Indianapolis Colts vs New England Patriots Picks and Prediction for Thursday August 13 2026
The Indianapolis Colts visit the New England Patriots for an NFL preseason matchup at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Thursday, August 13, 2026. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, with WBZ-TV and the Patriots Preseason Television Network providing coverage. New England is a 1.5-point favorite, Indianapolis is available at +1.5, and the total is set at 38.5. The Patriots are approximately -124 on the moneyline, while the Colts are priced at +105. Football bettors can find additional analysis throughout the season by visiting our free NFL picks.
Indianapolis and New England will hold a joint practice before Thursday’s exhibition game. That session should give both coaching staffs valuable first-team evaluation opportunities and may reduce the need to expose important starters to an extended preseason workload. The most significant handicapping factor is therefore the quarterback depth behind Daniel Jones and Drake Maye.
Indianapolis Evaluates Its Backup Quarterbacks
The Colts enter their fifth season under head coach Shane Steichen with Daniel Jones established as the starting quarterback. Jones has returned from the torn Achilles that ended his 2025 season and has participated throughout training camp. However, Indianapolis has little reason to give him an extended workload in its first exhibition game, particularly after evaluating the first-team offense during the joint practice.
Anthony Richardson Sr. and Riley Leonard are competing for the primary backup position. Richardson remains the more physically gifted option because of his powerful arm and running ability, but consistency continues to determine whether he can regain the coaching staff’s confidence. A preseason matchup against reserve defenders gives him an opportunity to demonstrate improved command without facing a complete regular-season defensive scheme.
Leonard has reportedly received increased work during training camp and should also receive meaningful playing time. He gained valuable experience during the final portion of the 2025 season and now enters his second year in Steichen’s system. Leonard’s familiarity with the offense and ability to contribute as a runner could be particularly valuable during the second half, when protection tends to become less reliable.
Indianapolis may possess the deeper quarterback rotation if both Richardson and Leonard play substantial snaps. Steichen can use different versions of his offense without abandoning the quarterback-run element. The Colts should also emphasize the ground game while evaluating the reserve offensive linemen and the running backs competing for positions behind Jonathan Taylor.
New England Opens with Stability Behind Drake Maye
The Patriots begin their third season under head coach Mike Vrabel with Drake Maye firmly established as their starting quarterback. Maye is coming off an excellent 2025 season, but New England’s priority is preparing him for the regular season rather than proving anything in the opening preseason contest. The joint practice should provide Maye with plenty of competitive work even if his game participation is brief or eliminated entirely.
Tommy DeVito is positioned to handle much of the reserve quarterback workload. DeVito brings regular-season starting experience and should be comfortable operating a simplified game plan against Indianapolis’ backup defenders. He also performed effectively during New England’s recent intrasquad scrimmage, giving the Patriots a dependable option after Maye leaves the game.
Rookie Behren Morton is the developmental quarterback to watch during the second half. New England selected Morton in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft after his college career at Texas Tech. He has reportedly earned additional opportunities during training camp and will use the preseason to show that he can develop behind Maye and DeVito.
Morton’s arm talent provides upside, but his first NFL exhibition game will present a considerable adjustment. Communication, pressure recognition, and avoiding turnovers become more difficult once the game reaches the reserve-heavy fourth quarter. New England may possess the more reliable first-half quarterback situation with Maye and DeVito, but Indianapolis could gain an advantage later if Leonard faces Morton.
Indianapolis Colts vs New England Patriots Picks and Prediction
- Pick: Indianapolis Colts +1.5
Indianapolis is the preferred side at the available number. The Colts possess three quarterbacks with meaningful NFL experience, and the competition between Richardson and Leonard should create a strong incentive for both players to perform. Each quarterback brings mobility, which is especially valuable when playing behind reserve offensive linemen during the preseason.
New England has a dependable backup in DeVito, but the Patriots could become more vulnerable once Morton enters. The rookie offers developmental potential but has not faced NFL game speed. Indianapolis should have the more experienced quarterback on the field throughout that portion of the contest, whether Steichen uses Richardson or Leonard in the second half.
The joint practice makes the starters’ participation difficult to project, preventing this from becoming a high-confidence wager. However, the Colts do not need their first-team offense to play extensively for their quarterback depth to matter. Taking the point with Indianapolis provides protection in a matchup that could be decided by a late field goal.
- Pick: Under 38.5
The under is the preferred total. Because the teams will practice together before the game, both coaching staffs should have already evaluated many of their important starters in a competitive environment. That could lead to limited game action for Maye, Jones, and several established offensive players.
Indianapolis should rely heavily on the running ability of Richardson and Leonard while evaluating its reserve backfield. New England is also likely to protect Morton with a conservative second-half game plan featuring short passes and a steady rushing workload. Those approaches can move the chains while keeping the clock running and reducing the overall number of possessions.
Preseason openers regularly include penalties, protection mistakes, and stalled drives once the reserve offensive lines enter. Both teams have enough quarterback competence to produce points, but reaching 39 would require consistent touchdown production from units that have not played together extensively. A competitive game in the teens offers the most likely scoring range.
Final Score Prediction: Indianapolis Colts 20, New England Patriots 17