It would appear that Pittsburgh could screw over the Colts for the second straight week.
The Indianapolis Colts’ shambolic collapse against the Pittsburgh Steelers this past Sunday has really complicated their playoff outlook. While they still have a favorable chance to get in — perhaps too favorable, given how ugly that loss was — their defeat means they need help from other teams in order to qualify.
In a nutshell, the Colts need to beat Jacksonville and need one of Cleveland, Baltimore or Miami to lose this upcoming weekend. Each of those teams kick off in the early afternoon slate, which means that Indy will know the results before their game gets underway at 4:25.
Unfortunately for Indy, you can almost guarantee that two of those aforementioned teams, the Ravens and Browns, will win their respective matchups. Baltimore faces the 4-10 Bengals, whereas Cleveland is set to take on Pittsburgh. We know what you’re thinking: the Steelers are an incredibly difficult matchup.
Well, they were. The team announced this week that it will rest quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and other key starters who have yet to be named, so you’d be hard-pressed to picture a scenario where the Browns don’t come out on top in that showdown.
Ben Roethlisberger won't play Sunday, Mason Rudolph starts https://t.co/EUxh6Y5nqR
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 29, 2020
The Colts could’ve used as many as competitive games as possible between the teams that are competing with them for the final wild card spots, and this Steelers news all but confirms that they will have to rely on Buffalo, which is fighting for the No. 2 seed in the AFC, to topple Miami.
Cleveland is fresh off a loss to the previously one-win Jets, but their offensive line was decimated by injuries, and COVID-19 protocols forced every single wide receiver on their active roster to be sidelined. Should they still have beaten New York? Probably, but assuming the Browns are back to full strength (or close to it), you’d have to think they dispose of their undermanned division rivals.
#Steelers Mike Tomlin just announced in his press conference that Mason Rudolph will start in place of Ben Roethlisberger against the #Browns on Sunday
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) December 29, 2020
Indianapolis could have avoided this mess by holding on to their 17-point second half lead last weekend, but here we are. While they need a win, they don’t control their own destiny and are at the mercy of higher seeds that have already clinched their respective divisions. You can’t even rule out the possibility of the Bills resting some starters if they deem health heading into the playoffs as a priority over nabbing the No. 2 seed.
Put aside those nail clippers for the next couple of days, Colts fans, because you will have plenty to chew off while you’re scoreboard watching on Sunday.
Colts apparently knew all of Steelers plays in first half before Big Ben made changes
The Indianapolis Colts apparently knew all of the Pittsburgh Steelers' plays in the first half on Sunday before Big Ben made changes.