Colts 2012-13 schedule released – get used to Sunday at 1 p.m.

The new-look Indianapolis Colts knew who they were playing. Now, they know when.

The 2012-13 NFL schedule was released in prime-time Tuesday night, with both ESPN and the NFL Network holding multi-hour specials. Only the NFL.

At first glance, the schedule doesn’t look outrageous like it has in some years. In fact, it’s very simple.

All but one regular season game is on Sunday at 1 p.m. And 13 are on CBS. Very easy, right.

Unlike previous seasons, the horseshoes are only slated for one game in prime-time, and I’d use that term loosely here because it’s a Thursday night game seen only on the NFL Network.

Andrew Luck, who the Colts will draft next Thursday, will make his NFL debut on the road against a very stingy Chicago defense. Then, a couple winnable games at home, against Minnesota and Jacksonville, before having the early bye-week.

The best games on the schedule, right now, are meetings against the Packers, Jets and Patriots.

Houston should easily take control of the very weak AFC South. Indy will be down for three years, Tennessee is a middle of the road team and who knows what Jacksonville is doing.

One note on the preseason: season ticket holders are getting screwed over, again. The two best games, when the starters play most (games two and three), are both on the road.

I’ll wait until training camp to make a prediction because the draft and many offseason moves have yet to happen. I trust the vision of Colts owner Jim Irsay and believe, with time, the Colts will get back to the top of the league. Patience early on, however, will be necessary.

Preseason
Aug. 12 – St. Louis, 1:30 p.m. (WTTV)
Aug. 19 – at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m. (NBC)
Sat., Aug. 25 – at Washington, 4 p.m. (WTTV)
Thu., Aug. 30 – Cincinnati, 7 p.m. (WTTV)

Regular Season
Sept. 9 – at Chicago, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sept. 16 – Minnesota, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Sept. 23 – Jacksonville, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sept. 30 Bye-week
Oct. 7 – Green Bay, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Oct. 14 – at New York Jets, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Oct. 21 – Cleveland, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Oct. 28 – at Tennessee, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Nov. 4 – Miami, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Nov. 8 – at Jacksonville, 8:20 p.m. (NFL Network)
Nov. 18 – at New England, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Nov. 25 – Buffalo, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 2 – at Detroit, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 9 – Tennessee, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 16 – at Houston, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 23 – at Kansas City, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Dec. 30 – Houston, 1 p.m. (CBS)