Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts

Week 1 · Sunday, September 13 · 1:00 PM ET

BALBaltimore RavensPower Rank #2@INDIndianapolis ColtsPower Rank #22

Why This Game Matters

Baltimore rolls into Indy as one of the Super Bowl favorites, debuting rookie head coach Jesse Minter and a healthy Lamar Jackson after a 2025 that fell apart around them. The Colts, meanwhile, are still explaining themselves after an 8-2 start cratered into a seven-game losing streak once Daniel Jones went down with a torn Achilles — and now Jones is back to find out immediately whether last year was bad luck or something structural. A Week 1 loss doesn't sink either season, but it sets the tone: is Baltimore's fixed defense for real, and can Indianapolis prove it belongs anywhere near the AFC South favorite tag oddsmakers hung on it.

Key Matchups

Lamar Jackson and Baltimore's retooled front, headlined by new addition Trey Hendrickson, against a Colts offensive line already down projected starter Luke Tenuta (knee) and trying to protect a Daniel Jones coming off a torn Achilles
Sauce Gardner and Indianapolis' revamped secondary against Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and camp standout rookie Ja'Kobi Lane in Baltimore's receiving corps
Jonathan Taylor, fresh off his in-camp extension, against a Ravens run defense that's still waiting on Nnamdi Madubuike's return from neck surgery
Baltimore's makeshift center situation — Ethan Pocic or Jovaughn Gwyn stepping in after Danny Pinter's apparent torn patellar tendon — against a Colts D-line getting DeForest Buckner back up to speed

Injury Report

Danny Pinter · BAL C
Out
Carted off with an apparent torn patellar tendon during the Aug. 19 joint practice against the Vikings while competing to start at center; expected to miss extended time.
Nnamdi Madubuike · BAL DT
Recovering
Suffered a serious neck injury in Week 2 of 2025 that ended his season; underwent surgery this offseason, with doctors optimistic he can play in 2026.
Alec Pierce · IND WR
Limited
An offseason ankle injury has limited the presumptive No. 1 receiver for much of training camp.
DeForest Buckner · IND DL
Ramping Up
Working back gradually after neck surgery that cost him significant time in 2025.
Charvarius Ward · IND CB
Out
Back injury kept him from traveling for the preseason opener at New England.
DJ Giddens · IND RB
Out
Lingering hamstring injury following the preseason opener.
CJ Allen · IND LB
Out
Rookie linebacker's camp has been interrupted by two separate hamstring injuries.
Luke Tenuta · IND OL
Out
Knee injury suffered in the preseason opener against New England.

Series History

All-time: Indianapolis leads the all-time series 11-7 (9-6 in the regular season, 2-1 in the playoffs) since the Ravens' 1996 founding.

Last meeting: Their last regular-season meeting came Sept. 24, 2023 at M&T Bank Stadium, where the Colts won 22-19 in overtime. Matt Gay hit his fourth field goal of 50-plus yards, an NFL record, while Justin Tucker's potential game-winning 61-yard attempt at the end of regulation clanged off the upright.

· The teams' most memorable playoff meeting came in the 2012 AFC Wild Card round, when Baltimore beat Indianapolis 24-9 in Ray Lewis's final home game and Andrew Luck's playoff debut.

Weather

Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis has a retractable roof — weather is unlikely to be a significant factor.

Records & Rankings on the Line

· Baltimore enters the season ranked No. 2 in the power rankings and among the Super Bowl favorites; Indianapolis sits at No. 22 after last year's second-half collapse.
· The Colts were installed as modest AFC South favorites with a 7.5-win total, but that projection rests on Daniel Jones staying healthy after his Dec. 7 Achilles tear.
· Indianapolis has won the last meeting between these teams (2023), but Baltimore has won the more recent head-to-head in the playoffs and holds a 1-2 all-time postseason mark against the Colts.