INDIANAPOLIS – Curious on some key numbers ahead of Sunday afternoon's matchup between the Colts (6-8) and Dolphins (5-9)?
Here are 10 things to keep an eye on with the Colts trying to keep their playoff hopes alive in Miami:
0
The number of touchdown drives the Colts have had the past three weeks longer than 50 yards. The Colts offense has been aided by tremendous field position in this three-game losing streak. They haven't turned that into many points though. Then when the field position has flipped, the Colts just can't put together sustained touchdown drives.
1
The number of Pat McAfee, a Pro Bowl snub? A major reason why the Colts have had such successful field position in recent first halves is McAfee. In a trying season, the Colts kicking duo has undoubtedly been the bright spot in 2015.
4
The number of teams the Colts are pulling for in the final two weeks to try and earn a playoff berth. This might sound crazy, but Colts fans should be pulling for teams that aren't just playing the Texans the next two weeks. A tiebreaker involved could be "strength of victory" between the Colts and Texans. From the Colts standpoint, fans should also be rooting for Atlanta, Denver and potentially Miami (in Week 17) in the final two weeks.
13
When Miami running back Lamar Miller has at least 13 carries in a game, the Dolphins are 5-0. This is quite the correlation between the team's top running back and the win/loss record. Thirteen carries a game isn't too many, yet the Dolphins haven't given Miller that sort of workload too often in 2015. Miller is averaging 4.9 yards per carry, but his carries have dropped in recent weeks with rookie Jay Ajayi now healthy.
22
The number of yards Frank Gore needs to have for the most rushing yards by a Colts player in a single season since 2007. Gore enters Week 16 with 806 rushing yards on the season. While Gore has battled through an inconsistent group in front of him for just 2.8 yards per carry the past seven weeks, he still has provided the Colts a top back that they just haven't had in nearly a decade.
29
The number of giveaways by the Colts this season, the most in the NFL. This is a storyline that hasn't received a bunch of attention this season. The Colts have clearly struggled in protecting the football in 2015. They have forced 23 turnovers, which ranks in the top 10.
79
The number of second-half points the Colts have allowed the past three weeks. If you looked just at the final scores the past three weeks, you wouldn't think the Colts have had halftime-leads in two of those games. To have any playoff hope, the Colts need to play like the second-half team we saw in victories over Atlanta and Tampa Bay.
86
The number of big plays the Colts have allowed in 2015, the third most in the NFL. A "big play" is considered a run of at least 10 yards or a pass of at least 25 yards. For the last two seasons, the Colts defense has been troubled by big plays.
91
The number of receptions for Miami wide receiver Jarvis Landry this season, which is a franchise record. The Dolphins second-round pick from last season, Landry is one of the more explosive young skill guys around the league. In his two years, Landry has 1,761 return yards and has produced 11 total touchdowns.
105.8
The number of rushing yards per game the Colts averaged in Andrew Luck's seven starts this season. There's no denying the health of Andrew Luck, and his lack of a presence, has (negatively) impacted the Colts running game. In the seven games Luck hasn't started this year, the Colts have averaged just 67.1 rushing yards.
