The Indianapolis Colts (9-8) have exceeded everyone's expectations of them this season and now find themselves in a win-and-get-in situation for Week 18. 

A win gets them into the playoffs, but multiple other games will have an impact on their standing. 

For a trip to the dance. #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/Yjcsy8Mr4r

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 2, 2024

#4 Seed

• Indianapolis Colts defeat Houston Texans 
• Tennessee Titans defeat Jacksonville Jaguars

The best seed the Colts can become at the end of Week 18 is the fourth seed in the AFC. And their path there is fairly simple: they must first win their game on Saturday against the Texans. Then they will need the Titans to upset the Jaguars. If both of these results happen the Colts will be crowned the AFC South champions for the first time since 2014, and they would host a playoff game during the wildcard round. 

#6 Seed

• Jacksonville Jaguars defeat Tennessee Titans
• Indianapolis Colts defeat Houston Texans
• Miami Dolphins defeat Buffalo Bills

Even though the Colts have the same record as the Jaguars entering Week 18 at 9-7, they can't win the division without a Jaguars loss. The Jaguars swept the season series against the Colts, which gives them the tiebreaker if the two end with the same record. So if the Jaguars win, the Colts will root for the Dolphins to beat the Bills to help them end as the sixth seed in the AFC. 

#7 Seed

• Jacksonville Jaguars defeat Tennessee Titans
• Indianapolis Colts defeat Houston Texans OR a Tie
• Buffalo Bills defeat the Miami Dolphins OR a Tie

If the Bills beat the Dolphins, and the Jaguars beat the Titans, the Colts would end as the seventh seed and would then have to travel to the two seed in the AFC to begin their playoff journey. This would mean they would have to go through the two seed and the one seed just to earn the chance to play in the AFC championship game. The seventh seed is the only seed available to the Colts if they were to tie the Texans instead of win. And while a tie between the Bills and Dolphins would shake up the standings, it would still result in the Colts finishing in the same spot., 

Miss the playoffs

• Houston Texans defeat Indianapolis Colts

While other games will have an effect on the Colts standing, they are all for nothing if they do not beat the Texans. Their Week 18 matchup is truly a playoff game in itself, as the winner punches their ticket to the playoff, and the loser goes home. There is no path to the playoffs for either the Texans or the Colts with a loss. 

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