A win over the Jacksonville Jaguars means everything for the Indianapolis Colts this season. In order to even reach the playoffs, they have to beat the Jaguars. Tomorrow at 1 P.M. Eastern Time in Lucas Oil Stadium, it will be the AFC South Super Bowl. Basically, however wins this game goes to playoffs and wins the AFC South. The Colts enter with a 7-6 record while the Jags are holding on to an 8-5 record over Indy.

The Jags are going for their first division title in eleven years and first over the Colts. They have never swept the Colts and they always struggle when they head to Indy to face Peyton Manning. Manning is 18-2 at home versus AFC South opponents. The Jags won last time, where Josh Scobey hit a 59-yard field-goal to help his team win, 31-28. A win over the Jags means first-place in the division.

“Obviously, it’s a make it, take it kind of game,” Colts coach Jim Caldwell said. “It’s like that old basketball game you used to play as a kid, right? So we have to get ourselves in position to score so that we can stay after our No. 1 goal.”

Dominic Rhodes got things hyped up, calling the Jaguars the Colts’ “little brother.” The Jags are 5-12 in their history versus Indianapolis. The Jags really need this win, or else it is another season down the drain.

“No one’s been through a game like this for a while around here,” running back Maurice Jones-Drew said.

The Jaguars have been 5-1 in their past six games, thanks to Maurice Jones-Drew. The Jags’ rushing attack has been unstoppable. The main focus of this game is for the Colts to get clicking on the passing game and to get clicking on the rush defense. Even if Jones-Drew gets 100 yards, make David Garrard lead the team when the pressure and game is on the line.

“They’ve done a great job just in terms of putting together a real strong running attack,” Caldwell said. “Obviously, Jones-Drew is a guy who can run it inside or outside, catch it on screens and make yards.”

But the Colts also need to watch out for Rashad Jennings, who has been playing solid lately.

“Whenever you can have a two-headed monster like that, it definitely benefits you as a quarterback and as an offense,” David Garrard said. “You can just hand it off and they can make plays for you, they can keep the chains moving, they can run 60, 70 yards and score a touchdown and make the game so easy for you.”

Since the AFC South started in 2002, the Colts have made the playoffs every year and have only lost the division twice. A loss tomorrow would mean no playoffs.

“That’s something we’d certainly like to avoid,” Manning said.

Joseph Addai may not play and it is still uncertain of Austin Collie. Rhodes may get his first start, as he hasn’t played a single NFL game since December 2008. I see a shootout game, but I expect the Colts to get out on top.

“You can put it anyway you want it,” Manning said. “This is a playoff game.”

Indeed it is.

And the Colts will win that game.

Though the Indianapolis Colts have been struggling for the past few weeks, they need to get back on track against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night. Peyton Manning has thrown eleven interceptions and wasn’t his old self, but the Colts are still in the playoff-race as they trail one game behind the Jacksonville Jaguars with a 6-6 record. If Indianapolis wins this game and beats Jacksonville at home a week later, they lead the division, actually. But it starts out against Tennessee, and that’s where Manning has to get back on track.

“It’s pretty simple. All we have to do is look at what we do at this time of year,” Indianapolis coach Jim Caldwell said. “We have to be able to string four together in order to get that done. I don’t think there’s anything more plain than that.”

Surprisingly, it’s still possible for the Titans to make the playoffs, as they can win the rest of the games for the season, but they need some teams lose for the next four weeks. The Titans started out strong, leading the AFC South with a 5-2 record, but with the problems between Vince Young and Jeff Fisher and more helped to the five-game losing-streak, and that is still counting.

“We can’t lick our wounds for too long,” defensive tackle Jovan Haye said after Sunday’s 17-6 loss to Jacksonville. “We’ve got the Colts on Thursday. Five-game losing streak. The only way to stop the bleeding is to win the game.”

Manning has played great against the Titans in his last three, with five touchdowns and only one interception. The main key for a win is to not commit turnovers and for the defense to make them to give the ball to the offense. But it is going to be hard, with Kelvin Hayden out and Jerraud Powers. Bob Sanders was also recently placed on injured-reserve yesterday.

To help the lack of run-support and to improve the passing game, Indianapolis gave Dominic Rhodes a third shot with the Colts. He has played great for the franchise and will really help out with the injuries to Joseph Addai, Mike Hart, and Donald Brown.

The Titans are good at getting interceptions, tied for eighth in the league with 15 of them. Manning needs to be careful against this secondary.

“I don’t make any excuses,” said Manning, who also has passed for eight touchdowns in the last three games. “I’m continuing to throw, I’ll keep throwing. I hope I throw it to our guys.”

Manning has to pass all the time, as the offensive line shows no support whatsoever. Addai has been gone since mid-October, and he’ll most likely be back for the most important game of the regular season, which are against the Jags. Manning could be going on to throw the most pass-attempts in NFL history for a regular season.

“Obviously, we have to throw to move the ball right now,” Manning said. “I think we know that right now. When we do move it, that’s how we’re doing it.”

But Rhodes will definitely help out. The big keys to winning are just two: don’t turnover the ball on offense and shut down Chris Johnson. With that, the Colts can win. I think they will as they advance to 7-6, and a showdown between the Jags will come up next week, as Indianapolis hosts them with full-confidence.

Go Colts!

Rhodes would play with the Oakland Raiders the season later after being released for drinking-and-driving charges less than a month after the Super Bowl. Rhodes had a rather disappointing season, but would however return to Indianapolis in 2008, where he teamed up with Addai again for the great one-two punch. Addai would play with the Buffalo Bills a season later, but was surprisingly cut by training camp. Addai was jobless and would play with the UFL’s Florida Tuskers.

Now with Indy slim at running back, the Colts have signed Rhodes again with the recent injuries to Mike Hart and Addai. Rhodes is happy to be with the Colts for his third time around.

“Third time, and I’m happier than the first time,” Rhodes said Tuesday.

Rhodes has over 3,000 rushing yards with 26 touchdowns and is probably known as one of the better back-up running backs in NFL history. Rhodes gets to play with his former team again.

“I got a chance to see my family – it’s a family reunion,” Rhodes said. “We’re all excited, especially me. I’m always excited. It’s definitely a great homecoming.”

Indianapolis needs a good running back like Rhodes, who can run, catch, and block just as effectively as Addai did. I see him starting or playing a lot at least. He looks to show off his talents against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night.

“I haven’t stopped working out,” Rhodes said. “I still remember a lot of the plays – some little things here and there – but as far as being in game shape, I’m ready. Whatever they throw at me, let’s get it.

“I’m ready. I’m ready to play. I think that’s why they brought me here on such short notice. I don’t know if I’m going to play Thursday, but I’ll be ready. My mindset will be that I’m going out to start.”

He may be starting, as Donald Brown is a bit banged up. I see Brown, Javarris James, and Rhodes getting some carries.