If you walk into a sports bar in downtown Baltimore and mention the name "Irsay," don't expect a warm welcome. It doesn't matter that it’s 2026. It doesn't matter that the Ravens have two Super Bowl rings and a perennial MVP candidate in Lamar Jackson. The history between the Indianapolis Colts vs Ravens is a tangled mess of midnight moving trucks, stolen identities, and a decades-long grudge that refuses to die.
Honestly, this isn't just a football game. It's a psychodrama.
When these two teams meet, the atmosphere shifts. There’s a specific kind of electricity that only exists when a city feels like it’s playing against its own ghost. Even now, with Anthony Richardson leading a high-octane Colts offense and the Ravens leaning on the punishing duo of Jackson and Derrick Henry, the ghosts of 1984 still haunt the sidelines.
The Midnight Move That Started It All
You can't talk about the Indianapolis Colts vs Ravens without talking about March 28, 1984. Imagine waking up and your favorite team is just… gone.
Bob Irsay literally snuck the team out of Baltimore under the cover of darkness. Fifteen Mayflower moving vans. A snowy night. By the time the sun came up, the Baltimore Colts were the Indianapolis Colts. It was a betrayal that redefined sports fandom in Maryland.
Baltimore went twelve long years without a team. When they finally got the Browns to move—becoming the Ravens in 1996—they didn't just want a new team. They wanted revenge. Every time Indy comes to M&T Bank Stadium, you see the old-timers in their faded Johnny Unitas jerseys. They aren't rooting for the Colts. They’re rooting for the memory of what was taken.
The All-Time Record: A Statistical Tug-of-War
If you look at the raw numbers, the Colts actually hold a slight edge. Heading into the 2025-2026 stretch, Indianapolis leads the all-time series 13–8.
But stats are liars.
Most of that lead was built during the Peyton Manning era when the Colts were basically an offensive juggernaut that no one could stop. Since Lamar Jackson took the reins in Baltimore, the script has flipped. The games have become grittier. Lower scoring. More physical.
Take their meeting in September 2023. The Colts somehow pulled off a 22–19 upset in overtime. It was a mess of a game—fumbles, missed field goals, and absolute chaos. Matt Gay ended up hitting five field goals, including the game-winner from 53 yards out. It was the kind of loss that makes Ravens fans pull their hair out because, on paper, Baltimore should have walked away with it.
Lamar Jackson vs Anthony Richardson: The New Era
We're currently witnessing one of the most athletic quarterback matchups in NFL history. You've got Lamar Jackson, the gold standard for dual-threat QBs, going up against Anthony Richardson, a guy who literally called himself "Cam Jackson" in high school because he tried to mold his game after Lamar and Cam Newton.
Richardson is a freak of nature. At 6'4" and 244 pounds, he runs a 4.43-second 40-yard dash. He’s basically a created player from a video game. But he's still learning the nuances of the league. In their recent 2025/early 2026 meetings, we've seen Richardson's massive ceiling—throwing for over 300 yards one week—and his rookie-like floor with costly interceptions the next.
Lamar, on the other hand, is the master. In their most recent clash, he completed 27 of 37 passes for 254 yards. He doesn't just run anymore; he carves you up from the pocket. Watching these two on the same field is like watching a masterclass and a revolution happening at the same time.
The Derrick Henry Factor
Let’s be real: Baltimore adding Derrick Henry was a cheat code. In their 2025 matchups, "King Henry" was still a nightmare for the Indy front seven. There was one game where he averaged over six yards per carry, amassing nearly 200 yards.
The Colts' defense, led by Laiatu Latu and DeForest Buckner, is stout, but Henry is a different species. When he gets into the second level, defensive backs just sort of… bounce off him. It changes how the Indianapolis Colts vs Ravens games are called. Indy has to stack the box, which leaves their secondary vulnerable to Zay Flowers or Mark Andrews.
👉 See also: US vs Saudi Arabia Soccer: What Most People Get Wrong
What People Get Wrong About This Rivalry
A lot of national pundits claim the "Baltimore vs. Indy" heat has cooled off. They say the fans have moved on.
They haven't.
Ask a Baltimore native about the 2006 Divisional Playoff game. The Ravens had one of the best defenses in NFL history. They held Peyton Manning to zero touchdowns. No, seriously. Zero. And the Ravens still lost 15–6 because they couldn't move the ball. That game is a permanent scar in Charm City.
On the flip side, Colts fans in Indiana don't really get the hate. To them, the team has been theirs for over 40 years. They see the Ravens as just another AFC powerhouse they have to get through. This asymmetry—one side fueled by historical rage, the other by modern competition—is what makes the Indianapolis Colts vs Ravens matchups so fascinating to watch.
Key Matchups to Watch in 2026
- Zay Flowers vs. the Colts Secondary: Indy has struggled with speed on the perimeter. Flowers is a twitchy nightmare in open space.
- Jonathan Taylor vs. Roquan Smith: This is the heavyweight fight. Taylor is chasing franchise records (he recently tied Lenny Moore with 20 touchdowns in a season), but Roquan Smith is arguably the best sideline-to-sideline linebacker in the game.
- The Special Teams Battle: Don't sleep on this. In 2023, it was a kicker (Matt Gay) who decided the game. With the Ravens' Jordan Stout and the Colts' special teams battery being among the league's best, field position is going to be everything.
How to Prepare for the Next Game
If you're betting or just trying to sound smart at the tailgate, look at the weather and the "Trench War."
When the Indianapolis Colts vs Ravens play in Baltimore, the wind off the Chesapeake can be a factor. Historically, the Colts prefer the fast track of a dome or a dry field. If it's a "mudder" game, advantage Ravens.
Also, keep an eye on the injury report regarding Anthony Richardson. His health has been a recurring theme in his young career. When he's 100%, the Colts' RPO (Run-Private Option) game is almost impossible to defend. If he’s sidelined and the Colts have to rely on a traditional pocket passer, the Ravens' blitz packages under their aggressive defensive scheme will eat them alive.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
- Check the Pressure Rates: If the Colts can't get to Lamar Jackson with just a four-man rush (watch Laiatu Latu), he will pick them apart.
- Monitor the Turnovers: In their last three meetings, the team that won the turnover battle won the game. Simple, but true.
- Respect the History: If you're attending a game in Baltimore, wear your Ravens purple. If you wear a blue 18 or 19 jersey, expect some very creative insults regarding moving trucks.
- Watch the 4th Quarter: These teams have a weird habit of playing one-score games. Over 60% of their matchups in the last decade have been decided by 7 points or less.
The Indianapolis Colts vs Ravens isn't just a date on the NFL calendar. It's a collision of a city's stolen past and a franchise's bright future. Whether you're rooting for the horseshoe or the bird, you're watching one of the most emotionally charged rivalries in professional sports.