Indianapolis Colts (0-0) vs. New England Patriots (0-0)
07:30 PM EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: Indianapolis -3 — Over/Under: 37.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts meet in week 1 NFL preseason action from Gillette Stadium on Thursday. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts Prediction.
New England Patriots Recap
The New England Patriots enter the 2026 season looking to complete unfinished business after a dominant 2025 campaign under head coach Mike Vrabel that saw them finish 14-3, win the AFC East, and capture the AFC Championship before falling to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LXI. Quarterback Drake Maye established himself as a premier franchise leader by throwing for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns, bolstered by running back TreVeyon Henderson’s 911 rushing yards and Stefon Diggs’ 1,013 receiving yards, while Pro Bowl cornerback Christian Gonzalez and pass rusher Harold Landry III anchored a top-five defense. During the 2026 offseason, New England added premier firepower to Drake Maye’s arsenal by acquiring star wide receiver A.J. Brown via trade, signing defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones, and selecting offensive tackle Caleb Lomu in the first round and linebacker Gabe Jacas in the second round of the draft. Re-loaded on both sides of the ball, the Patriots head into 2026 as top Super Bowl contenders aiming to finish the job and hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
Indianapolis Colts Team Preview
The Indianapolis Colts enter the 2026 season looking to rebound after a tumultuous 2025 campaign that saw them collapse from an 8-2 start to lose seven straight games and finish 8-9. Despite the late-season slide, the offense showed strong foundational pieces as Daniel Jones passed for 3,101 yards, Jonathan Taylor rushed for 1,585 yards, and Alec Pierce racked up 1,003 receiving yards, while pass rusher Laiatu Latu anchored the defense with 8.5 sacks. Heading into 2026, general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen focused heavily on defense and roster stability, committing to Jones as the starting quarterback while integrating star cornerback Sauce Gardner following his blockbuster trade arrival. In the draft, Indianapolis reinforced its defense by picking Georgia linebacker C.J. Allen in the second round and LSU safety A.J. Haulcy in the third round to offset offseason free agency departures like edge rusher Samson Ebukam and safety Nick Cross. With a reloaded defensive core and an established rushing attack behind Taylor, the Colts aim to correct their late-season execution issues and challenge for the AFC South title in 2026.
New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts Prediction
I’m on the over in this one. The Colts have come out firing from the first snap under Shane Steichen, and I expect that to be no different in this game. The Colts have a lot of battles going on throughout their depth chart, so I expect that intensity to translate to points. On the other side I think the Patriots can score in this game as well, so give me the over in this one.
Chris Ruffolo's Pick: Over 37.5
