Who to Root for Week 13

The Colts playoff options are more limited than before, so let’s start out be establishing our ‘dream scenario’.

1.  Pittsburgh

2.  Jets

3. Colts

4. Chiefs

5. Patriots

6. Ravens

This would send Baltimore to Indy in round one.  We would obviously be fine with that matchup, having not lost to the Ravens in almost a decade.  Indy would travel to the Jets in the second round, and then either go to Pittsburgh or likely get the Patriots in the Luke.  Tough sledding?  Heck yes.  Eerily similar to 2006?  Um, yes.  So, using that as our template let’s look at week 13:

EASY CALLS:

Jets over Patriots

We don’t want to go to New England.  Let’s get that awful Pats pass defense inside if at all possible, huh?

Titans over Jaguars.

This would mean that the Colts could come very close to winning the South with three straight wins over the Cowboys, Titans and Jaguars.  I have to check the tiebreakers, but a win by the Titans  and three Indy wins would put the Jags, Titans, and Texans all at 7 losses and the Colts at 9 wins with two games left.  I’d take that right now in a heart beat.

Oakland at San Diego

Again, we want to hurt the Pats with Oakland wins, and we want San Diego out of the playoffs in possible, though the chances of them playing Indy before the AFC Championship game are remote.

TOUGH CALLS

Pittsburgh at Baltimore

Our dream scenario is probably the best we can hope for, but if you think the Ravens are better than the Steelers, then I suppose you want to play them later.

Broncos at Chiefs

Technically, the Chiefs are a game ahead of Indy right now, but I can’t see them winning out.  It’s rational to root for them to keep winning for now so as to keep San Diego on the outs.  Still, by rule, I’m going to pull against them for one more week until the Colts technically jump them for the 3rd spot.