Colts-Texans, Steelers-Bills filled with playoff race pressure

The Thursday slate of NFL games all had significant playoff implications, both for the teams that won and other teams around the league that were scoreboard watching. Sunday's schedule also has a couple of massive head-to-head games that could play major roles in the playoff race.

Indianapolis Colts need win to hold off Houston Texans

After losing two of their past three games, the Indianapolis Colts have gone from a potential No. 1 seed in the AFC to now facing a rather grueling and daunting schedule just to hold on to the AFC South lead.

Both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans have closed to within two games of the Colts in the standings, while both teams still get to play the Colts two times each over the remainder of the season.

The Colts also have non-divisional games against the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. After playing a mostly favorable schedule throughout the first half, we are about to find out an awful lot about what the Colts are really made of.

That will start on Sunday against a Houston team that is rapidly climbing the AFC standings and boasts what might be the most dominant defense in the NFL.

A Colts win would give them a three-game lead over the Texans with the tiebreaker for the time being. That would be a massive lead and a huge advantage so late in the season. But a Texans win would close the gap down to just one game, give Houston the temporary tie-breaker, and set the stage for even bigger divisional games the rest of the way. 

Even if Houston can not catch the Colts, a win would still be huge for potential wild-card seeding. 

Both teams need this game. 

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Buffalo Bills is massive for both teams

The Pittsburgh Steelers received a ton of help on Thursday night when the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Baltimore Ravens, temporarily moving the Steelers back into the top spot in the AFC North. The Steelers have had way too many late-season meltdowns in recent years and are trying to avoid another.

A win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday would be a huge way to help avoid that. 

It would not only give them a full game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North going into next week's first head-to-head meeting, but it would also give them a matching record with the Bills and a huge tiebreaker in potential wild-card situations.

Both teams are entering this game with major injuries. The Bills will be without both starting offensive tackles, wide receiver Curtis Samuel and linebacker Terrel Bernard. Starting quarterback Josh Allen and tight end Dalton Kincaid are also dealing with injuries throughout the week.

The Steelers will be getting starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers back after he missed their Week 12 game against the Chicago Bears due to a fracture in his wrist, but he will probably not be 100%. Starting offensive tackle Broderick Jones and rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon will also be out. 

Add in the fact that neither team is playing particularly well right now, and both fan bases have significant reason for concern. Whichever team loses will likely find itself on the outside of the playoff picture going into next week. 

Allen figures to be a bad matchup for a Steelers pass defense that has been one of the worst in the NFL this season, but the lack of playmakers at wide receiver and the issues on the offensive line could counterbalance that. It is an absolutely massive game for both teams and their playoff chances.