What We Learned From Week 18 in the N.F.L.
The New York Times
The Colts laid an egg against the Jaguars, leaving the door open for Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers to sneak into the playoffs.
For Chris Ballard, Sunday’s regular-season finale was five years in the making. Over that time, Ballard, the Indianapolis general manager, built a team that was purportedly ready to make the leap in 2021.
His Colts teams had amassed a 32-32 record entering this season, and Ballard had developed a reputation for drafting well, trading smartly and resisting overspending. This season’s team boasts a contender for the Most Valuable Player Award in running back Jonathan Taylor.
With one win over the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars, the Colts had a chance to enter the A.F.C. postseason as absolutely the last team anyone would want to face.