Indianapolis is stuck in a brutal loop, losing their 2026 season opener 41-23 to the Baltimore Ravens at Lucas Oil Stadium. It was supposed to be a fresh start for the Colts, a revamped defensive unit ready to go. Instead, the same old story of losing season openers, 11 of their last 13 including a tie, reared its ugly head all over again. What a way to kick off the year, right?
The Initial Spark…and the Immediate Inferno
The Colts actually landed the first punch. Quarterback Daniel Jones, back on the field after the Achilles injury that ended his 2025 season, led an aerial attack, dropping back seven times on that nine-play opening drive. He found receiver Josh Downs on two killer slant routes for 25 and then 12 yards, hooked up with Alec Pierce for another 13, and then Jonathan Taylor plunged in for a 1-yard touchdown. Boom! Indy had their only lead of the game. But seriously, it was fleeting. The Ravens needed no time to answer, dropping four touchdowns on their first five drives, racking up a ridiculous 506 total yards of offense (202 rushing, 324 passing). Lamar Jackson snatched the lead for good in just three plays: an explosive 49-yard bomb to Zay Flowers over rookie Justin Walley, then Jackson kept it himself for a 7-yard touchdown run. Just like that, it was 7-6 Ravens, and they weren’t looking back.
Lamar’s Magic, Flowers’ Firepower, and Indy’s Agony
Indianapolis’s next possession was a disaster, a mere two plays long. Taylor got stuffed for a 2-yard loss, then Jones threw a pick into the hands of linebacker Roquan Smith, giving Baltimore possession deep in Colts territory. The Ravens capitalized hard, of course. After a chop block penalty pushed them back to a brutal third-and-16, Lamar Jackson put on a show that felt like the entire game. He ducked under both Arden Key and DeForest Buckner, escaping the pocket when it looked like he was dead to rights on the midfield horseshoe, and somehow took off for an astonishing 16-yard run to move the chains. You knew that was the game-defining play then and there. Three plays later, Henry powered in for a 4-yard score, extending the lead to 14-6. And Zay Flowers? He was an absolute nightmare for the Colts secondary, racking up five catches for 150 yards and a 54-yard touchdown, all in the first half before he had to exit with a hamstring injury. Henry broke loose for another 32-yard touchdown later, too, just pouring salt in the wound as the Ravens turned that initial 6-0 deficit into a 41-23 beatdown. Ouch.
This opener was a total gut punch for the Colts, who spent all offseason talking about a fresh start and a new-look defense ready to make some noise. Instead, they got a painfully familiar outcome that left them reeling. With Lamar Jackson looking like perhaps the most dangerous dual threat weapon in league history, Indy has some serious soul-searching to do before next week’s game. That 6-0 lead feels like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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