The Indianapolis Colts pulled out a narrow win in Week 13 over the New England Patriots.
They now enter their bye week on the outside looking in of the AFC playoff with a 6-7 record. The biggest conversation amongst fans this week is about what has to happen for the team to make the playoffs.
So I'll give you that exact answer. Below, you will find the Colts' best two chances of making the playoffs: the first as a wildcard team and the second as the winners of the AFC South.
The Colts best path to earning an AFC Wildcard spot
The Colts are currently the eighth seed in the AFC, two games behind the Denver Broncos, who currently hold the final wildcard spot in the conference. Both teams are on bye this week and have an extra week to prepare for their Week 15 matchup. It is a game that could end up holding significant weight in their ongoing battle for the final spot in the AFC playoff picture.
To take the final spot from the Broncos, the Colts need to either finish with a better record or finish with the same record and hold the tiebreaker. To do the first, they need the Broncos to lose three more games than the Colts during their final four games. So the Colts would have to win out, and they'd need the Broncos to lose three of their final four. To do the same, the Colts need first to beat the Broncos in Week 15 to hold the tiebreaker, followed by teams finishing with the same record. Here are all the ways that can happen:
- If the Colts win out = Broncos lose Week 15 + one more game
- If the Colts win three of their final four = Broncos lose Week 15 + two more games
- If the Colts win two of their final four = Broncos lose each of their final four games
The Colt's path to winning the AFC South
This option may even shock some people, but it's more realistic than you might think. The Colts are currently two full games behind the Texans, who have an 8-5 record after Week 13. But the Colts have already lost both matchups with the Texans this season, which means they own the tiebreaker and, as a result, are actually three games ahead. So, one of two things has to happen for the Colts to win the AFC South. The Colts have to win out, and the Texans have to lose three of their final four. Or if the Texans lose each of their final four games on their schedule, the Colts can only lose one game. The Texans having that epic of a collapse may sound far-fetched, but the past few years in the AFC South show how easy it can happen.
Texans remaining schedule
Week 14: Bye Week
Week 15: Vs. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
Week 16: @ Kansas City Chiefs (11-1)
Week 17: Vs. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
Week 18: @ Tennessee Titans (3-9)
