Colts Still Hold Top AFC Spot Despite Tough Loss to Steelers
It was a tough Sunday for the Indianapolis Colts as they fell 27–20 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 9, snapping their four-game winning streak. Still, despite the loss, the Colts remain in a strong position heading into Week 10 — sitting atop the AFC standings with a 7–2 record.
Now, that record puts them in a three-way tie with the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos, but the Colts hold the all-important tiebreaker. Their edge comes from having the best in-conference win percentage — 6–1 in the AFC — compared to New England and Denver, who sit at 4–2 each. That detail might sound small, but in playoff math, it makes a world of difference.
Holding the number one seed means the Colts are still in line for the only first-round bye in the AFC playoff picture, a luxury every team wants as the season grinds deeper into the winter. It gives rest, recovery, and that crucial home-field advantage that can make or break postseason dreams.
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Even with the setback, the overall outlook remains promising. According to NFL.com, the Colts still have a 90% chance of making the playoffs — the third-highest mark across the entire league. The AFC South standings also continue to lean in their favor. The Colts lead the division at 7–2, followed by the Jacksonville Jaguars at 5–3, the Houston Texans at 3–5, and the Tennessee Titans struggling at 1–8.
Looking at their schedule, the Colts’ journey so far has been impressive. They opened the season with dominant wins over Miami, Denver, and Tennessee, then stumbled slightly against the Rams before bouncing back with convincing victories against Las Vegas, Arizona, the Chargers, and again Tennessee. The loss to Pittsburgh in Week 9 may have slowed their momentum, but with a long season still ahead, there’s plenty of opportunity to recover.
Next up, the Colts head to Berlin, Germany, for an international matchup against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10 — an early 9:30 AM kickoff. That will be followed by a bye week, then a challenging stretch against Kansas City, Houston, Jacksonville, and Seattle, capped by a Monday Night Football showdown with the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16.
Running back Jonathan Taylor continues to be a bright spot, performing at a near-historic level this season. He’s been leading the league in rushing categories, aiming for another “Triple Crown” season — a feat not achieved twice by any running back since Jim Brown.
So, while the loss to Pittsburgh stung, there’s no reason for panic in Indianapolis. The Colts are still very much in control of their playoff fate — and if they can hold that top seed, this team could be poised for a deep postseason run.
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