Typically, a Week 17 matchup between two sub.-.500 teams would have little meaning besides playing for pride and potential statistical milestones. But thanks to the mediocrity of the AFC South -- and the mathematical wonders of NFL tiebreakers -- the Indianapolis Colts (7-8) still have a shot to reach the playoffs as they host the Tennessee Titans (3-12) on Sunday afternoon.
NFL picks and predictions, Titans vs. Colts 2016: Indianapolis expected to end season with win
Most experts are picking the Colts to beat the Titans, but they need a ton more help to pull off one of the most complicated playoff-clinching scenarios in recent memory.
It will likely take a near-miracle for Indy to pull off one of the most complicated Week 17 clinching scenarios in the history of the league and steal the division crown from the first-place Houston Texans. In order for the Colts to win the AFC South at 8-8, they first need to create a tie atop the division by beating the Titans and have the Texans lose to the Jaguars, triggering the NFL's intricate tiebreaking process.
The two teams would be tied in the first four set of tiebreakers -- head-to-head, division record, conference record and common opponents record. The Colts would then have to forge a tie in the fifth tiebreaker (strength of victory, or the combined record of the teams you beat), and then win the sixth tiebreaker (strength of schedule).
To complete that ridiculous scenario, Indy needs seven more games to break right, not including the obvious results of the Texans losing and the Colts winning their Week 17 contests. Here’s the rundown:
Of course, the Colts' first order of business is to win the game against Tennessee, and that's no guarantee given their dire quarterback situation. Andrew Luck and Matt Hasselbeck have already been ruled out of Sunday's game, and Charlie Whitehurst just landed on injured reserve. That means the team has to chose between the uninspiring trio of Josh Freeman, Stephen Morris and Ryan Lindley to start this pivotal game.
The Titans will also be without their starting quarterback, Marcus Mariota, and that could be a good thing for Tennessee as it looks to clinch the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. The Titans can do that simply by losing to the Colts on Sunday. They are currently tied with the Browns for the worst record in the league, but the Titans hold the strength of schedule tiebreaker over Cleveland, and that won't change if both teams lose on Sunday.
The experts are picking the Colts to end the season with a win. Over at CBS Sports, seven of the eight guys have Indianapolis. Here at SB Nation headquarters, six of our eight panelists are also going with the Colts.
| Week 17 | Ryan Van Bibber | Stephen White | Joel Thorman | David Fucillo | Danny Kelly | Matt Ufford | PFT Commenter | OddsShark |
| TEN vs IND | TEN | IND | IND | IND | IND | TEN | IND | IND |
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