Playoffs start in Denver for the Indianapolis Colts

There are still four regular season games left on the schedule, but the playoffs essentially start this week for the Colts.

There still may be four games left in the NFL’s regular season, but the playoffs are essentially starting in Week 15 for the Indianapolis Colts.

“Not just the young guys, it’s everybody,” said DeForest Buckner when asked about his message this week to the young players on the team. “People say we’re fighting to get into the playoffs, but we’re already in it. This is a playoff game. … It’s win or go home.”

This week’s game against Denver is basically a must-win game for the Colts. They are currently 6-7 on the season, a full two games behind the 8-5 Broncos for the final AFC wildcard spot.

A win, and the Colts would be only one game behind the Broncos at that point. They would also hold the head-to-head tie-breaker and have a very favorable schedule to finish the season with matchups against the Titans, Giants, and Jaguars remaining.

Pro Football Focus has calculated that the Colts’ playoff chances would jump to 68 percent with a win in Denver.

But on the flip side, a loss would all but eliminate the Colts. They would be three games back of Denver at that point with the Broncos holding the tie-breaker. PFF has Indianapolis’ playoff chances at just 10 percent with a loss, with the Colts then requiring a late season collapse by either the 8-5 Ravens or the 8-5 Chargers.

“We can’t hope and pray on somebody else for our fortune,” added Buckner. “We gotta make our own fortune. So, it starts on Sunday.”

A potentially key element in determining the outcome of this game will be how the Colts perform in the trenches. The Broncos’ offensive line has been one of the best at protecting the quarterback this season, while their defensive front ranks top-five in pressure rate and yards per rush allowed.

Below you can find Buckner’s full response when asked about this playoff-like game: