As per my annual habit, I take a look at the late, last week or maybe second to last week play-off scenarios for the NFL, and take some merry amusement at whatever line of absurdism springs forth.

This year.  The AFC South title, and with it the 4-seed in the AFC playoffs, remains undecided.  Kind of.  Going into the final week of the season, there’s a two team race between

8-7 Houston Texans
7-8 Indianapolis Colts

The Texans are “in control of their own destiny”, and indeed failing a win would need half of the week 17 schedule to go against them to fail to make the play-offs.

The Colts need half the schedule to go their way to make the playoffs.  There are three paths to the playoffs, all predicated on this slate of games going their way.

(1) Colts beat Titans
(2) Jaguars beat Texans
(3) Ravens beat Bengals
(4) Dolphins beat Patriots
(5) Bills beat Jets
(6) Broncos beat Chargers
(7) Falcons beat Saints

After all that, their best chance to make the play-offs is with

(8) Steelers beat Browns
(9) Raiders beat Chiefs

Then they’re in!  But… and this is where things get amusing…

IF the Browns beat the Steelers  OR… the Chiefs beat the Raiders…

The Colts would make the playoffs if they overtake the current gap in conference rank for points scored and points allowed, which currently sits at a 83 point gap, meaning… oh… the Colts would need to beat the Titans and the Jaguars beat the Texans by an average of 42 points each game.

One more thing: the Colts’s starting, back-up, and 3rd string quarterbacks (for the season) are all out with injuries.

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