Colts Playoff Picture: We are going to find out exactly who this team is during tough stretch after the bye

Life is good for the Indianapolis Colts as they head into their bye at 8-2 following their Week 10 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Germany. This team has exceeded everyone's expectations, and they now have their eyes set on some lofty goals.

They will get some needed and well-earned rest this week. And it comes at a great time for the team, as one of the toughest remaining schedules in the NFL awaits them on the other side. 

Colts' remaining schedule

• Week 11: Bye Week
• Week 12: @ Chiefs (5-4)
• Week 13: Vs. Texans (4-5)
• Week 14: @ Jaguars (5-4)
• Week 15: @ Seahawks (7-2)
• Week 16: vs. 49ers (6-4)
• Week 17: vs. Jaguars (5-4)
• Week 18: @ Texans (4-5)

Only one team left on the Colts' schedule has a record below .500, that being the Houston Texans. And while they are below .500 at 4-5, this is a divisional opponent for the Colts who is still alive in the race for the AFC South crown. So they are in no way a team the Colts can look past as an easy win. Every game in the NFL has to be earned, as the “Any given Sunday” slogan has been proven time and time again. And in the Colts' case, they have a rough road ahead as they look to lock up the AFC South and the one seed in the AFC.

Colts can take a giant lead in the AFC South in the coming weeks

The Colts currently have a two and a half game lead over the Jacksonville Jaguars and a three and a half game lead over the Texans in the race for the AFC South crown. The team hasn't won the division since 2014 and has had to watch the other three teams each win the South at least twice since their last. They already hold a massive lead, but the coming weeks give them the chance to make their lead monstrous. 

The Colts host the Texans in Week 13 and travel to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars in Week 14. If the team can win both of those games, it will put itself in a tremendous position down the stretch to win the South. But that would require them to win in Jacksonville, something they haven't done since 2014.