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Drayage Brokersin Indianapolis, IN

Contact RelyEx today to quote your next shipment.

Because a drayage load can mean a few different things, confusion among carriers is common. Many carriers link drayage with going into a port, but that isn't always true. While all drayage loads typically originate from a port of entry, there are often several legs of a drayage journey before a container turns up at its final stop. Legs of a drayage load may include:

Why Are Drayage Companies in Indianapolis, IN So Important?

You may be thinking, what's so important about drayage? It's such a small step in the container storage transport process. In reality, it's an integral piece needed in the logistics industry and a crucial part of U.S. supply chain management.

To truly understand the importance of drayage, let's use flowers as an example. Most cut flower shipments enter the market from areas in South America until they end up at Dutch auction houses. Once there, wholesalers purchase flowers in bulk and send those products to retail outlets worldwide. Because flowers are perishable, they typically need to be refrigerated and are often shipped in reefer containers. These refrigerated vessels must maintain a certain temp to prevent loss.

Drayage companies like RelyEx allow flower shippers to send their products from Argentinian ports to airports in the Netherlands with peace of mind because their products are protected. The only way to accomplish this feat is with the help of swift, meticulous port drayage services. Drayage companies allow flower shippers to send their products from Argentinian ports to airports in the Netherlands with peace of mind, because their products are protected. The only way to accomplish this feat is with the help of swift, meticulous port drayage services.

If port drayage is compromised, it can cause delays and even fines. You know the packages you get delivered to your front door from apps like Amazon? Without drayage and drayage brokers, one or two-day shipping times wouldn't even be possible.

As a multi-billion-dollar industry in the U.S. alone, it seems like drayage shipping issues shouldn't exist. But the fact is inefficiencies and congestion are still major problems at ports. Whether it's a lack of carriers, absent chassis, or overburdened terminals, delays lead to missed deadlines, lost revenue, and worse.

But anytime challenges exist, so too do innovative solutions.

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RelyEx Solves Problems

At RelyEx, we like to consider ourselves problem solvers. The nature of the container drayage industry presents new challenges every day, but we're firm believers that there's a solution to every hurdle we encounter. And while some drayage businesses implement a reactive approach, RelyEx customers choose us for our proactive mindset. We take pride in solving your company's drayage challenges to help you avoid frustrating fees, missed expectations, and delayed shipments. We strive to make every transaction successful and streamlined by partnering with shippers who prioritize transparent, prompt, and accurate communication.

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RelyEx Has a Unique Vantage Point

RelyEx approaches your business from the customer's perspective - a unique approach that helps us provide high-quality, effective drayage services. We've been in the customers' shoes, know their pain points, and because of that, provide first-hand solutions to stressful supply chain issues. With over 30 years of collective knowledge, our team excels in:

  • Inventory Management
  • Logistics
  • Purchasing
  • Finance

Our varied, high-level drayage shipping experience helps us achieve our overarching goal: expertly managing your freight movement needs. That way, you can direct your time and focus on growing the core aspects of your business while we handle the heavy lifting. Throw in proactive planning to avoid bottleneck situations and strong communication for transparent customer relations, and you can see why so many companies trust RelyEx.

 Warehousing Indianapolis, IN

RelyEx Nurtures Strong Carrier Relationships

When it comes to shipping logistics, it only takes one mistake by a mediocre worker to disrupt your business. That's why, at RelyEx, we pride ourselves on forming and nurturing relationships with carriers who match our standards of care. Our founding partner started his career transporting freight for companies as an on-demand carrier. He uses that knowledge to maximize the resources of our carriers so that our customer's expectations aren't just met - they're exceeded.

Based in the port city of Indianapolis, RelyEx has a keen understanding of the challenges of managing the inbound and outbound flow of containers. Our team of container drayage experts provides your business with unique solutions to nuanced shipping problems, minimizing demurrage and ensuring the successful delivery of your freight.

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Customers choose RelyEx because:

  • We are a reliable drayage logistics partner that manages your freight from beginning to end
  • We have a rare industry vantage point with 30+ years of client-side experience
  • We foster and fortify the strongest vendor relations
  • We take a proactive approach to problem-solving, not a reactive approach
Let us know how we can help.
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Your Drayage Shipments Managed from Start to Finish

Some drayage brokers don't care how customers feel about their service as long as they sign a contract and get paid. As a solutions-oriented team, RelyEx takes the opposite approach. We're motivated by the opportunity to overachieve for our customers and to provide them with the best logistics experience possible. With professional experience as carriers and shippers ourselves, we know the roadblocks and challenges you're facing. We excel at mapping out the best plans of action to solve those problems. But that's just the start.

Our tracking experts monitor and manage every aspect of your drayage shipment from booking to delivery, 24/7. Once booked, we look for the availability of your containers hourly once they're at port. When they arrive, our team acts quickly to access your storage containers when they're available.

Plus, RelyEx ensures your company's requirements are met by the carrier during loading and delivery and provide necessary documentation as fast as possible. With real-time tracking updates and access to our customer service professionals, your team has complete visibility throughout the shipping process.

We Source Top-Notch Operators at the Best Prices

Over the years, RelyEx has built a strong network of drayage carriers, transloading locations, and container storage spaces to provide you with the best possible options to match your drayage service needs. We know that searching for quality service presents an added layer of complexity and stress to our customers. That's why we work hard to take that off your plate by connecting you with our reliable shipping partners.

With a background moving freight as an on-demand carrier, our founding partner understands how to maximize the resources and equipment of our carriers to match your needs.

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We Make Transparent, Timely Communication a Priority

Like other industries, the global logistics space is complex. Mistakes will be made, and problems will happen. With those truths in mind, RelyEx has built its reputation as problem solvers. Unlike other drayage companies, we don't shy away from this industry's complexities because we take pride in solving problems. Even better, we aim to do what's needed to avoid those problems altogether.

As your logistics partner, we will provide your company with accurate, transparent, and prompt communication. If there are unexpected issues, we'll notify you immediately and will provide several options to remedy the problem. We even offer custom reporting for large clients who need at-the-moment updates and quick access to shipment documentation.

We Have Robust Project Management Experience

Why let the unpredictability of your industry dictate your success? With a background working in manufacturing, our founders are familiar with the demands of managing production schedules and sales orders. That experience makes it abundantly clear to us that every business and industry is different. If you struggle with seasonal surges or other factors, our team supports your business with a mapped-out plan and schedule, so you stay ahead of the game.

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Paperwork Errors

Typically, shippers need four specific documents to clear shipments through customs: A Bill of Lading (or BOL), a commercial invoice, a packing list, and an arrival notice. Seasoned drayage brokers like RelyEx are used to preparing these documents, but new shippers tend to miss this step due to inexperience.

Payment Delays

If a shipper only pays for part of their shipment, a vessel operator may refuse to release their freight until their bill is fully paid. Payment delays lead to cargo detention at the port of entry, which triggers demurrage charges.

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Documents Received Too Late

Paperwork is needed when you're shipping goods with a drayage company. When documents like the Certificate of Origin or Bill of Lading arrive at their destination late, you can expect demurrage fees. RelyEx avoids this situation entirely by being proactive when submitting paperwork.

Additional causes for demurrage fees can include:

  • Damaged Container Storage
  • Custom Released Containers
  • Storage Containers Are Too Heavy

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RelyEx:

The Supply Chain Partner You Can Count On

At RelyEx, we know first-hand how stressful supply chain problems can be for business owners. Though drayage shipping might seem minor on the surface, it affects every stage of your shipping process. And when inevitable hurdles manifest, RelyEx propels you over the proverbial roadblocks with a proactive mindset and a passion for challenging projects. We believe that all problems have a solution, and our unique vantage point allows us to provide first-hand solutions to customers in a wide array of industries.

When it comes to your business, don't settle for anything less than RelyEx. Contact our office today to learn more about how we make your shipping experience streamlined and stress-free.

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INDOT: I-69 still on schedule for late 2024 completion

This is a modal window.No compatible source was found for this media.This is a modal window.This video is currently unavailable.Posted: Dec 26, 2023 / 05:21 PM EST / Updated: Dec 26, 2023 / 05:24 PM ESTINDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A business owner along the I-69 corridor on Tuesday said the highway project has brought some headaches, but he likes the results so far.Royal Spa’s factory sits between the current State Road 37 and the future northbound lanes of I-69, still under construction. Co-own...

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Posted: Dec 26, 2023 / 05:21 PM EST / Updated: Dec 26, 2023 / 05:24 PM EST

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A business owner along the I-69 corridor on Tuesday said the highway project has brought some headaches, but he likes the results so far.

Royal Spa’s factory sits between the current State Road 37 and the future northbound lanes of I-69, still under construction. Co-owner Bob Dapper said he’s watched the project closely since it was first announced. So far, he said he likes the results he’s seen farther south.

“As I go past Oliver Winery, I’m very pleased with how their facility turned out because it was a mess down there while the construction was going on,” he said. “But their place is really a beautiful place now that the construction has moved on, so I’m hoping that we’ll have similar results.”

The area around Dapper’s factory is now the epicenter of the I-69 Finish Line project, the sixth and final segment of SR-37 to interstate standards between Martinsville and Indianapolis. Once completed, I-69 will run from Evansville through the Indianapolis metro area to Fort Wayne and onto the Michigan line. INDOT officials have long said the project will be completed by the end of 2024.

By the end of November, construction crews had removed all of the traffic signals south of Epler Avenue and the interchanges along the route were nearly complete. Crews currently are building the interchange between I-69 and I-465 and widening the latter highway to accommodate the extra traffic. INDOT spokesperson Kyleigh Cramer said as part of the project, SR-37 around Epler Avenue will become a city street. Interstate traffic will use a new set of lanes that will lead to the I-465 interchange.

Cramer said construction right now is on schedule. She said the stretch of mild weather around Christmas has helped crews work ahead. She said it’s still too soon to say when the project will be done, other than sometime at the end of 2024. She said there are still too many variables that could affect the completion date, such as winter and spring storms. Cramer said INDOT won’t be able to announce an anticipated completion date before the end of summer.

Dapper said he’s used to road construction projects falling behind schedule, so he’s not going to hold INDOT to a completion date. He said his main concern is how crews plan to connect his factory to SR-37 once the road layout changes. He said it might take customers some time to adjust to the changes, though he doubts it will affect his business in the long run.

“Right now, we’re pretty comfortable with the way that things are going and with anything in business, you have to get really good at making lemonade out of lemons,” he said.

Raiders-Colts Week 17 playoff implications

Both the Las Vegas Raiders (+3.5)and the Indianapolis Colts (-3.5) have a ton at take Sunday when they meet at 10 a.m. PT.The Raiders, who are 7-8 and are coming off back-to-back victories over AFC West rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers (+3.5)and Kansas City Chiefs (-6.5), must beat the 8-7 host Colts or they will be eliminated from playoff contention.The Colts are in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC South with the Jacksonville Jaguars (-6)and Houston Texans (-4). They are also currently slotted as...

Both the Las Vegas Raiders (+3.5)

and the Indianapolis Colts (-3.5) have a ton at take Sunday when they meet at 10 a.m. PT.

The Raiders, who are 7-8 and are coming off back-to-back victories over AFC West rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers (+3.5)

and Kansas City Chiefs (-6.5), must beat the 8-7 host Colts or they will be eliminated from playoff contention.

The Colts are in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC South with the Jacksonville Jaguars (-6)

and Houston Texans (-4). They are also currently slotted as the seventh and final playoff seed.

The Raiders must beat the Colts, who are a 3.5-point favorite at our friends at DraftKings Sportsbook and then the Denver Broncos (-3.5)

at home in Week 18 and then hope for help to make the postseason at 9-8. They can still win the AFC West title. Kansas City can win the division with a home win over Cincinnati or a Raiders loss or tie and a Denver loss or tie in to the Chargers at home in Week 17.

The Raiders cannot be eliminated from playoff contention in Week 17 if they beat the Colts.

Change in Denver: Broncos’ HC Sean Payton has informed his team that Jarrett Stidham will start Sunday vs. the Chargers, with Russell Wilson as the backup, per sources.With a 1-3 record in the last four games, Denver is looking to spark its offense and see what it has in… pic.twitter.com/P6X2DO0jT7

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 27, 2023

If the Raiders are still alive in Week 18, they will be facing former Las Vegas quarterback Jarrett Stidham. He is replacing Russell Wilson for the final two games. Stidham, of course, replaced Derek Carr for the final two games last season before signing with the Broncos in free agency.

Josh Jacobs

Score a Touchdown (@ IND)+100

Score First Touchdown (@ IND)+550

Score Last Touchdown (@ IND)+600

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

Pair of Indianapolis Colts legends get one step closer to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Former Indianapolis Colts players Dwight Freeney and Reggie Wayne had legendary careers during their time in the Circle City.On Wednesday, the pair got one step closer to being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024.For the second year in a row, Freeney, a former defensive end, and Wayne, a former wide receiver, were named modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame....

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Former Indianapolis Colts players Dwight Freeney and Reggie Wayne had legendary careers during their time in the Circle City.

On Wednesday, the pair got one step closer to being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024.

For the second year in a row, Freeney, a former defensive end, and Wayne, a former wide receiver, were named modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The announcement was made on Wednesday night.

It’s Freeney’s second time as a finalist while this is Wayne’s fifth time as a finalist.

Freeney played for the Colts from 2002-12. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler during his time in Indy.

After his 11 seasons in Indy, Freeney would spend time playing for the San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions.

He played in 218 regular-season games over 16 seasons the NFL and finished his career with 125.5 sacks, 148 hits and 128 tackles for loss.

Meanwhile, Wayne played 14 years with the Colts and is currently ranked 10th all-time in NFL history in both receptions (1,070) and receiving yards (14,345). In fact, “he’s one of only 10 players to have at least 1,000 receptions and 14,000 receiving yards in a career,” according to the Colts website.

Wayne had 82 touchdowns in his career.

Wayne is currently in his second season as the Colts wide receivers coach.

Both Freeney and Wayne were on the Colts’ Super Bowl XLI championship-winning team.

It’s also worth noting that former Colts wide receiver Andre Johnson was also named a finalist for the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024. He only played one season in Indianapolis after spending the majority of his career with the Houston Texans. Johnson finished his career with 1,062 receptions for 14,185 yards and 70 touchdowns.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Modern-Era Class of 2024 will be unveiled on Feb. 8. The 2024 Enshrinement Week will then take place in August.

For more updates on the Colts throughout the season, follow us on X and Facebook.

Falcons snap counts from a blowout win over the Colts

When the Atlanta Falcons thumped Indianapolis Colts, it was a big surprise and an overdue win for a struggling team. But how did the team pull that off?We’ve covered off the how—the great defensive effort, Taylor Heinicke doing a good job of piloting the offense, a dominant effort from the ground game—but perhaps the snap counts will illuminate things further. Let&rs...

When the Atlanta Falcons thumped Indianapolis Colts, it was a big surprise and an overdue win for a struggling team. But how did the team pull that off?

We’ve covered off the how—the great defensive effort, Taylor Heinicke doing a good job of piloting the offense, a dominant effort from the ground game—but perhaps the snap counts will illuminate things further. Let’s take a look.

Taylor Heinicke: 64

Drew Dalman: 64

Storm Norton: 64

Matthew Bergeron: 63

Chris Lindstrom: 61

Jake Matthews: 56

Drake London: 49

Bijan Robinson: 48

Kyle Pitts: 46

Jonnu Smith: 44

Van Jefferson: 26

MyCole Pruitt: 24

KhaDarel Hodge: 20

Mack Hollins: 15

Tucker Fisk: 14

Tyler Allgeier: 13

Cordarrelle Patterson: 13

John Leglue: 8

Scotty Miller: 7

Kyle Hinton: 4

Ryan Neuzil: 1

Obviously, Heinicke was in as the starting quarterback, and he did a good job. I’ll be looking for him to clean up some of the turnover-worthy plays we saw on Sunday, but he did manage to avoid turnovers and led a number of scoring drives. He’s locked in as the starter as long as he stays healthy.

The offensive line fared far better with Dalman back at the pivot, unsurprisingly, and with a mostly healthy game for Chris Lindstrom and Jake Matthews. The really impressive thing from my perspective is how the fill-ins fared again—Hinton did pretty well, Leglue held up for Matthews, and Norton was excellent—and how much they’ve gotten out of their depth along the line thus far considering how heavily they’ve had to rely on it. Norton should be a priority re-signing this offseason with McGary’s injury history, in particular.

At this point, Robinson is the full-time feature back, but Allgeier seems to have an impact on every snap in his limited opportunities. The team also continues to significantly shuffle the snaps for their wide receiver group on a seemingly weekly basis, as Jefferson was back to a major role and Miller had a tiny one, with Heinicke favorite Hodge mixing in and Hollins getting a little time.

The change at quarterback and the improved health of the offensive line—plus Norton’s best performance as a Falcon—certainly made a massive difference for this offense. The team’s commitment to and ability to run after weeks of shaky results there was critical to their success, and will have to be over the final two weeks, as well.

Nate Landman: 71

A.J. Terrell: 71

Jessie Bates: 71

Kaden Elliss: 71

DeMarcco Hellams: 68

Clark Phillips: 67

Mike Hughes: 63

Bud Dupree: 53

Calais Campbell: 38

David Onyemata: 37

Albert Huggins: 28

Richie Grant: 27

Zach Harrison: 25

Arnold Ebiketie: 23

LaCale London: 23

Ta’Quon Graham: 22

Lorenzo Carter: 18

Jeff Okudah: 4

DeAngelo Malone: 1

The shift to Hellams as the starting safety is a full-time one, and as one of the team’s most reliable tacklers and a promising young player who is handling his duties well, it makes sense. Richie Grant made some great plays late in the game, but he was picked on in coverage again in this one to an extent Hellams was not. If Ryan Nielsen returns in 2023—which likely means Arthur Smith is back—Hellams may well be the starter again. He’s done impressive work going from late round pick to summer star to capable starter.

What I understand less is the shift to Mike Hughes over Dee Alford as a starter at nickel. Hughes has had his moments in the past couple of weeks but is not as reliable in coverage or as a tackler as Alford, based on their respective bodies of work. Entrusting him with the starting role now, this late in a season with must-win games every week, strikes me as an odd move.

With the return of David Onyemata, the Falcons still rotated heavily up front to give their starters plenty of rest, and it went really well. London continues to be an extremely pleasant surprise as a must-bring-back depth option who is excellent against the run, and Huggins had one of his best games of the season. One of the best stories is Harrison, who isn’t playing more snaps but is fast becoming the caliber of player the Falcons hoped he could be, with some excellent plays against the run and three sacks in the past two weeks. The team deserves credit for hitting on a rotation that works for them, one where every player is a legitimate contributor.

DeAngelo Malone: 20

Andre Smith Jr.: 20

Micah Abernathy: 20

Bradley Pinion: 19

KhaDarel Hodge: 18

Mack Hollins: 18

Tucker Fisk: 18

Richie Grant: 17

Tre Flowers: 17

Lorenzo Carter: 11

MyCole Pruitt: 11

Calais Campbell: 10

DeMarcco Hellams: 9

Storm Norton: 8

Matthew Bergeron: 8

Kyle Hinton: 8

Ryan Neuzil: 8

Younghoe Koo: 8

Chris Lindstrom: 7

Arnold Ebiketie: 6

Jake Matthews: 6

Dee Alford: 6

Zach Harrison: 4

Cordarrelle Patterson: 3

Tyler Allgeier: 3

Scotty Miller: 3

Nate Landman: 2

Albert Huggins: 2

LaCale London: 2

Ta’Quon Graham: 2

John Leglue: 2

Drew Dalman: 1

This was a quiet, effective day for special teams. Bradley Pinion’s three punts put the Colts at their 18, the 22, and the 16 yard lines and didn’t result in returns thanks to good coverage, Younghoe Koo hit all five of his field goal tries, and there wasn’t a single return for Indianapolis. That qualifies as one of the better days of the year for this group, which has remained fairly static all year long.

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Week 17 scoreboard watching guide: Panthers, Chiefs and who to root for to improve Colts' AFC playoff odds

While the Colts' singular focus is on beating the Las Vegas Raiders this week, fans in the stands at Lucas Oil Stadium or at home will have plenty of opportunities for scoreboard watching before ringing in the new year. All nine Week 17 games featuring at least one AFC team will have an impact on the Colts' playoff odds – be it small (like Dolphins at Ravens) to significant (like Panthers at Jaguars).Any and all scoreboard watching is, of course, contingent on the Colts leaving downtown Indianapolis with a win on Sunday. Per the...

While the Colts' singular focus is on beating the Las Vegas Raiders this week, fans in the stands at Lucas Oil Stadium or at home will have plenty of opportunities for scoreboard watching before ringing in the new year. All nine Week 17 games featuring at least one AFC team will have an impact on the Colts' playoff odds – be it small (like Dolphins at Ravens) to significant (like Panthers at Jaguars).

Any and all scoreboard watching is, of course, contingent on the Colts leaving downtown Indianapolis with a win on Sunday. Per the New York Times, the Colts currently have a 54 percent chance to make the playoffs and a 24 percent chance to win the AFC South.

A win over the Raiders would increase the Colts' playoff odds to 72 percent; a loss would drop them to 27 percent.

But if your focus understandably drifts away from Sunday's Colts-Raiders game, here's a guide to scoreboard watching in Week 17 with a look at how each AFC game could impact the Colts' chances of making the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season:

Thursday, 8:15 p.m.: Jets (5-10) at Browns (10-5)

Best outcome for Colts: Jets win

Impact: Low (+1% to make the playoffs)

A scenario does exist where the Browns lose out, the Bills lose at least one game and several current 8-7 teams win out, creating a logjam of 10-7 teams in which the Colts' conference record – which would be the best among wild card teams – would not only earn them a spot in the playoffs, but the AFC No. 5 seed over the Browns. It's, honestly, too complicated to even get into right now.

Alternatively, a Browns win coupled with a Ravens loss to the Dolphins would mean the AFC North would still be undecided in Week 18 – meaning the Browns likely wouldn't rest their starters against the Cincinnati Bengals, who the Colts need to lose at least once to control their postseason destiny.

Realistically, there's probably no good or bad outcome for the Colts on Thursday night – at least for now.

Sunday, 1 p.m.: Panthers (2-13) at Jaguars (8-7)

Best outcome for Colts: Panthers win

Impact: High (+9% to make the playoffs)

A Colts win coupled with a Jaguars loss would mean the Colts would enter Week 18 leading the AFC South. While the Panthers put a season-high 394 yards of total offense in a 33-30 Week 16 loss to the Green Bay Packers, they've yet to win a game on the road in 2023. The Jaguars have lost four consecutive games and quarter Trevor Lawrence is banged up, but it'd be a major upset if Carolina were to win in Jacksonville on Sunday.

Also, if the Jaguars lose and the Colts and Texans both win, Week 18's Colts-Texans game would determine the winner of the AFC South.

Sunday, 1 p.m.: Titans (5-10) at Texans (8-7)

Best outcome for Colts: Texans loss

Impact: High (+8% to make the playoffs)

A Texans loss coupled with a Colts win would mean the Texans, even with a Week 18 win in Indianapolis, could not pass the Colts in the AFC standings because the Colts would own the conference record tiebreaker (7-5 to 6-6) in this scenario.

Sunday, 1 p.m.: Patriots (4-11) at Bills (9-6)

Best outcome for Colts: Bills loss

Impact: High (+10% chance to make the playoffs)

The Bills, even with a narrow win over the Los Angeles Chargers last weekend, are surging and feel like one of the AFC's top teams. But the Colts would own a tiebreaker over the Bills based on conference record (currently, the Colts are 6-4 against the AFC and the Bills are 5-5) if the two teams finished with the same record. As we'll get into with the Bengals, the Colts' best-case wild card scenario is having the same record as at least three other teams, which would revert the tiebreaker to conference record (unless it's the Bengals and Browns, who own head-to-head tiebreakers over the Colts, but that would only knock the Colts out of the playoffs if the Bills are the No. 5 seed at 11-6).

Sound complicated? It is.

The short version is a Bills loss in Week 17 to the Patriots or Week 18 to the Dolphins would greatly benefit the Colts.

Sunday, 1 p.m.: Dolphins (11-4) at Ravens (12-3)

Best outcome for Colts: Dolphins win

Impact: Low (<+1% chance to make the playoffs)

The Ravens can lock up the AFC North and No. 1 seed with a win; the Dolphins clinch the AFC East with a win but would still need to beat the Bills in Week 18 to secure a first-round bye. If the Ravens lose and the Browns win, the AFC North and a first-round bye would be up for grabs in Week 18, meaning the Ravens and Dolphins likely would not rest their starters against the Bengals and Bills – two teams directly in wild card contention with the Colts.

Sunday, 4:05 p.m.: Steelers (8-7) at Seahawks (8-7)

Best outcome for Colts: Steelers win

Impact: Low (+1% chance to make the playoffs)

The impact of this game will be higher if the Bengals win. Currently, the Colts hold tiebreakers over the three 8-7 teams (Houston, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati) because the Steelers and Texans own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bengals, who own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Colts, who own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Steelers and Texans.

As long as the Colts *and* Steelers (or Bills) finish with the same record as the Bengals, the Colts will make the playoffs. But if the Colts and Bengals finish with the same record, the Bengals make the playoffs based on their Week 14 win over the Colts. Which brings us to...

Sunday, 4:25 p.m.: Bengals (8-7) at Chiefs (9-6)

Best outcome for Colts: Chiefs win

Impact: Medium (+3% chance to make the playoffs)

There's more context here than the isolated probability listed above. If the Colts win, their playoff odds jump to 72 percent; if the Bengals then win, their odds drop to 65 percent. But if the Colts win and the Bengals lose, their odds go up to 75 percent. And, crucially: If the Colts win and the Bengals lose, the Colts would have a win-and-in game against the Texans in Week 18.

If the Colts and Bengals win, the Colts would need to beat the Texans and get help in Week 18. Most likely, that would come from the Titans beating the Jaguars (giving the Colts the AFC South) or the Browns beating the Bengals (giving the Colts, at least, the AFC No. 7 seed) or the Dolphins beating the Bills (giving the Colts, Bengals and Bills 10-7 records, earning the Colts the AFC No. 7 seed over the Bills).

We'll have a clearer picture of all this after Sunday's games.

Sunday, 4:25 p.m.: Chargers (5-10) at Broncos (7-8)

Best outcome for Colts: Broncos win

Impact: Low (+1% chance to make the playoffs)

The only way this game impacts the Colts is in case they need to make the playoffs with a 9-8 record, with a similarly 9-8 Broncos team jumbling things up and pushing tiebreakers to conference record, in which the Colts would still have an advantage.

The perfect weekend

Scenarios in which the Colts win and would enter Week 18 with a greater than 90 percent chance to make the playoffs:

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