The Indianapolis Colts have a number of tough games remaining but will need to win some for a chance at the playoffs.
After starting 1-4, the Indianapolis Colts have won four of their last five games and now sit at 5-5, putting them just outside of the playoffs. Fortunately, the playoffs don’t start today, so there is still time for Indianapolis to improve its standing.
Unfortunately, the Colts don’t have the easiest path, entering Week 11 with the eighth-toughest remaining schedule according to Tankathon. Despite the odds not being in their favor, Indianapolis is confident in its chances.
If they weren’t confident, fans should be worried. Although they will enter majority of the upcoming games as underdogs, there is always a path to victory. Especially in a crazy NFL season that has already seen a draw, and numerous top teams lose to struggling opponents.
For the 2nd consecutive week, four teams – Carolina, Miami, Minnesota, Washington – entered week with a .500-or-below win % and defeated a team that began the week in first place or tied for first. There have been 8 of these wins the past two weeks, most in weeks 9-10 since 1970.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 15, 2021
That means it’s time for the 5-5 Colts to leave oddsmakers looking foolish by upsetting the quality opponents on the schedule, but how exactly can they pull it off?
The four toughest remaining games are against the Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, and Arizona Cardinals. Here is one reason they can beat each of those four opponents:
How Colts can beat the Buffalo Bills: Turnover-Charged Defense
The Bills, currently 6-3, have been one of the NFL’s best teams all season. They’ve been incredibly balanced, dominating on offense and defense— leading to a lot of blowouts. Their three stumbles have come to the hands of the Steelers, Titans, and Jaguars.
In Week 11, they host the Colts to a Sunday afternoon matchup where both teams will be eager to improve their record. While the Bills could use the win to hold off the Patriots in the AFC East race, Indianapolis needs the victory to stay afloat in the playoff hunt.
The Colts’ hands will be full, but the reason they can beat the Bills is because of the turnover-hungry Indianapolis defense. A common trend in Buffalo’s three losses is turnovers; one against the Steelers and Titans and three against the Jaguars.
The Colts are second in the NFL in takeaways with 21. Led by Darius Leonard, this defense has gotten their hands on 10 interceptions and 11 fumbles. It’s clear that forcing turnovers is a point of emphasis for the Indianapolis defense, and they will need to execute it against the Bills.
Taking the ball away not only limits Buffalo’s scoring, but it sets the Colts’ offense up with good field position against a quality defense. This is a very feasible approach. The only issue is that the Bills are the only team with more takeaways — 24, to be exact. Therefore, Indianapolis’ offense is going to have to be extra cautious.