The Indianapolis Colts will need to win against the Jacksonville Jaguars to guarantee themselves a playoff spot.
All week, the message for the Indianapolis Colts has been: win on Sunday and they are in the playoffs. Going against a struggling division opponent in the Jacksonville Jaguars, winning is the only goal.
Indianapolis faced the same circumstances in Week 17. If Indy defeated the Las Vegas Raiders, they would already have a playoff spot. The Colts were unable to get the job done, so now they will try again this week.
What happens if Indianapolis is unsuccessful again this Sunday? It’s unlikely, but it is a possibility. Will a loss kiss Indy’s playoff chances goodbye? Will the season be over?
Frank Reich today: "The playoffs start for us this week. We’re expecting Jacksonville’s best. We know we’ve struggled down there, and this team (the Jags) takes a lot of pride in playing us the way they play us."
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) January 3, 2022
Colts haven't won down there since 2014.
Can Colts still make the playoffs if they lose to Jaguars?
The good news is, even if Indy loses on Sunday, there’s still a possibility that they can make the postseason. The bad news would be … in that instance, Indy lost to the Jaguars and would leave their fate in other teams’ hands.
There are two scenarios where Indianapolis loses to Jacksonville and still makes the playoffs.
Scenario 1: Chargers lose and Ravens vs. Steelers ends in a tie
Scenario 2: Chargers lose and Steelers lose and Dolphins win
One of those scenarios involves a tie, and the other involves three separate games. So obviously, the most straightforward path to the playoffs for the Colts is winning over the Jaguars.
It’s never good to leave your goals in the hands of others, especially when the goals could’ve been achieved with relative ease. That’s the situation Indianapolis enters on Sunday.
Indy can beat a 2-14 Jacksonville team and start preparing for the postseason or it can lose to the laughing stock of the NFL and be forced to watch Sunday Night Football while pulling for the team that defeated the Colts in Week 17.
Colts’ 3 biggest weaknesses entering playoffs
The Indianapolis Colts will have to clean up some of things they’ve struggled with all season as they prepare for a playoff run.