Colts Playoff Chances: Indianapolis Needs Plenty Of Help To Sneak Into Playoffs

After a 1-5 start, the Indianapolis Colts (8-6) can somehow make the playoffs. Quarterback Andrew Luck is almost a lock for Comeback Player of the year, while an improved defense and dominant offensive line have paved the way for seven wins in their past eight games.

However, the Colts still need help to make the AFC playoffs, thanks to a strong group of contenders ahead of them. FiveThirtyEight’s calculations give the Colts just a 34 percent chance of making it at all, and a 5 percent chance of winning the AFC South.

The Houston Texans (10-4) have not officially locked up the division yet, but all signs point to that happening in the next two weeks. Despite how impressive Indianapolis has been of late, the Colts still need plenty of help to get into the tournament.

The Colts host the New York Giants (5-9) this week and travel to Nashville to play the Tennessee Titans (8-6) next week. If the Colts win both of those games and finish 10-6, they would have a 74 percent chance of getting into the playoffs, according to more than 24,000 simulations run by the New York Times’ prediction model.

The Times also has a visual chart showing each and every way the Colts could get in. For example, if the Colts win their two remaining games and the Los Angeles Chargers (11-3) beat the Baltimore Ravens (8-6) on Sunday, the Colts are in. If the Ravens win, but the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6-1) lose to the New Orleans Saints (12-2), the Colts still get in.

Needless to say, the Colts do not control their own destiny in the AFC, no matter how much of a success this season has been.