The NFL is a league of streaks. Many franchises have goals to keep streaks going and others have goals to break them. The Indianapolis Colts have a couple of droughts and streaks that they will look to break in the 2024 season.
There are high expectations for the Indianapolis Colts as they look to build off last season’s 9-8 performance. For the past 25 years, the Colts franchise has been a successful and consistent AFC team. Unfortunately, the past few seasons have shown some soft spots. The Colts have not won their division since 2014 and have not been in the playoffs since 2020. Moving into 2024, the expectation is that they will overcome one, if not both, of those droughts. However, two specific losing streaks could have some bearing on the Colts getting back to form in 2024.
Two Streaks the Colts Can Break in the 2024 Season
Opening Day Winless Streak
The Indianapolis Colts have not won a season opener since September 8, 2013. In this season, Andrew Luck was starting his second season and the Colts defeated the Oakland Raiders 21-17 at home. Since that season, they have not won another season opener at home or on the road. In 2022, with Matt Ryan at quarterback, they came close against the Houston Texans but ended up tying in overtime.
With their season-opening home loss in 2023, that marked 10 straight seasons of not winning a season-opener. Only the Cleveland Browns hold the longest opening-day drought with 17 straight seasons. The Colts have a long way to surpass that streak, but the hope is that they can break their 10-year drought this season. Unfortunately, it won’t be easy as they face CJ Stroud and the Houston Texas at home in week one. Nevertheless, if Indy wants to make it back to the playoffs, they need to get off to a quick start. Winning on opening day is crucial to achieving that feat.
Road Losing Streak Against the Jacksonville Jaguars
Another long winless drought is the Colts losing streak against the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road. The last time Indy won in Jacksonville was September 21, 2014, in a blowout 44-17 victory. Andrew Luck was in his third NFL season that year, Chuck Pagano was the head coach, and Reggie Wayne was the number one receiver. Their blowout loss in 2023 marked nine straight seasons of not winning in Jacksonville. The amazing thing about this streak is that the Colts still manage to win most of their matchups with the Jaguars at home. For some reason, being on the road is a problem for them. Again, the goal for 2024 is to make it back to the playoffs and win the division. For both of these feats to happen, the Colts must win within their division and win on the road. The Colts will face the Jaguars on the road on October 6.
All matchups are important in an NFL season. However, these two division games, opening day against the Texans and on the road at Jacksonville, might prove to be crucial. It would also be a relief for the franchise if they could put these two ugly winless streaks behind them.
Main Image: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
