Colts playoff picture: Updated chances for Indianapolis to make 2025 NFL postseason in Week 15

Teddy Ricketson

Colts playoff picture: Updated chances for Indianapolis to make 2025 NFL postseason in Week 15 image

The Indianapolis Colts started the season lava-hot thanks to Daniel Jones's resurgence. All of their momentum has come to a screeching halt as Jones is now down for the season due to an Achilles injury, and Philip Rivers came out of retirement to lace up his cleats after a five-year hiatus. 

The Colts were leading the AFC South for most of the season, but their return to Earth has coincided with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans riding hot streaks toward the end of the season.

Indianapolis entered Week 15 with an 8-5 record, sitting in third place in the AFC South. The Colts also came into the week on the outside looking in for the AFC playoff picture and would not make the field if the postseason started today. 

Indianapolis hits the road to take on the Seattle Seahawks in a non-conference matchup in Week 15. There are only four games left in the regular season, and the Colts can't afford many more losses. 

Here is a look at the Colts' playoff chances as of Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season.

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Colts playoff picture

Heading into Week 15, the Colts hold the No. 8 spot in the AFC playoff picture. Only seven teams make the playoffs, comprised of the four division winners and three Wild Card teams. Unless Indianapolis comes back to win the division, the Colts will be vying for one of the three coveted at-large spots.

If the Colts were to beat the Seahawks in Week 16, they would move to 9-5. Indianapolis would then want to tune in to what happens with the Texans taking on the Arizona Cardinals. If the Texans lose and the Colts win, Indianapolis would move into the No.7 seed in the playoffs. If the Jaguars lose to the New York Jets, the Texans lose to the Cardinals and the Colts beat the Seahawks, Indianapolis wouldn't overtake Jacksonville because of tiebreakers.

The highest that the Colts could move in Week 15 is the No. 7 seed. The lowest Indianapolis could be heading into Week 16 is staying the No. 8 seed. 

RankTeamRecord
1Broncos11-2
2Patriots11-2
3Jaguars9-4
4Steelers7-6
5Chargers9-4
6Bills9-4
7Texans8-5
8Colts8-5
9Ravens6-7
10Chiefs6-7
11Dolphins6-7
12Bengals4-9
13Jets - eliminated3-10
14Browns - eliminated3-10
15Raiders - eliminated2-11
16Titans - eliminated2-11

MORE: Updated AFC, NFC playoff standings in Week 15

AFC South standings

With four games left in the regular season, the Jaguars sit atop the NFC South. Jacksonville has a one-game lead over Houston and Indianapolis, and Tennessee has already been eliminated from playoff contention.

If the Jaguars and Texans lose with a Colts win in Week 15, the divisional standings would only change with the Colts surpassing the Texans. Indianapolis would remain behind Jacksonville due to a head-to-head tiebreaker as the Jaguars beat the Colts 36-19 in Week 14. 

RankTeamRecord
1Jaguars9-4
2Texans8-5
3Colts8-5
4Titans - eliminated2-11

MORE: Updated 2026 NFL Draft order

Colts remaining schedule

The Colts have three games left after Week 15. Indianapolis will take on the San Francisco 49ers for Week 16's "Monday Night Football" game. After that, the Colts end the season with back-to-back divisional games. These could not be more important as Indianapolis will face Jacksonville and Houston, both of which the Colts trail in Week 15. 

WeekOpponent
16vs. 49ers (MNF)
17vs. Jaguars
18at Texans
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