After defeating the Tennessee Titans in Week 16, the Indianapolis Colts got a minor Christmas miracle in that their playoff hopes were kept alive. But that doesn't mean their path to the postseason is a simple one. According to the New York Times, the Colts have a 20% chance at making the playoffs, so they have a few things on their Christmas wish list they'll be hoping Santa brings them this year.
Gift #1: Win their final two games
This should be the easiest gift for Santa to bring, considering the Colts have an easy slate of games left. Their remaining opponents are the New York Giants and the Jacksonville Jaguars, games which they are predicted to win. The Giants and the Jaguars have a combined record of 5-25, so on the surface, it would appear to be a slam-dunk.
However, the Titans game proved that victory shouldn't be taken for granted. The Colts almost blew their massive lead, and nearly allowed the Titans to claw their way back to a win. In short, these are games the Colts should win, but they simply cannot afford to be cavalier.
Gift #2: Losses from the Chargers
The easiest scenario is that the Colts win their final two games, while the Los Angeles Chargers respectively lose theirs. The Chargers are currently 9-6, while the Colts are 7-8. With this, both teams would have a 9-8 record.
However, the Colts would come out ahead here because they have the better record against AFC opponents, putting them in the playoffs. This is a tough situation, however, considering that -- like the Colts -- the Chargers are facing easier opponents (the New England Patriots and the Las Vegas Raiders) in their last two games.
Gift #3: Losses from the Broncos
Santa's final gift would be the most difficult to pull off, because it requires numerous things to happen in order for the Colts to make the playoffs. First, the Colts need the Denver Broncos to lose both of their remaining games, a scenario that is entirely plausible. The Broncos are facing the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs, so their losses would not be surprising.
However, the Colts would also need to see the Bengals OR the Miami Dolphins win their remaining games in this scenario also. For the Bengals, this would be difficult, but not impossible; in addition to the Broncos, the Bengals will face the Pittsburgh Steelers, so the Bengals have a tough slate of games ahead of them. It's more likely that the Dolphins would win their final two games, as they face the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets.
In this scenario, the Colts would make the playoffs, as they, the Broncos, and a third team would all have a 9-8 record. The tiebreaker would be the conference record, which the Colts would win regardless of whether the Dolphins or the Bengals win out.
If both the Broncos and the Chargers win on Sunday, then the Colts will be eliminated from playoff contention.