Why Colts vs. Bengals could have playoff implications

Week 7 of the NFL season is here, and we could already be looking at match-ups with playoff implications. One of those match-ups take place Sunday in Lucas Oil Stadium when the Bengals come in to face the Colts.

The Colts are riding a four game winning streak, and will be welcoming back owner Jim Irsay, coming off a 6 game suspension. Not often would an owner provide a spark to a football team on the field, but Jim Irsay is not your normal owner.

That spark will be needed against a 3-1-1 Bengals squad, that are a botched field goal away from being 4-1. Cincy will likely once again be without star wide receiver A.J. Green who’s nursing a toe injury.

Last year the Colts lost to the Bengals at Paul Brown stadium 28-42. Colts fans likely remember this game for the blown goal-line call by Jeff Triplette, on a Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis fumble.

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Both teams finished the season 11-5, but the Bengals won the tiebreaker to earn the 3 seed in the AFC Wild Card round. The seeding didn’t help, as the Bengals lost at home to the 6th seeded Chargers, while the Colts took out the 5th seeded Chiefs in dramatic fashion.

Though both teams tying again would seem to be a VERY slim possibility, after the Bengals and Panthers game ended in a tie last week, that doesn’t take away this game’s importance. Not only could these two teams find themselves in a similar scenario for the 3 seed, but a 1st round bye could also been in the mix at the end of the season.
Even if you’re one to assume the Denver Broncos will finish with the 1 seed in the AFC, both the 2 seed that comes with a 1st round bye, and the 3 seed (home-field in wild card round) will avoid a trip to Peyton Manning’s new house….until the AFC Championship.

Of course, there are a lot of factors, players and teams will still play a big part in how playoff seeds unfold. One thing is for sure though….Week 7 will matter.

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