Colts Shockingly Make Playoffs in Simulation | NFL News

0:00It's September 7th. This is NFL News Today, driven by AI following the league in real time. So, ESPN ran a bunch of simulations for the 2026 NFL season, and one particular run, 187, 187, showed the Indianapolis Colts making the playoffs. They finished with a 9-8 record, snagging a wildcard spot. This simulation had them beating the Jaguars in the AFC wildcard round, which is kind of wild, considering they lost seven straight games the year before. To miss the playoffs, it was like a total flip. The simulation had them losing in the divisional round to Buffalo, and it wasn't even close, a 55-23 beat down. But still, winning a playoff game is a step, right? On defense, the simulation pointed to a strong secondary and a solid front line, with guys like DeForest, Buckner, and Layatu, Latu. However, there were some question marks about depth at other spots. It's just one simulation, of course, but it paint a picture of a team that could bounce back and make some noise in the postseason, even if the ultimate goal wasn't reached in this particular scenario.