The Colts have cycled through several quarterbacks in recent years, and this year they are resting their postseason hopes on the aging arm of Matt Ryan. They enter the season as division favorites because training camp rumors about the former MVP have only been positive. They have a strong squad around him, with DeForest Buckner and Darius Shaquille Leonard serving as the cornerstones of a formidable defense. Add in 2021 leading rusher Jonathan Taylor at running back, and they should have enough material to cause Dallas problems.

Dallas was one of the top football teams for long stretches in 2021, handing out multiple beatings to division opponents and turning in some outstanding defensive and offensive displays. Even though the playoffs didn’t go as planned, the Cowboys still have a reason for hope. They lost Randy Gregory, Amari Cooper, and La’el Collins, but CeeDee Lamb could develop into a true star with more room on the depth chart. They could create an even better defense than last year’s if they combine Micah Parsons’ and Trevon Diggs’ extensive skillsets with second-year experience.

As these franchises are in opposite conferences, they rarely meet in the regular season. The last time they played was in 2018, when the Colts dished out a defensive masterclass, holding the Cowboys to 0 points all game in a 23-0 win. Can they repeat this defensive display? If you bet on NFL games, don’t count on it, as Dallas has vastly improved on offense since then and should be the favorite to get a home win.

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