The Indianapolis Colts are still alive in the playoff race-but just barely. With three games to go, the margin for error is razor-thin.
And while the loss of quarterback Daniel Jones to a torn Achilles in Week 14 was a gut punch, the team’s playoff hopes were already on shaky ground before that. The AFC South has turned into a three-team sprint, and both the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars have surged into the mix, catching up to-and now passing-Indy in the standings.
Let’s be clear: the Colts’ descent from the top of the division has been steep and sudden. Just a few weeks ago, they were sitting comfortably in first place.
Now? They’re clinging to postseason hopes with the kind of desperation that makes every snap feel like a season-defining moment.
And in a twist that no one saw coming, that hope now rests in the hands of a retired-turned-active Philip Rivers.
Yes, that Philip Rivers.
When Rivers stepped back in following Jones’ injury, it felt like a Hail Mary. But after a narrow Week 15 loss to the Seahawks-a game that easily could’ve gone the other way-there’s still a path to the playoffs.
It’s a narrow one, sure, but it exists. And that’s more than you can say for a lot of teams in mid-December.
The Road Ahead: Brutal But Navigable
The Colts knew the final stretch of their schedule was going to be a gauntlet. Seattle, San Francisco, and Houston are all playoff-caliber teams, and Jacksonville has been playing above expectations all season.
There are no freebies left. Every remaining game is against a team either fighting for playoff seeding or trying to prove they belong.
To have any shot at sneaking into the postseason, Indianapolis almost certainly needs to run the table. That’s three straight wins, no slip-ups.
The good news? The Colts have already beaten the Chargers this season, and that win could loom large in the tie-breaker scenarios.
Here’s how that works: if the Colts and Chargers finish with the same number of losses, and the Chargers end up second in the AFC West behind the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis would hold the head-to-head advantage thanks to their 38-24 win over LA back in Week 7.
But the Chargers just knocked off the Chiefs in Week 15 and improved to 10-4. That makes it highly unlikely they’ll drop two of their final three games. And unless that happens, the Colts will need help from other teams in addition to winning out themselves.
There’s also the long-shot scenario where both the Jaguars and Texans lose out, and the Colts leapfrog them in the division. Again, not likely-but not impossible either. And in a season that’s already defied expectations (remember that 7-1 start?), Indy fans know better than to count their team out just yet.
Can Rivers Lead One Last Run?
Rivers’ performance in Week 15 wasn’t flashy. He didn’t light up the stat sheet, and he wasn’t slinging it like it was 2008.
But what he did do was manage the offense against one of the league’s toughest defenses. He kept the Colts in the game, made smart decisions, and showed just enough poise to suggest this comeback tour might have a little magic in it.
For the Colts to pull this off, they’ll need more than just Rivers playing mistake-free football. They’ll need their defense to step up, their run game to control the clock, and for someone-anyone-to make a game-changing play when it matters most. This is the time of year when stars are made and seasons are saved.
The Bottom Line
The Colts’ playoff hopes are on life support, but they’re not dead yet. Three games.
Three must-wins. And a little help from the rest of the AFC.
That’s the formula.
No one’s saying it’ll be easy. But no one thought this team would be 7-1 either. If Rivers can steady the ship, and if the Colts can recapture the form that carried them through the first half of the season, there’s still a chance to turn this rollercoaster ride into a playoff berth.
And in December, that’s all you can ask for.