The Indianapolis Colts announced on May 14 several notable details about their upcoming 2026 regular season schedule, including the decision not to take a bye week following their Week 4 game in London against the Washington Commanders.
Typically, teams playing internationally choose to have a bye week after returning from Europe due to travel demands. The Colts followed this pattern in previous seasons when they played in Berlin (2025) and Frankfurt (2023), but both those games were scheduled later in the year. This time, with an earlier game at London’s Tottenham Stadium, the team chose not to take its break immediately after returning.
Since the NFL expanded its schedule to 17 games in 2021, there have been fifteen games played in Britain or Ireland. Of twenty-seven teams that had a choice, only eleven opted for a post-London bye. Teams that did not take a bye went on to win ten out of sixteen games following their trips abroad.
Another change for this season is how the Colts’ divisional matchups are distributed. Three AFC South games are set for each half of the season—a shift from recent years when most division contests occurred before Week 10. In prior seasons such as 2022 through 2024, four or more AFC South matchups happened early in the year.
The article also highlights some scheduling streaks and quirks: The Colts will again not finish their season against the Tennessee Titans—a matchup last seen as a finale in Indianapolis during 2015—and will not face this year’s top NFL draft pick or any of the first three selections overall. Notably, six of seventeen opponents made last year’s playoffs; however, early-season challenges include facing quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes within the first four weeks.
The organization concludes by reminding fans that single-game tickets are available now for all home games at Lucas Oil Stadium.
