The Colts will face the Broncos in a pivotal game today that will likely determine if they make the playoffs. What can they do to ensure a win to keep the playoff hopes alive?

The 6-7 Colts take on the 8-5 Broncos in Week 15 for the largest playoff odds leverage game of the week. The Colts would have an estimated 49-56% chance at a playoff berth with a win, but a 4-10% chance at the playoffs with a loss. The Broncos have a 89-95% chance at a playoff berth with a win, but a 48-54% chance at a playoff...

The Colts receiving corps is expected to get a big boost in a critical late season road game against the Denver Broncos.

According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, Indianapolis Colts starting slot wideout Josh Downs (“Questionable”) is expected to play during Sunday’s critical clash against the Denver Broncos despite a recent shoulder injury (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter):

The 2nd-year wide receiver has been a full participant in back-to-back practices, so he had certainly been trending towards being available in a must-win road game for the Colts.

He missed Week 13’s road win against the New England Patriots.

On the season, Downs...

While it looked like both players would have a serious shot to play on Sunday, both returning hopefuls will wait at least one more week.

On Saturday, the Indianapolis Colts downgraded both rookie linebacker Jaylon Carlies (fibula/shoulder) and veteran center Ryan Kelly (knee) to ‘Out’ against the Denver Broncos:

Both players were designed to return to practice earlier this week and now have two more weeks to be activated off of it or will then remain on I.R. for the remainder of the 2024 season (thus, being ineligible to return).

Versatile defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis was added to Saturday’s injury...

The Colts have lost a veteran bookend for at least the season and will rely on another rookie to fill the void.

The Indianapolis Colts announced on Saturday that starting right tackle Braden Smith has been placed on the reserve/non-football illness, which ends his 2024 season.

The team also elevated veteran right guard Mark Glowinski to their 53-man active roster ahead of Sunday’s road game against the Denver Broncos.

Attending to an undisclosed personal matter, Smith last started a game for the Colts in Week 12 against the Detroit Lions (although Indianapolis did have a bye last weekend).

Whatever is...

Cool stat, but what does it mean?

The Indianapolis Colts are the highest scoring team in the league...

Ok, so maybe not across an entire game, but in the fourth quarter, they most certainly are. What does a number like this mean? What does it tell us? Anything? A statistic like this may not lead us to too many conclusions, but there are interesting takeaways we might be able to glean.

At 118 points, the Colts beat out the Eagles for fourth quarter superiority by two. Being in first means they are above all the juggernauts like the Lions, Chiefs,...

Thanks to the nflFastR project, Pro Football Focus and NFL NextGen Stats for the timely sources of data.

For those of you new to this, I will publish key QB stats each week judging how well the upcoming opponent QB has performed. Yes, O-Line, receivers, and play-calling impact these numbers but they are primarily QB measures. I will probably modify the charts throughout the season. Commentary will be brief but feel free to let me know in the comments that stats aren’t everything. (click charts for larger view).

After the Bronocs decided to pay Pittsburgh $38M to take Russell...

It’s ‘do or die time’ this weekend in Denver for the Colts...

The Indianapolis Colts (6-7) looming Week 15 road matchup on Sunday against the Denver Broncos (8-5) will clearly be the most critical game of their remaining schedule—with each team’s playoff hopes very much on the line.

Both AFC playoff hopefuls are jockeying for position for the AFC’s final wild card, the #7 seed, which Denver currently occupies and would essentially clinch over the Cots with a win against Indianapolis this week (91% of making the playoffs then)—short of an epic late season Broncos collapse. A loss places Denver...

The Horseshoe Faithful have spoken ahead of Week 15!

The Indianapolis Colts (6-7) travel to high altitudes to take on the Denver Broncos (8-5) with both teams’ realistic playoff hopes seriously on the line.

Winning would go a long way toward the Colts securing the AFC’s final playoff #7 seed, who beyond the Broncos, have a very favorable schedule down the 2024 season’s final stretch.

The Colts have won 2 of their last 3 games, albeit against two AFC non-playoff teams, and 60% of the Horseshoe Faithful are now confident the franchise is headed in the right direction.

That number...

The Colts running game needs to have their best game of the season in order to beat the Denver Broncos

The Colts’ matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday is their biggest of the year. A loss would all but eliminate them from playoff contention. A win would put their chances of getting in at around 50%. The Broncos have been one of the better teams in the NFL over the past seven games; they are 5-2 with their only losses to the Baltimore Ravens (in a blowout) and the Chiefs (blocked kick gave KC the win). Their point differential...

The Indianapolis Colts released their Friday practice report.

The Indianapolis Colts today released their Friday injury report for Week 15 of the NFL season ahead of their Sunday game against the Denver Broncos,

Wide receiver Ashton Dulin has been ruled OUT of Sundays game against the Denver Broncos with an ankle injury. Dulin will miss his second game this Sunday due to the ankle injury. Expect to see wide receiver LaQuon Treadwell to be promoted from the practice squad to replace him in the depth chart.

Right tackle Braden Smith has been ruled OUT of Sundays game against Broncos with...

The Colts got some positive news on the injury report regarding Sunday’s contest.

Josh Downs is turning into one of Anthony Richardson's favorite receivers. Downs is also proving to be one of the playmakers that the Colts so desperately need. Alec Pierce does a great job on the long ball, Michael Pittman Jr. may still be the main guy, but Downs is emerging as the guy who can get open and make a play when you need to move the sticks or get some energy back into the offense. The Indianapolis Colts got some extremely welcome news on Thursday’s injury...

Gus Bradley vs. Bo Nix

Bradley used to do well against rookie quarterbacks in the past, and I would be really confident for this matchup, but the last game against Drake Maye and the Patriots left me with a ton more doubts than certainties. Bo Nix is the favourite for winning OROY, and has led this solid Broncos’ offense right to the doorstep of a playoff spot. I have to admit I did not expect Nix to be best looking rookie quarterback this season, but his ability to hit the deep ball and make things happen with his legs...