- With the current landscape of the AFC Playoff Picture, arguably the most important game left on the Indianapolis Colts schedule was Week
The Colts will be taking on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14. Both teams sit at 5-5 and on the outside looking in on the AFC Playoff Picture. But the recent tragic news out of Cincinnati will no longer be available for that matchup.
The Colts currently sit at the 8th spot in the AFC after the Bengals Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football, which makes every game left on their schedule important.
Five of their remaining seven games are against AFC opponents, four of those five at least having five wins on the season.
While we know the Bengals won’t have their star QB, multiple teams on this list seem to be playing the best football of their season in recent weeks.
While the Colts aren’t currently in the AFC Playoff Picture, they do control their own destiny. If they win out, they will be a playoff team.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has been playing through a lingering knee injury but isn’t concerned about the long-term issues coming out of the team’s bye week.
While Downs has been on the injury report for the last two weeks, the knee injury stems from the spring workouts when the rookie missed time at OTAs immediately after being selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.
It’s not anything alarming that I’m going through. Just me having different nicks and knacks in my knee this season was going to happen because of that injury, but it is what it is,” Downs said via IndyStar.
Downs had a big flare-up during practicing in Week 9 ahead of the game against the New Orleans Saints. He wound up being active, but caught just one pass for 10 yards before exiting early due to the injury.
Despite not practicing all week and then hopping on a plane to Germany, Downs was active again in Week 10 against the New England Patriots. The Colts were cautious in his usage, saving him for some crucial plays.
Even with the knee injury and limited role, Downs still came through in the clutch. He only had two receptions but it included a 28-yard catch during a scramble on third down late in the fourth quarter to help seal the win for the Colts.
