how do the colts make the playoffs
The Indianapolis Colts’ only path to the playoffs is to win their final two games and have the Houston Texans lose their final two games, which would give Indianapolis the last AFC wild card via tiebreakers.
Current situation
- The Colts are 8–7 and sit outside the final AFC wild-card spot, which is currently held by the Texans at 10–5.
- Jacksonville has already clinched a playoff berth and the AFC South title is effectively out of reach for Indianapolis, so the focus is entirely on the wild card.
Exact path to the playoffs
For the scenario “how do the Colts make the playoffs,” all of the following must happen:
- Colts win both remaining games:
- Week 17: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars.
- Week 18: at Houston Texans.
- Texans lose both remaining games:
- Week 17: at Los Angeles Chargers.
- Week 18: vs. Indianapolis Colts.
If this happens, both teams finish 10–7, and the Colts take the final wild card thanks to a strength-of-victory tiebreaker that favors their collection of wins over Houston’s.
Elimination scenarios
The Colts are eliminated from playoff contention if any of these occur:
- The Texans win or tie even one of their remaining games (vs. Chargers or vs. Colts).
- The Colts lose or tie even one of their remaining games (vs. Jaguars or at Texans).
In other words, from this point, every Colts game is essentially a must‑win, and they also need Houston to completely collapse down the stretch.
Forum-style quick scoop
“how do the colts make the playoffs?”
Fan answer, if you turn this into a quick forum post:
- Beat the Jaguars at home.
- Beat the Texans on the road in Week 18.
- Hope the Texans lose to the Chargers in Week 17.
- That exact combo gets the Colts to 10–7 and sneaks them into the 7‑seed on a strength‑of‑victory tiebreaker over Houston.
TL;DR: Win out, Texans lose out, and the Colts back into the last wild card on tiebreakers; anything less and they’re done.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
