As the Indianapolis Colts prepare to take on the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium, their playoff chances may hang in the balance. Despite currently having a losing record (6-7), the Colts have won two of their last three games under Anthony Richardson, and they can still not only make it to the playoffs, but also potentially win the AFC South.
Either scenario will be difficult, yet both are still possible.
How to win the AFC South
Currently, the Houston Texans are leading the division, but it's not by a wide margin; they're ahead by just two games. And unlike the Colts, who have one of the easiest schedules through the rest of the season, the Texans have one of the hardest. They'll be playing the Miami Dolphins, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Tennessee Titans.
The Titans and the Dolphins are not among the best teams in the league, but the Dolphins still have a lot of fighting spirit left in them. And the Titans, who are currently last in the AFC South, beat the Texans earlier this season. Basically, neither the Titans nor the Dolphins should be assumed to be easy victories for the Texans.
However, this doesn't mean it will be easy for the Colts to win the division. If they lose even just one of their next four games, their chances at becoming AFC South champions are over. The Colts will need to win all of their remaining games, with the Texans losing at least three.
That would leave the Colts with a 10-7 record, and the Texans at 9-8.
How to make the playoffs as a wild card
This is the more likely scenario for the Colts, and it starts with a must-win over Denver on Sunday. Like the Texans, the Broncos have a tougher schedule through the rest of the season, and they are the Colts' biggest competition for a wild card spot in the playoffs. They'll be facing LA Chargers, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Chiefs.
Again, if the Colts win their remaining four games, and the Broncos lose at least one game -- considering their opponents, something that's very possible -- they will make the playoffs; they may not win the AFC South, but they will be in as a wild card. The Broncos and the Colts would be tied in that scenario, but the Colts would hold the tiebreaker as the winners of the Colts-Broncos game.
If the Colts beat Denver but lose one of their final three games, Denver would need to lose two games in order to stay in playoff contention.
Also vying for the playoffs are the Ravens and the Chargers; both teams are currently 8-5, albeit in second place in their divisions behind the Steelers and the Chiefs, respectively. The Colts will need both of these teams to lose at least two games as well.
As these scenarios show, making the playoffs is still an uphill battle for the Colts - but, perhaps most importantly, it's a battle they can win.