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    Shane Steichen Finding Ways To Win, Momentum in to Bye

    Colts Playoff Standing Affected by Week 11 Results

    The Indianapolis Colts were on a bye, but the AFC playoff picture shifted due to the winners and losers from Week 11 in the NFL.

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    Indianapolis Colts
    Indianapolis Colts

    The Indianapolis Colts (5-5) enjoyed some time off this past week as the team had their bye week. Before the bye week, the Colts ripped off two consecutive wins against the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots to get back to .500.

    "I think you start playing your best football in November and December, and you start climbing," head coach Shane Steichen said after the win against the Patriots. "You kind of find out about teams late second half of the season. So to be 2-0 and finding different ways to win and our defense has obviously stepped up the last two weeks in Carolina and then now here against the Patriots. But the big thing is just playing that complementary football back and forth going forward so we can be at our best coming off the bye."

    The Colts find themselves in the thick of the AFC playoff race with seven games remaining. Before the Week 11 action, Indy stood just a half-game behind the Houston Texans for the seventh seed. The results from various contests around the league caused the playoff picture to come into focus.

    Let's look at how some key matchups affected the Colts' playoff standing during their bye.

    Baltimore Ravens 34 Cincinnati Bengals 20

    Injured Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) paces the sideline in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 11 game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. The Bengals fell to the Ravens, 34-20.

    The Baltimore Ravens (8-3) kicked off the week with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals (5-5) on Thursday Night Football. While the Ravens got the win, the bigger story was the injury to Bengals superstar quarterback Joe Burrow. Burrow suffered torn ligaments in his throwing hand and will be out for the rest of the season.

    The loss of Burrow is a massive hit to the Bengals. The Bengals sit tied with the Colts in terms of record, and the two teams will face off in Week 14. Without Burrow, the Colts may have one less team to worry about in the playoff push.

    Cleveland Browns 13 Pittsburgh Steelers 10

    Nov 19, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) throws a pass during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

    More quarterback injury news came down this past week as Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Deshaun Watson was lost for the season. But the Browns (7-3) kept the train rolling behind their string defense, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) to take sole possession of fifth place in the AFC. The Steelers currently sit sixth in the AFC after the loss.

    The Colts have already played the Browns this season, a 39-38 loss marred by controversial officiating. But the Colts still have a date with the Steelers in Week 15 that could help decide the fate of each team. For right now, the Colts will be chasing the Steelers for playoff position.

    Green Bay Packers 23 Los Angeles Chargers 20

    Green Bay Packers linebacker Rashan Gary (52) sacks Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.

    The Green Bay Packers (4-6) pulled off a thrilling victory over the Los Angeles Chargers (4-6) in front of a raucous crowd at Lambeau Field. The loss drops the Chargers to 13th in the AFC standings, a game behind the Colts and two games behind the final playoff stop. For a team with great talent on both sides of the ball, the Chargers have not been able to put it together.

    While the Colts do not play the Chargers in 2023, the Chargers have a brutal schedule ahead. Six of their remaining seven games come against teams with a .500 record or better. It will be a tough climb for the Chargers to make a playoff push.

    Houston Texans 21 Arizona Cardinals 16

    Nov 19, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) attempts a pass as Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Roy Lopez (98) applies defensive pressure during the first quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

    Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud has his least efficient day as a pro on Sunday. After throwing just two interceptions all year, Stroud threw three interceptions against the Arizona Cardinals. But in the end, the rest of the squad picked up the slack as the Texans (6-4) took down the lowly Cardinals (2-9) to hold steady at seventh in the AFC.

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    Before the season began, it would have been crazy to think that Colts vs. Texans in Week 18 may have playoff implications. Now, it seems that could be a reality. The Colts came out victorious over the Texans in Week 2. Could they do it again in Lucas Oil Stadium to get into the playoffs?

    Miami Dolphins 20 Las Vegas Raiders 13

    Nov 19, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) intercepts a pass intended to Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (11) during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

    The Las Vegas Raiders (5-6) have been through a lot this season. But after the firing of Josh McDaniels, the Raiders were 2-0 under interim head coach Antonio Pierce. But the feel-good story could not overcome a talented Miami Dolphins (7-3) squad at Hard Rock Stadium, dropping the Raiders to 12th in the AFC.

    While currently a half-game ahead of the Raiders in the standings, the Colts have a chance to take out the AFC West team themselves. The Colts will face the Raiders in Week 17 at Lucas Oil Stadium, with both teams likely still in the playoff hunt. It could be a must-win for both squads on New Year's Eve.

    Buffalo Bills 32 New York Jets 6

    Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) hurdles New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley (57) during the first half of the home opener at MetLife Stadium on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in East Rutherford.

    The Buffalo Bills (6-5) got back on track against a struggling New York Jets (4-6) offense that could hardly do anything on Sunday. Josh Allen had one of his most efficient days of the season and powered the Bills to a dominating victory. The win puts the Bills ahead of the Colts and in the eighth spot in the AFC, a half-game behind the Texans.

    The Colts do not play either of these teams the rest of the way. However, of the two teams, the Bills are the most dangerous. They have plenty of talent across the roster and still have the potential to be one of the best teams in the AFC. Do not be surprised to see the Bill make a late-season push to make the playoffs.

    Denver Broncos 21 Minnesota Vikings 20

    Nov 19, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) catches a touchdown over Minnesota Vikings cornerback Mekhi Blackmon (5) in the fourth quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

    Sunday Night Football did not disappoint as the matchup between the Denver Broncos (5-5) and Minnesota Vikings (6-5) came down to the wire. In the end, Russell Wilson and Courtland Sutton worked their magic to get the fourth straight win for the Broncos.

    After starting 1-4, the Broncos have come on strong to tie the Colts in record. These teams do not play each other, but the Broncos have a lot of momentum heading into the stretch run. Denver is certainly a team to watch the rest of the season.

    Playoff Push Incoming

    Nov 12, 2023; Frankfurt, Germany; Indianapolis Colts safety Julian Blackmon (32) reacts after intercepting the ball against the New England Patriots in the fourth quarter during an International Series game at Deutsche Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

    After this weekend's slate of games, the Colts sit ninth in a very tight AFC. The Colts have many meaningful games over the final seven weeks of the season. Four of the Colts' seven remaining games are against teams in the thick of the AFC playoff race. There are plenty of opportunities to knock down their opponents.

    However, the Colts cannot think about that now. Coming off the bye, Indy welcomes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) into Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday. If they want to stay in the playoff picture, it starts with getting a win this week.

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