The regular season is just around the corner, and both Bengals and Colts know it well. The two teams will meet tomorrow at Paycor Stadium in the third and final friendly game before embarking on the journey to a new year, which will not be an easy one.
On one hand, the Colts announced Daniel Jones as their new starting quarterback, however, this does not mean that Anthony Richardson will play in the game. Shane Steichen, head coach, stated that he will look to take care of the quarterback to keep him healthy all season.
On the other hand, the Bengals have a healthy Joe Burrow, a well-paid Ja'Marr Chase and several weapons on offense that can potentially elevate them to the top of the AFC North. The bad news for the Cincinnati team is the tug-of-war with defensive end Trey Hendrickson, with whom they have yet to reach a salary-cap deal.
Colts have a 7-game lead on the record (Photo: Sports Illustrated).
How are the Colts coming?
Anthony Richardson, the quarterback who was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 Draft, didn't make the impact Indianapolis fans were hoping for. After two years as a starter, with injuries and ups and downs in between, head coach Shane Steichen made the decision to replace him with newcomer Daniel Jones.
Colts naming Daniel Jones starting QB for Week 1. (via @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/Yt0muOgmDB
- NFL (@NFL) August 19, 2025
Following the news that the veteran quarterback would be taking over the starting job, several might have come to believe that tomorrow's game would be an opportunity for Richardson, but the reality is that it is not. Steichen stated that the 23-year-old "is still learning, still growing, and for the first time in his career, he has an opportunity for him to sit down at the beginning of the season, learn from a different perspective and approach it the right way." Also, he added that they have several third and fourth team players available to play this game.
Jason Bean and Riley Leonard are already being postulated as the two quarterbacks Colts will use for the matchup against Cincinnati.
How are the Bengals coming?
Last year, the Zac Taylor-coached team had a slightly better season than 2023, when they lost Joe Burrow to a serious right wrist injury. With a 9-8 record, they finished in third place in one of the toughest divisions in the league; the AFC North.
Now, the Cincinnati team has a very interesting offense. They have Burrow, one of the best quarterbacks in the league who was the overall leader in yards per pass last season (4,918); Chase, who was given a four-year, 161 MDD contract; and several offensive weapons such as Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas and a versatile Chase Brown.
Defensively, things don't look so good for the Bengals, as Trey Hendrickson still refuses to play for his own team. While the player has agreed to make 16 MDD annually, having no guaranteed money toward a possible extension stalled negotiations.
His strike ended on June 30, when the defensive end finally rejoined the group, but the 30-year-old has refrained from training with his teammates. Hendrickson managed to be the leading catcher last year, getting 17.5 catches and being a key piece in the Bengals' defense.
History between Bengals and Colts
Between regular season and postseason games, the Indianapolis Colts have a seven-game lead over the Bengals. In the regular season, the Colts have beaten the Bengals in 18 games, while the Bengals have won 13 times. In the postseason, the two teams met twice, and both decisive games went to the team from the horseshoe.
A curious fact is that Bengals and Colts are the closest rivalry in the AFC, with only 110 miles (about 177 km) between Cincinnati and Indianapolis. It is for that reason that, in the last 28 years, they have met 27 times in preseason games.
Where can I watch the game live?
You can watch the Bengals vs. Colts game LIVE and free on DAZN signals for Mexico.
The game starts at 11:00 a.m. on August 23, 2025 at CDMX time.
If you want to follow the result of the game live on the internet, VAVEL is your best option.