3 Biggest Must-Win Games on the Patriots Schedule in 2023

3. Week 10 vs. Indianapolis Colts (in Germany)

An Indianapolis Colts matchup may not be a heated rivalry game like it once was, but this is a big one no less.

Travelling overseas to Frankfurt, Germany makes this a peculiar game. Wild things tend to happen in overseas matchups, especially when neither team has the benefit of a bye week before it happens (both go on bye in Week 11 after the game).

Belichick always has his squad ready to go for international games though, with the Patriots being a perfect 3-0 in such contests.

The Colts dropped their lone international game back in 2016 (to the Jaguars), and with Anthony Richardson at the helm they’re only at the beginning of their rebuild. That’s something that tends to take time, and barring some phenomenal rookie performances from Richardson they’ll be a soft matchup this year.

I’m probably sounding like a broken record at this point, but this is also a game the Pats should win. And frankly it’s a lot easier to make the playoffs by picking off all the low hanging fruit than by losing some disappointing games and then turning around and upsetting the most difficult opponents on your schedule.

Do I want two wins over the Bills plus wins over the Eagles and Chiefs? Absolutely. But I don’t want to have to count on those wins to be the difference makers to push the pats in the postseason.