The 2015 Indianapolis Colts season has been anything but “business as usual” for the boys in blue. It’s been a season marred by injuries, especially to star QB Andrew Luck, and front-office turmoil, but somehow all hope is not gone. The Colts headed to Miami on Sunday to play for their playoff lives, and once again defied all the odds to survive for at least one more day.

Things looked bad early on, as Matt Hasselbeck – who, at 40 years old, has served more than admirably as Luck’s replacement – left in the second quarter with what would be revealed as a sprain of the AC joint in his throwing shoulder. Third-string journeyman Charlie Whitehurst replaced Hasselbeck, but he was forced out of action in the fourth quarter as well.

No, this time the Colts came through in the phases of the game that, honestly, have plagued them for the better part of a decade – rushing and defense. Frank Gore rumbled along for 85 yards and two scores on 15 carries, and the trio of Kendall Langford, T.Y. McGill and Robert Mathis combined for six sacks against Miami Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill, including the game-clincher on fourth down in a magnificent goal-line stand.

Colts fans now turn their eyes to the scoreboard on Monday night before focusing on the Week 17 matchup against the reeling Tennessee Titans. If the Denver Broncos lose to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, that’s all she wrote. Denver is favored at home despite injuries to both Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler, as the league’s top defense should feast on Bengals backup passer AJ McCarron.

The rest of the tiebreakers can get a little complicated, but the mission now is clear – beat Tennessee in the regular season finale next week, and let the chips fall where they may. Even if the Colts do make the playoffs, if they’re to play without Luck, their ceiling is obviously capped fairly low, but it would be a rare bright spot in a season that sorely needs one.

There will be plenty of discussion about the structure of the team, right up to whether or not Chuck Pagano will return as head coach in 2016. That’s a matter for the offseason, though, and a stay of execution, even if it’s just for 24 hours, feels good right now.

Brandon Raper is the lead golf writer and an NFL contributor for Rant Sports. “Like” him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter @Brandon__Raper, and join him on Google+.