Peyton’s return to Indianapolis highlights Colts schedule
By PAUL SIEGFRIED
ISL Correspondent
The game stands out above all others. Before a national audience on NBC on Sunday night, October 20, Peyton Manning will return to Indianapolis as the Denver Broncos face the Colts and new quarterback Andrew Luck at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The NFL released regular-season schedules on Thursday, tabbing the remade Colts for four primetime games over a six-week stretch, including the tilt against Manning and his new team. After finishing last season with a surprising 11-5 record, Indianapolis is once again a big TV draw, none bigger than a matchup of Luck and Manning in the Stadium-That-Peyton-Built.
In their other primetime games, the Colts will play at San Diego for a Monday night ESPN contest on Oct. 14 , followed by the Denver game and a bye week. Indianapolis will travel to Houston Nov. 3 for another Sunday night NBC game against the Texans at Reliant Stadium. The other primetime contest will be a Thursday night game at Tennessee Nov. 14 to be aired on the NFL Network.
Indianapolis could get additional primetime games later in the season with flex scheduling.
The Colts will open the season with two straight home games, hosting Oakland in the opening week Sept. 8, followed by a contest against the Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium Sept. 15. Indianapolis takes to the road Sept. 22 when they visit NFC champion San Francisco, followed by a trip to Jacksonville to meet the Jaguars Sept. 29 in the Colts first AFC South matchup. Seattle visits Lucas Oil on Oct. 6.
Following their first three primetime games, the Colts will host the St. Louis Rams on Nov. 10, followed by the short turnaround to the Thursday night game at Tennessee. Indianapolis plays at Arizona on Nov. 24.
The Colts head into December with three division games in the final five weeks of the season, all at home as the expect their second straight playoff push. Indy hosts the Titans Dec. 1 and plays at Cincinnati Dec. 8. The Texans come to Indianapolis Dec. 15 and the Colts play at Kansas City Dec. 22 before closing out the regular season Dec. 29 hosting the Jaguars.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 2013 SCHEDULE
Wk Date Opponent Location Time TV
1 Sept. 8 vs Oakland Lucas Oil Stadium 1 p.m. CBS
2 Sept. 15 vs Miami Lucas Oil Stadium 1 p.m. CBS
3 Sept. 22 at San Francisco Candlestick Park 4:25 p.m. CBS
4 Sept. 29 at Jacksonville EverBank Field 1 p.m. CBS
5 Oct. 6 vs Seattle Lucas Oil Stadium 1 p.m. FOX
6 Oct. 14 at San Diego Qualcomm Stadium 8:40 p.m. ESPN
7 Oct. 20 vs Denver Lucas Oil Stadium 8:30 p.m. NBC
8 Oct. 27 BYE
9 Nov. 3 at Houston Reliant Stadium 8:30 p.m. NBC
10 Nov. 10 vs St. Louis Lucas Oil Stadium 1 p.m. FOX
11 Nov. 14 at Tennessee LP Field 8:25 p.m. NFLN
12 Nov. 24 at Arizona Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 4:05 p.m. CBS
13 Dec. 1 vs Tennessee Lucas Oil Stadium 1 p.m. CBS
14 Dec. 8 at Cincinnati Paul Brown Stadium 1 p.m. CBS
15 Dec. 15 vs Houston Lucas Oil Stadium 1 p.m. CBS
16 Dec. 22 at Kansas City Arrowhead Stadium 1 p.m. CBS
17 Dec. 29 vs Jacksonville Lucas Oil Stadium 1 p.m. CBS
Flex scheduling could result in change of kickoff times of games in latter part of the season.
