The Indianapolis Colts (6-7) and New Orleans Saints (10-3) are preparing for the final game of Week 15 with a primetime matchup at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Monday night.
The Colts are fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive while the Saints are doing all they can to push forward toward the top seed in the NFC with just three games remaining in the regular season.
Here are five things to know entering the Week 15 matchup:
A loss ends the Colts season
As it has been well-documented on here and just about everywhere else, a loss would officially knock the Colts out of playoff contention with two games left. Obviously hoping to avoid that, the Colts face a tough challenge in doing so.
They already face a slim chance of making the playoffs as it stands. Entering this matchup, the Colts have a 2% chance of pulling off the miracle of making the postseason.
If they come out of Monday night’s game with a loss as expected, the 2019 campaign will officially be over for the Colts.
Drew Brees eyeing Peyton’s record
The 40-year-old Brees has already passed Manning on one historical list and he’s about to close in on another. Having overtaken Manning on the NFL’s career passing yards list in 2018, Brees is looking to take the top spot on the NFL’s most passing touchdowns list as well.
Entering this matchup, Manning holds the record at 539 career touchdown passes. Brees is currently sitting at 537. It should be noted he is also closely followed by Tom Brady at 536.
Brees is always capable of throwing multiple touchdown passes in a game, and it could very well happen against Manning’s former team.
Michael Thomas approaching history
The Colts have struggled all season in containing elite wide receivers. From Julio Jones to DeAndre Hopkins to Mike Evans, the Colts simply can’t slow them down. They will have another difficult matchup awaiting them Monday night in the form of Thomas.
While it won’t happen this week, Thomas is on the brink of history—one that will make him surpass Colts legend Marvin Harrison. Currently at 121 receptions, Thomas just has to average eight receptions over the last three games to pass Harrison’s record of 143 receptions in a season.
To put it into perspective, Thomas only has two games this season in which he’s recorded fewer than eight receptions.
Rematch of Super Bowl XLIV
A game that all Colts fans will want to forget, Monday’s matchup marks just the third time since these two teams meet after Super Bowl XLIV took place in 2010.
As it is well-known, the Saints won that game 31-17. Drew Brees was named the MVP after he completed 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Peyton Manning completed 31 of 45 passes for 333 yards, one touchdown and a back-breaking interception that was taken back for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
That matchup has been long buried in the memories of Colts fans, but it sure will be a talking point on Monday night.
A new era at kicker?
The Colts placed veteran kicker Adam Vinatieri on the injured reserve list this week. This means rookie Chase McLaughlin will be the kicker for the remaining three games.
However, it could also mean the Colts are finally ready to move on from Vinaitieri after his horrendous 2019 season that included 14 missed kicks—the most of his career and the third-most all-time in a season.
If the Colts do move on from Vinatieri this offseason, something they should do, McLaughlin could be the one to get the first crack at taking over the role and filling those big shoes.
