaming-exclusive game?
Use the broadcaster listed in the schedule → NBC, NFL Network, Prime Video or whichever service has that week’s game.
Do you normally have access, but you’re traveling?
That’s where a VPN may help → If your normal streaming service has become unavailable because of your current location, changing your IP location with a VPN may help you regain access to the service you already use.
Colts Blackout, Out of Market or Geo-Blocked? They’re Not the Same Thing
These terms tend to get lumped together, but the solution depends on what’s actually stopping you from watching.
| What You’re Seeing | Likely Problem | Where to Start |
|---|---|---|
| Another NFL game on CBS/FOX | Out of market | Check Sunday Ticket |
| Game says unavailable/blackout | Broadcast or service restriction | Identify the broadcaster/restriction |
| Normal streaming service stops working while traveling | Geo-restriction | VPN may help |
| Game is exclusive to another service | Broadcast rights | Use the listed service |
Colts Out-of-Market Games
If your local CBS or FOX affiliate is carrying another matchup, a VPN isn’t a substitute for NFL Sunday Ticket. For eligible Sunday afternoon games, check Sunday Ticket.
Colts Blackouts and Unavailable Games
If you’re searching for how to get around a Colts blackout, first determine why you’re seeing the restriction. The game could simply be out of market. It could be exclusive to another broadcaster. Or your streaming provider may be restricting access because your location has changed. Those are different problems.
Geo-Blocked While Traveling
This is the situation where a VPN makes the most sense. If you normally have access to a streaming service at home but traveling causes it to become unavailable, a VPN changes the IP address associated with your connection and may help unblock your normal streaming service. You’ll still need the appropriate subscription.
How to Use a VPN for Colts Games
Instead of another generic VPN tutorial, here’s how we’d approach it based on what you’re watching on.
Watching on a Phone or Laptop
Install ExpressVPN, connect to an appropriate server and then open the streaming service carrying the Colts game. If your travel location was causing the restriction, changing your IP address may help unblock your normal service.
Watching From a Hotel
Connect to the hotel’s Wi-Fi first. Then activate ExpressVPN before opening your streaming service. There’s a second benefit here: VPN encryption adds privacy when you’re using hotel, airport or other unfamiliar Wi-Fi networks.
Watching on Your TV
Don’t wait until kickoff to figure this out. Make sure your streaming device, VPN setup and the service carrying that week’s Colts game are ready beforehand. Depending on your device, you may be able to use the ExpressVPN app directly or need another supported setup.
Affiliate Disclosure: VPNForSports may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
A VPN doesn’t provide CBS, FOX, NFL Network, NBC, Prime Video or NFL Sunday Ticket. You’ll still need legitimate access to the service carrying the game.
So, What Are the Colts in 2026?
Now that we’ve covered how to watch them, let’s talk about the team you’ll actually be watching. The first half of 2025 showed what Indianapolis could be. The Colts opened 7-1, with Daniel Jones leading one of football’s most productive offenses. Through Week 11, Indianapolis was averaging an NFL-best 32.1 points per game. Then everything changed. Indianapolis lost in Kansas City. Then Houston. Then Jacksonville. Jones tore his Achilles against the Jaguars, ending his season. The Colts ultimately lost seven consecutive games to finish 8-9 and miss the postseason.
That makes 2026 unusually difficult to evaluate. Was the first half of 2025 evidence of what this team really is? Or did the second half expose problems that went beyond losing its quarterback? Indianapolis decided it wanted another opportunity to find out. The Colts re-signed Jones in March, and his recovery progressed far enough for him to return as a full participant in training camp only seven and a half months after the injury. Indianapolis also retained wide receiver Alec Pierce. And that leads to the question that may determine everything else.
Can Daniel Jones Pick Up Where 2025 Left Off?
Daniel Jones’ first season in Indianapolis was more successful than the ending might make it easy to remember. Before tearing his Achilles, Jones started 13 games and threw for 3,101 yards and 19 touchdowns, while adding another five touchdowns on the ground. Among qualifying quarterbacks, he ranked third in yards per attempt at 8.1 and finished with a 100.2 passer rating.
More importantly, the offense worked. Indianapolis gave Jones another contract in March, and he’s entered training camp as the Colts’ QB1. That’s a significant vote of confidence. But returning from an Achilles injury is one challenge. Returning and immediately recreating the offense Indianapolis had during the first half of last season is another. Jones doesn’t necessarily have to carry this team alone, either. Because standing behind him is one of the biggest reasons Indianapolis can make life easier on its quarterback.
How Far Can Jonathan Taylor Carry Indianapolis?
We’ve spent enough time talking about quarterbacks. The Colts have a player in their backfield capable of changing games without throwing a pass. Jonathan Taylor remains one of the most important pieces of Indianapolis’ offense. When Taylor is controlling a game, everything becomes easier. Defenses have to respect the run. Play-action becomes more dangerous. Third downs become more manageable. And Jones doesn’t have to spend every Sunday trying to win exclusively through the air. That’s particularly important coming off a major injury.
Rather than judging Taylor solely by his final rushing total, I’d watch how often Indianapolis can put him in position to dictate games in 2026. Can the Colts establish the run against good defenses? Can Taylor continue creating explosive plays? And when Indianapolis gets a lead, can the offense lean on him to finish games? The Colts’ 2025 collapse understandably puts much of the attention on Jones’ injury. But a healthy and productive Taylor could be one of the biggest reasons the quarterback doesn’t have to recreate last year’s early-season success by himself.
The Colts Season Meter
Rather than making predictions now and forgetting about them, these are the checkpoints that should tell us what Indianapolis really is.
After Week 4
What we’ll know: How real is the comeback? Baltimore, Kansas City, Houston and then a London game against Washington give Indianapolis very little time to ease into the season. If Jones looks comfortable and the offense is moving again, last year’s first half starts looking more relevant.
After Week 8
What we’ll know: Where does Indianapolis actually stand in the AFC South? By then, the Colts will already have played Houston, Tennessee and Jacksonville once. That’s enough divisional football to start separating expectations from reality.
At the Week 13 Bye
What we’ll know: Is this a playoff team? Indianapolis doesn’t get its bye until after 12 games. By then, there’s nowhere to hide. The Colts will have already faced Kansas City, Houston twice, Pittsburgh, Dallas and Jacksonville, among others.
The Final Three Weeks
What we’ll know: Did Indianapolis finish this time? That’s the checkpoint that matters most after 2025. The Colts went from 7-1 to 8-9 last season. This year’s final stretch includes Cincinnati, Cleveland and Jacksonville. If Indianapolis is still in the playoff race then, we’ll find out whether this team learned anything from how last season ended.
Three Answers Before You Go
Where is the Colts game this week?
Check the 2026 Colts schedule near the top of this page. We’ll keep the network and streaming information updated as late-season details change.
How do I watch the Colts if I’m out of market?
For eligible Sunday afternoon Colts games that aren’t shown by your local CBS or FOX affiliate, check NFL Sunday Ticket.
What if I’m traveling and my Colts stream is blocked?
First make sure you have access to the service carrying the game. If you normally do and your location is causing the restriction, connecting to ExpressVPN may help unblock your usual streaming service while traveling. The 2025 Colts showed us two radically different versions of the same team. 2026 is about finding out which one was real.
