Michael Hull

Leading into training camp, we will be taking an in-depth look at the Bengals' 2026 opponents. The Bengals head over to Indianapolis in Week 16 to battle the Colts.

2025

The Colts finished third in the AFC South in 2025 with an 8-9 record. Indianapolis started the season 8-2 before its Week 11 bye then lost its last seven games. Through Week 8, the Colts averaged 33.8 points per game on offense, leading the league. Per TruMedia, they averaged 3.46 points per drive through Week 8. For comparison, the 2007 Patriots averaged 3.19 points per drive on their way to an unbeaten regular season before losing in the Super Bowl to the New York Giants.

Quarterback Daniel Jones was a driving force behind the team's hot start in his first year in Indianapolis, but he suffered a torn Achilles in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, ending his season. The Colts started 2025 sixth-round pick Riley Leonard in Week 15 before signing 44-year old QB Philip Rivers for the team's final three games.

On the ground, Jonathan Taylor was again one of the most productive running backs in the NFL, leading the league in attempts (323) and rushing touchdowns (18) and finishing third in rushing yards (1,621) on his way to the Pro Bowl.

Through the air, WR Michael Pittman Jr. led the team with 80 receptions and seven touchdowns, while WR Alec Pierce paced the group with 1,003 yards receiving. Rookie TE Tyler Warren led the 2025 draft class with 76 receptions. Overall, the Colts ranked eighth in the NFL with 27.4 points per game and ninth with 345.9 yards per game.

Defensively, the Colts allowed 24.2 points per game, the 12th most in the league, and 349.8 yards per game, the 10th most in the league. Indianapolis allowed the third-most passing yards per game last season. It made a midseason trade to attempt to improve the secondary, acquiring CB Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets. Gardner played in four games for the Colts before a calf injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Offseason Changes

The Colts re-signed both Jones and Pierce this offseason, Jones to a two-year deal and Pierce to a four-year deal. They looked to improve a pass rush that ranked 15th in the league with 39 sacks, bringing in DE Arden Key on a two-year contract and DE Michael Clemons on a three-year deal. Indianapolis traded Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers plus a seventh-round pick in exchange for a sixth-round pick. With the lack of depth at receiver following the trade, the team signed WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. The Colts also brought in two former Bengals in CB Cam Taylor-Britt and LB Akeem Davis-Gaither.

Indianapolis traded their 2026 first-round pick in the Gardner deal. It selected Georgia LB C.J. Allen with their first pick of the draft, No. 53 overall, to fill a linebacker void left from trading LB Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers. The Colts focused on defense in the draft, also selecting LSU S A.J. Haulcy, Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher and two more defensive ends in Florida's George Gumbs Jr. and Ohio State's Caden Curry.

Coaching Staff

Head coach Shane Steichen enters his fourth year as Colts head coach, holding a 25-26 record. Before Indianapolis, Steichen spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles, helping Philly reach Super Bowl LVII in 2022. He spent seven total seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, including two as the offensive coordinator, prior to Philadelphia.

Jim Bob Cooter enters his fourth season as the offensive coordinator for the Colts after spending 2022 as the passing game coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Cooter previously served as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator from 2015-2018 and spent 2009-2011 as an assistant with the Colts. He has spent the last 17 years coaching in the NFL.

Former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo enters his second season with the Colts in 2026. Anarumo coached the Cincinnati defense from 2019-2024 and has 37 years of coaching experience, including the last 14 in the NFL.

Series History

The Bengals have played the Colts 33 times across the teams' two histories. Most recently, the Bengals beat the Colts at Paycor Stadium in 2023, 34-14.

What To Watch For

Taylor has been the engine of the Colts offense since he was drafted in 2020. The Bengals put an emphasis on improving the run defense this offseason, trading for DTDexter Lawrence IIand signing DEBoye Mafein free agency.