The Indianapolis Colts got back into the win column with a one-point win on the road against the New England Patriots. At 6-7, their playoff hopes increased with the win but Colts fans still might not want to get their hopes up too much.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Colts' chances of reaching the playoffs sit at 30%. Those aren't awful odds but they're not great either.
Let's check out the AFC playoff standings after the Colts' Week 13 victory. Keep in mind that not all teams have played yet so these aren't the official standings.
AFC playoff standings after Colts Week 13 win
1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1)*
2. Buffalo Bills (9-2)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
4. Houston Texans (8-5)
5. Baltimore Ravens (8-4)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
7. Denver Broncos (7-5)
In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (6-7), Miami Dolphins (5-7)
The Chiefs have an asterisk next to their name because they clinched a playoff spot after they narrow win over the Raiders on Black Friday. The Bills also have a chance to do that if they can take down the 49ers on Sunday Night Football.
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As for the Colts, they sit right outside the playoff picture as of this writing and won't be able to move into the seventh seed even if the Broncos lose on Monday night. It's going to be difficult for Indy to make a run at the playoffs at this point considering they have two more losses than the seventh-seeded Broncos and that's who they're chasing.
The Colts will play the Broncos following their bye week and that game will be huge for them. If they lose that one, their playoff chances will be officially dashed. The Colts had plenty of opportunities throughout the season to try and get themselves into the postseason for the first time since the 2020 season but continued to be inconsistent.
The hope is that the Colts can win out while the Broncos lose more than a few games, allowing Indy to sneak into the dance. That being said, do we really think this team has what it takes to win a playoff game at this point? Maybe it's okay that they're not in the playoff picture right now.