Technically or theoretically speaking, it really doesn’t matter. This week’s game for the Indianapolis Colts is a must win if they want any shot at winning the division or even making the postseason. As the Colts head to Jacksonville, they might as well be entering Dante’s Inferno. It has been a torture pit for them over the last decade plus at this point. Zero wins but plenty of heartbreaking and baffling losses. If one game on the schedule was drawn up as a must win, this would be the last one chosen by fans with any sense. Yet, here the Colts stand; ready to go into the belly of the beast needing a win at all costs.
Let’s put history aside for a moment. Let’s forget about the decade’s long drought. Don’t worry about being the only win for the Jaguars that came week one with Philip Rivers at the helm. Put aside the “win and in” game as Carson Wentz and the whole team got lit up by an abysmal Jaguars team. None of that needs to be relevant at this point because the only focus needs to be on the here and now; the magnitude of this contest. The names and faces have changed, and they shouldn’t be responsible for the crimes of their predecessors. This game is huge regardless of history.
The Jaguars are in first place in the AFC South. It took thirteen weeks of NFL football to say that, but here we are muttering those words. The Colts dashed out of the gate but have stumbled as of late. If they win, they take back control of the division and have the tie breaker with one more at home against the Jaguars to really put them away. The Texans are at the Chiefs, so that will be a tough one for them. If they lose, it would recreate some much needed breathing room in the division.
A loss, however, could be the death knell. Seahawks and Texans on the road await with home games that are also tough in the 49ers and Jaguars. With the way this team is playing, a win at either road location seems steep, especially against the Seahawks. Failing to put Jacksonville away in week fourteen would only exacerbate the freefall and provide no true bottoming out point. The Colts could very well win the final four even if they lose to Jacksonville, but even with that stretch of the imagination, the damage might already be too much to recover from.
So, maybe technically speaking, the Colts don’t have to win on Sunday. That means as much as the graphic showing the Dolphins in the hunt at 4-7, though. Yeah, technically, but come on. For all intents and purposes, if the Colts are going to salvage this season on any level, they have to find a way to get it done. Will it be easy? Of course not. This might be the hardest game of the year: tough opponent and one the Colts haven’t figured out in Jacksonville since 2014. Yes, the Colts are headed into the last circle of Dante’s Inferno. Whether they can escape and save their season is yet to be seen.
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