INDIANAPOLIS – Let the December playoff pressure begin.
With Sunday’s home loss to the Titans, the Colts are left likely needing multiple-game help from Tennessee in order for Indianapolis to win their first AFC South title since 2014.
At 7-4, the Colts are now thrown into the Wild Card mix, with three of those spots available in 2020, thanks to the expanded playoffs. Remember, 7 teams make the playoffs in each conference this season.
Colts losses in conference—particular to fellow Wild Card possibilities in Cleveland and Baltimore—are not aiding them.
With 5 games remaining this season, the Colts currently have a 54 percent chance at making the playoffs, and a 13 percent chance at winning the AFC South (per FiveThirtyEight). With a win over the Texans, the Colts would have a 73 percent chance at making the playoffs. With a loss to the Texans, the Colts playoff chances would drop 32 percent.
If the playoffs started today, the Steelers would get the 1st round bye, and these would be the matchups on Wild Card weekend:
No. 2 Chiefs vs. No. 7. Colts
No. 3 Bills vs. No. 6. Dolphins
No. 4 Titans vs. No. 5. Browns
Here’s the AFC playoff standings with 5 games to go:
Division Leaders
1. Steelers (11-0): Washington (4-7), at Bills (8-3), at Bengals (2-8-1), Colts (7-4), at Browns (8-3)
2. Chiefs (10-1): Broncos (4-7), at Dolphins (7-4), at Saints (9-2), Falcons (4-7), Chargers (3-8)
3. Bills (8-3): at 49ers (5-6), Steelers (11-0), at Broncos (4-7), at Patriots (5-6), Dolphins (7-4)
4. Titans (8-3): Browns (8-3), at Jaguars (1-10), Lions (4-7), at Packers (8-3), at Texans (4-7)
Wild Card Teams
5. Browns (8-3): at Titans (8-3), Ravens (6-5), at Giants (4-7), at Jets (0-11), Steelers (11-0)
6. Dolphins (7-4): Bengals (2-8-1), Chiefs (10-1), Patriots (5-6), at Raiders (6-5), at Bills (8-3)
7. Colts (7-4): at Texans (4-7), at Raiders (6-5), Texans (4-7), Steelers (10-0), Jaguars (1-10)
Outside Looking In
8. Raiders (6-5): at Jets (0-11), Colts (7-4), Chargers (3-8), Dolphins (7-4), at Broncos (4-7)
9. Ravens (6-5):Cowboys (4-7), at Browns (8-3), Jaguars (1-10), Giants (4-7), at Bengals (2-8-1)
