#colts

#colts

In an NFL season where so many teams are tightly packed at the top of their respective conferences and divisions, every week of football in December is going to drive massive changes in the league's playoff picture. Thursday's win by the Lions over the Cowboys kept Dan Campbell's team in the race with its divisional rivals for a wild-card spot, while Dallas saw its own push into the postseason derailed.

The Colts started Tuesday with 12-1 odds to win the Super Bowl, and that improved to 11-1 after acquiring Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets for two first-round draft picks. The Colts (7-2) obviously believe they have their strongest chance to win their first Lombardi Trophy since the 2006 season as they went all-in for the 25-year-old Gardner, who the Jets made the highest-paid cornerback in the offseason. Indianapolis travels to Berlin, Germany this weekend to face the Atlanta Falcons (9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network), but it's uncertain if Gardner will be ready in time to play. The Colts are hopeful.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts are scoring at a historic pace, but they might be forced to make some adjustments after a key injury in their 40-6 victory over the Raiders on Sunday. Kicker Spencer Shrader, who entered Week 5 leading the NFL with 13 made field goals, sustained a potentially serious knee injury when Raiders safety Tristin McCollum collided with him during an extra point attempt in the second quarter. McCollum was flagged for a personal foul for roughing the kicker.

Blake Freeland suffered a fractured right leg during the Colts' preseason game against the Packers, getting injured on a third-and-1 running play.

Irsay-Gordon stated, 'He still has time to prove it. ... Bring a sense of urgency. And nothing brings a sense of urgency more than competition.'