What Colts fans should root for on Sunday in Week 16 for AFC South, wild card playoff picture

The Indianapolis Colts won't get the chance to take their playoff hopes back into their own hands until Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers to end Week 16.

That means that on Sunday, all the Colts and their fans can do is root for certain things to break their way.

There are a few obvious spots that could keep the door open for Indy.

MORE: How Joe Burrow was nearly traded from Bengals to Dolphins

What Colts need to happen in Week 16

The Colts enter the week at 8-6, so the best they can do is finish 11-6. 

Right now, they sit No. 8 in the AFC, one game behind the final wild card spot.

In that final wild card spot is the Houston Texans. So the first thing the Colts should root for is for the 9-5 Texans to lose to the lowly Raiders (2-12) in the late afternoon window on Sunday.

The Colts can also root against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who lead the AFC South at 10-4 and take on the AFC-leading Denver Broncos (12-2).

The other two wild card teams are the Chargers (at Cowboys) and Bills (at Browns), who are both 10-4 and could technically be caught by the Colts, too.

Indy will definitely need help, but if the Raiders were to upset the Texans, the door would swing wide open for the Colts.

More NFL news:

• Jaxson Dart has a 50% head injury problem
• Booger McFarland weighs in on Lions' nose-picking celebrations
• The Packers had a chance to sign an all-time great for $5 million and passed
• Tua Tagovailoa's contract looks like a nightmare
• Jaydon Blue concern has played out for Cowboys
• We now know what the Colts are paying Philip Rivers