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INDIANAPOLIS – The anticipation is over.
As expected, there are plenty of can't miss storylines throughout the Colts schedule.
Here are a few takeaways from the Colts 2015 schedule:
**October Stretch
Whenever I first take a look at a new schedule, I look for that eye-popping stretch. What stretch could really turn a season in one direction or another? For me, that comes in Weeks 5-9 when the Colts start with a trip to Houston on a Thursday night (10/8), New England (10/18), New Orleans (10/25), at Carolina (11/2) and Denver (11/8). The Colts will have nationally televised games in four of those five matchups and that will lead into their Week 10 bye week. In that stretch, you have tremendous quarterback play with five teams that all earned a postseason berth or were on the verge of one last season.
Primetime Five
The most primetime games a team can have in a season is five and it is to no surprise the Colts have that allotment in 2015. We touched on a trio of the primetime games above (Houston-Thursday, New England-Sunday and Carolina-Monday). The other two will come in the opening and closing months of the season. The Colts home opener will be a Monday Night Football matchup versus the New York Jets (9/21). The final night game for the Colts in 2015 will come on Sunday, December 6 when the AFC South Champs travel to Pittsburgh to take on the defending AFC North Champions.
AFC's Elite
After three straight 11-win seasons, the Colts are certainly in a position to not only secure the AFC South, but think about home field advantage in the playoffs. It's an attainable goal, one that has been elusive in the Colts recent playoff appearances. If the Colts are going to play at Lucas Oil Stadium past January 3 (the regular season finale), circle these dates on your calendar as vital AFC matchups: New England (10/18), Denver (11/8) and at Pittsburgh (12/6).
Division Slate
For really the second straight year, the Colts have their divisional games divided up into two stretches during the season. The first comes in Weeks 3-5 when the Colts meet the AFC South for the first time in 2015: at Tennessee (9/27), Jacksonville (10/4) and at Houston (10/8). The rematches for those games will come in Weeks 13-17: at Jacksonville (12/13), Houston (12/20) and Tennessee (1/3). Remember, the Colts bring an impressive 13-game divisional win streak into the 2015 season.
December Warmth?**
There's great news for the Colts road trips in December. Yes, the Pittsburgh road game on 12/6 (Sunday Night Football) won't be ideal weather wise, but the next two contests away from home are friendlier. The Colts will travel to Jacksonville on 12/13 and Miami on 12/27 to round out their road slate for 2015. If you are looking for a possible road atmosphere (in the regular season) that could best resemble a playoff trip then that trip to Pittsburgh on December 6 will be the one to watch in the second half of the year.
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