The Colts Lost on Sunday and Watched Their Playoff Hopes Fade Away

Well Colts fans, I hate to say it, but the season is pretty much over. The Indianapolis Colts fell to 6-6 on the season after losing to the Tennessee Titans 31-17. It was an ugly game, and nothing was uglier than when the Colts’ field goal unit forgot to block the Titans’ defenders on a kick that could have given the Colts a late fourth quarter lead. Instead, the Titans blocked an Adam Vinatieri kick for the second time that day and returned this one for a touchdown. That gave the Titans the lead for good and extinguished any hope the Colts could make the playoffs.

Kicker Adam Vinatieri struggled as he went 1-4 against the Titans. Photo Courtesy of WRTV.

While it is statistically possible for Indianapolis to make the playoffs, the chances are slim. The Buffalo Bills, powered by an elite defense, are 9-3 and in the first wild card spot. They will not be slowing down as they are trying to overtake the New England Patriots (10-2) in the AFC East. The spots the Colts would have to get are either the second wild card spot or even more unlikely AFC South Division Crown.

Let’s start with the more unlikely of the two. The Colts are not catching the Houston Texans. The Texans are 8-4 and seem to have found their stride as they knocked off the Patriots this past week. Even if the Texans were to fall off the wagon, the Colts then have to pass the Titans as well. In order for the Colts to win the AFC South, what they realistically need is for the Titans and Texans to both go 1-3 over the last four games while the Colts win the next four in a row. That is not going to happen.

The other option is to overtake the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second wild card spot. This became a lot harder after the Colts loss to the Titans. The Titans are now right behind the Steelers for the second wild card spot. Hypothetically if the Titans somehow fall apart, how do the Colts catch the Steelers? I will be honest, they do not. The Colts do not own the tiebreaker against the Steelers after losing to them earlier this season. Indianapolis would have to go 3-1 over the next four games while the Steelers would have to go 1-3. I do not expect the Steelers to slow down as they now have quarterback Delvin “Duck” Hodges leading the way. With a nickname like that, I would not bet against the Steelers.

So, Colts fans, while there is a chance to make the playoffs, the path is one that likely will not be traveled. The Colts needed a big win against the Titans and just could not come through. As Chicago Cubs fans often say, “There’s always next year.”