The Colts' Week 15 game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday is about as close as you can get to a win-or-go-home game (in December, of course) for head coach Shane Steichen and his squad.
A loss to the 8-5 Broncos wouldn't fully remove the Colts from the playoff picture, but it would take them from a 28 percent chance to make the postseason to eight percent, according to The New York Times playoff simulator. A win, on the other hand, would boost the Colts' playoff odds to 55 percent.
It's a big game. That's no secret to anyone, including those inside the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. But even so, the Colts are approaching this Sunday's game just as they would any other game.
"We know what's on the line, but (we're) just taking it step-by-step," cornerback Jaylon Jones said Monday. "Every week is a big week from here on out to get to where we want to get to."
That's the mindset Jones has always had, ever since he was playing high school football under Friday night lights in Texas. It didn't change when he was playing on Saturdays for Texas A&M, and it hasn't changed now that he's realizing his dream of playing in the NFL.
"Every game counts," Jones said. "I live for games like this, but I also live for games people might not see as big ones. Because to me, it's always a blessing to step on the field and it's always an opportunity to get better and display your game."
Jones' sentiments are representative of the entire Colts locker room; their preparation and mindset this week won't be any different, because their main goals are to prove themselves and win a football game – just as they have been all season.
And that mentality starts at the top, with Steichen setting the tone.
"We're not going to be oblivious to how big this game is," Steichen said. "But we know that we've got to handle our business and we've got to prepare the right way and go play a football game. That's going to be the main message."
