The first step in the Colts making the playoffs is simple: The Los Angeles Chargers must beat the Houston Texans in an 4:30 p.m. game Saturday.

“Oh yeah. I’m sure I’ll be tuned in. I’ve never been one to say I don’t want to see. It’s like being a fan, right? You feel like if you’re pulling for them – and that’ll be an easy one to pull for, right? Pulling for the Chargers would be an easy one to pull for. So, you feel like you’re pulling for them, you’re helping them out a little bit.”

“I’m sure I’ll be tuned in (Saturday),” Colts quarterback — and long-time Charger — Philip Rivers said. “I’ve never been one to say I don’t want to see. It’s like being a fan, right? … Pulling for the Chargers would be an easy one to pull for. So, you feel like you’re pulling for them, you’re helping them out a little bit.”

Step 2: The Colts must beat the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Step 3: The Colts must beat the Texans next weekend (date and time, TBD).

If those three results happen, the Colts and Texans will be tied in head-to-head (1-1), division record (4-2), common games (7-4) and conference record (8-4). That leads us to the fifth tiebreaker, Strength of Victory … which is currently tied with both teams at 67-85.

This scenario can only play out if the Chargers beat the Texans, which gives the Colts a half-game lead in the tiebreaker. The teams have six wins in common so here are the teams that matter:

Who do the Colts need to win?

These are the teams the Colts beat who the Texans didn’t and who they’re playing:

>> Miami (Tampa Bay, Sunday, 1 p.m.; New England)

>> Denver (Kansas City, today, 8:15 p.m.; Chargers)

>> Chargers (Houston, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.; Denver)

>> Atlanta (Rams, Monday, 8:15 p.m.; New Orleans)

Who do the Colts need to lose?

These are the teams the Texans beat who the Colts didn’t and who they’re playing:

>> Baltimore (Green Bay, Saturday, 8 p.m.; Pittsburgh)

>>San Francisco (Chicago, Sunday, 8:20 p.m.; Seattle)

>> Buffalo (Philadelphia, Sunday, 4:25 p.m.; Jets)

>>Kansas City (Denver, today, 8:15 p.m., Las Vegas)

The first four teams need to win more games than the second four teams for the Colts to get the seventh and final wild card spot. The Athletic’s playoff simulator gives the Colts a 47% chance of this happening if the other games play out as needed.

If Strength of Victory remains tied, it goes to Strength of Schedule.

Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.