Colts vs Dolphins: TV Channel, Start Time, and How to Watch or Stream Today

Speed meets power in Week 1 as the Miami Dolphins travel to Indianapolis for a season opener that should move fast from the jump. The Colts vs Dolphins matchup kicks off Sunday, September 7, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET inside Lucas Oil Stadium, a climate-controlled setup that keeps weather out of the equation and the pace high.

It’s a clean slate for both teams, but not a forgettable backdrop. Miami is coming off a 2024 season that ended short of the playoffs and is trying to reset under Mike McDaniel. Indianapolis, under Shane Steichen, wants to snap recent opening-day stumbles and prove its offense can control games on its terms. Expect Miami’s speed to stretch the field and Indy’s ground game to push the tempo in a different way.

How to watch and stream today

TV: CBS (national window; check your local listings for the game assignment in your area)

Kickoff: Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025 | 1:00 PM ET

Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Broadcast team: Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Charles Davis (analyst), AJ Ross (sideline)

Streaming: Paramount+ (Essential and Premium plans stream your local CBS feed when the game airs on your CBS station)

If you’re watching on cable or antenna, your local CBS affiliate will carry the broadcast in markets assigned to this game. For streaming, Paramount+ mirrors your local CBS station, so availability depends on what your CBS market is showing in the early window. No special hardware is required beyond a supported device and a subscription.

Paramount+ is available on:

• Mobile: iOS and Android phones and tablets
• Streaming devices: Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Roku
• Smart TVs: LG, Samsung, Vizio (supported models)
• Consoles: Xbox and PlayStation
• Other: Many cable provider set-top boxes with app support

Prefer the over-the-air route? An indoor antenna generally picks up CBS in most metro areas. Inside the stadium, the roof is commonly closed early in the season, so audio and crowd noise will be crisp on the broadcast.

Quick game facts:

• Network: CBS (early window)
• Start time: 1:00 PM ET
• Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Charles Davis, AJ Ross
• Line: Colts -1.5
• Total: 46.5

Storylines, matchups, and what to watch

Miami’s speed challenge is the first headline. Tua Tagovailoa piloting a timing-and-motion attack with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle forces defenses to be perfect with leverage and communication. Even small busts become big plays. Expect Miami to use motion at the snap to test how quickly Indianapolis adjusts, especially on early downs when the threat of the run keeps safeties honest.

Indianapolis, meanwhile, can flip the script with physicality. Jonathan Taylor is the tone-setter. If he’s rolling, he shortens the game, keeps Miami’s offense on the sideline, and sets up play-action shots for Michael Pittman Jr. That’s the Colts’ path to control: win first and second down, avoid third-and-long, and make the Dolphins defend the whole field without selling out to the perimeter.

The trenches likely decide the rhythm. Miami’s pass rush underpins everything it does on defense, and if the Colts’ offensive line can keep the pocket steady, the hosts can lean into layered concepts to isolate linebackers and nickel defenders. On the flip side, Indianapolis needs consistent pressure without giving up the edges—contain is crucial when Miami floods the formation with motion and switch releases.

Inside Lucas Oil Stadium, the controlled environment helps both passing games. No crosswinds, no rain, just routes and timing. That’s usually an edge for offenses early in the season when defensive communication isn’t fully polished. The flip side is tackling: Week 1 can be messy in space. One missed angle against Hill or Waddle can flip the scoreboard. The Colts’ secondary has to rally and tackle—or the total starts creeping over that 46.5 number.

Coaching tendencies matter in openers. McDaniel is aggressive with pre-snap looks and quick-strike concepts when he senses soft cushion. Steichen is comfortable staying on schedule and using tempo to keep defenses in vanilla shells. Fourth-down decisions and red-zone creativity could loom large; both staffs have shown they’re not afraid to script something early to grab momentum.

Fantasy lens:

• Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle remain must-starts. Indoors, their target and yak upside stays intact.
• Tua Tagovailoa profiles as a QB1/2 in standard leagues in this environment. Efficiency is the key; watch for quick-game volume.
• Jonathan Taylor is a locked-in RB1 if the Colts lean on the run as expected.
• Michael Pittman Jr. carries a solid floor in PPR with red-zone appeal if the Colts can sustain drives.
• Kickers get a slight boost indoors; if your league skews toward longer field goals, this is a friendly spot.

Betting snapshot (informational): Colts -1.5 suggests a one-score game either way, with the market leaning to Indianapolis’ ability to control pace at home. The total at 46.5 sits in that middle band—one or two explosive plays can swing it. If Indy dictates on the ground, it tilts under. If Miami hits early explosives, the game script opens up.

What’s at stake in Week 1? More than vibes. The Dolphins want to show last year’s stumble was the outlier, not the rule. A clean, efficient opener quiets the noise and tees up a manageable early schedule. The Colts need to get out of the blocks clean after recent opening-day frustrations under Steichen; a home win sets the tone for a team built to control game flow and win late with balance.

Key things to monitor pregame:

• Inactives drop 90 minutes before kickoff. Any late changes at corner or along either offensive line could tilt matchups.
• How the Colts deploy personnel on early downs—extra tight end looks usually signal a run-heavy script to test Miami’s front.
• Miami’s opening 15 plays. McDaniel’s script often reveals which defender he’s targeting—watch the slot and linebacker conflicts.

One more viewing note: CBS’s early window often carries multiple games. If your market isn’t assigned Colts–Dolphins, your local CBS feed—and therefore Paramount+—will show the game chosen for your area. If you’re set on this matchup, double-check your listings Sunday morning so you’re not scrambling at kickoff.

Week 1 always exposes what teams really worked on in camp. For Miami, that’s timing and spacing. For Indianapolis, it’s pad level and balance. Whichever identity shows up first probably leaves with a 1–0 start.