A look at how the Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts matchup breaks down with a Q&A.
As the Baltimore Ravens are set to face off against the Indianapolis Colts, both teams are expected to be major players in the AFC playoff race down the stretch.
With the Ravens having a new coaching regime, and the Colts getting Daniel Jones back and fully healthy, this could be a very exciting game.
That said, Colts publisher Jake Arthur was tapped to give some insight into what the Baltimore team should be expecting from the Indianapolis Colts in 2026.
Colts
The question on everyone's mind is, can Daniel Jones be as effective as he was before the Achilles?
The good news for Jones is that his game is predicated on preparation and quick thinking. Coupled with his chemistry with Shane Steichen as a play-caller, I think Jones will be perfectly fine. Regardless, he looked great this summer, physically, taking off to run several times throughout practice. Jones is a good athlete, but he's not the type of player whose game is wholly reliant on it.
Ravens
There's a new coaching staff in town for the first time since 2008. What do you expect the main themes to be for Jesse Minter and Anthony Weaver's defense?
Minter and Weaver’s defense was shown big during preseason, as the pass rush and run-stopping capabilities were showcased greatly. However, those were backups, so the world has not yet seen what Roquan Smith, Trey Hendrickson, and Calais Campbell can do. A simple theme will be suffocating. If Marlon Humphrey and the secondary can lock down Daniel Jones’ abilities through the air, expect a suffocating amount of pass rush.
Colts
What is the biggest aspect of Lou Anarumo's second year defense that may throw the Ravens off course?
Anarumo's defense didn't get to live up to its potential last year because it was ravaged by injuries before the season even began. Ultimately, Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward Sr., Justin Walley, DeForest Buckner, and Hunter Wohler missed most or all of their time last year, which forced them to lean on more zone coverage than the heavy amount of man coverage that Anarumo would like to play. That said, questions remain about the team's four-man pass rush and the three-down readiness of their new-look linebacker corps.
Ravens
Similarly, on offense, Declan Doyle is a young, first-time play-caller, but he's a Sean Payton and Ben Johnson disciple. Do you know much of what to expect of the offense's identity?
Doyle himself has said he wants the offense to be explosive. How he accomplishes that remains to be seen. However, this is also the first time in a long time that Lamar Jackson has this level of pass catching prowess. Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Elijah Sarratt, Ja’Kobi Lane, and more all make up what could lead to Doyle’s offense being fast and explosive, as he put it.
Colts
If Alec Pierce somehow regressed and doesn't suit up, who in the Colts pass catching room is the big danger?
Outside of Pierce, I would say Josh Downs and Tyler Warren are the most dangerous pass-catchers for opponents to face. Downs is a quick-winning, cerebral slot receiver who shows good chemistry with Jones on option routes. He'll be used more outside this year. Warren is also a big-bodied, sure-handed player who's tough to bring down.
Ravens
When you see national coverage of the Ravens, what's the most common misconception you see?
It has to be that Lamar Jackson is an injured quarterback. He had a down year in 2025 due to a hamstring and many other ailments, but he is not injury-prone. That was one year in the grand scheme of his career. The idea that he needs to prove he is healthy remains a big topic of conversation, which is silly.
Colts
How have the Colts evolved since 2025?
It's tough to say they've evolved because they're so reliant on "running it back" and reinvesting in what made them good in the first half of last season. That meant re-signing Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce, and just trying to get younger in the front seven on defense. If they've evolved at all, it's just because of who's healthy this year. Gardner, Ward, and Walley's availability should result in more man coverage, allowing them to be more comfortable throwing exotic blitzes at Lamar Jackson.
Ravens
Any sense as to Nnamdi Madubuike and Teddy Buchanan's availability this week? What impact does that have if either returns or remains out?
Thus far, I do believe that both Madubuike and Buchanan will play. They may have been limited Wednesday and Thursday, but Minter was not keen on ruling them out. If they do play, expect that Madubuike can offer some of what he did before his injury, which is to draw double teams or win his 1-on-1s, which could open more opportunities for the rest of the pass rushers. Buchanan has a high motor and strong tackling abilities; if he returns, expect a young player who can shoot the gap and get some tackles for loss.
Update: Both Madubuike and Buchanan were ruled out.
Colts
Name two players who could be the unsung heroes of Week 1?
Rookie safety A.J. Haulcy will likely play an important role in keeping Jackson from breaking through the second level, and he could find himself in charge of Mark Andrews as well. I could see Haulcy being heavily involved throughout the game. Likewise, backup defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore has a good matchup against Ravens center Jovaughn Gwyn. With DeForest Buckner perhaps needing to be scaled back because of his age and returning from a neck injury, Adebawore's quickness could be frequently on display in getting to the backfield.
Ravens
Who's a player or two who are highly important to what the Ravens want to do, but fly under the radar?
Right now, it has to be safety Malaki Starks. The young defender showed a high level of play in 2025, and he could take a really big leap in 2026 with Weaver and Minter running the show. Starks allows Kyle Hamilton to play close to the line of scrimmage, which allows more run-stopping and pass rush opportunities.
