Colts vs. 49ers: High Stakes, Veteran Returns, and a Playoff Path on the Line
When the Colts and 49ers meet under the lights on Monday night, it won’t just be another late-season game-it’ll be a clash of two teams fighting for postseason survival, each navigating drastically different trajectories.
On one side, you’ve got a San Francisco squad that’s peaking at the right time. Winners of four straight and five of their last six, the Niners are surging back into the NFC playoff picture with a real shot to clinch a postseason berth-and maybe even more.
A win on Monday gets them in. A little help from a Detroit loss on Sunday, and they’re officially playoff-bound.
But the bigger picture? They’re still eyeing the NFC’s top seed, chasing down division rivals Los Angeles and Seattle, both sitting at 11-3.
On the other sideline, the Colts are just trying to stop the bleeding.
After a promising 7-1 start, Indianapolis has lost four straight and five of six. Injuries have gutted the roster-starting quarterback Daniel Jones is out, right tackle Braden Smith is sidelined, and rookie backup Riley Leonard went down in Week 14.
Now, left tackle Bernhard Raimann is questionable with an elbow injury. That’s a tough hand to play, especially against a red-hot Niners team.
So, what did the Colts do? They turned to a familiar face-44-year-old Philip Rivers, who came out of retirement and took his first NFL snaps in five years last weekend. He looked solid, all things considered, and he knows there’s no time to ease back in.
“I do think it's going to continue to improve,” Rivers said Thursday. “But the key is going to be winning along the way. There's not much use of getting better if we're not winning, because it'll all be over Jan. 4 if we don't take care of business here.”
That’s the reality for Indy (8-6). Every game is a must-win from here on out, and it starts with trying to slow down a 49ers team that’s clicking on both sides of the ball.
Purdy Heating Up
Brock Purdy has quietly been one of the NFL’s steadiest hands since returning from a toe injury. Over his last four games, he’s thrown eight touchdown passes, added a rushing score, and completed at least 70% of his throws in three of those outings.
The only blemish? Three picks in one game.
Otherwise, he’s been sharp, efficient, and increasingly mobile.
His ability to extend plays has added a new layer to San Francisco’s offense. Just last week, Purdy scrambled for four first downs, including a 26-yard dash-the longest run by a 49ers quarterback in nearly a decade. That kind of dual-threat ability is giving defenses more to think about, and it’s earning him even more respect in the locker room.
“Same old Brock. He’s being himself,” said wide receiver Jauan Jennings.
“He’s carrying the team each and every week. We love having Brock out there as QB1.
We're going to lay it on the line for him.”
Rivers’ Return and Shanahan’s Respect
While Purdy is building momentum, Rivers is trying to recapture his old rhythm. The Colts are betting on his experience, poise, and leadership to steady the ship in the middle of a storm. And despite the long layoff, Rivers still commands respect-especially from the opposition.
“I respect him as much as any quarterback I’ve ever studied,” said 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. “What I admire the most is someone at that age to be able to come in there and want to play the right way, which is hanging in that pocket and taking some of those hits.
That is something that gets very old fast to a lot of people. That’s why he made the decision and that’s why I think he’s giving them a good chance to win.”
It’s a fascinating quarterback matchup-one on the rise, the other making a final stand.
Ground Game Could Be the Decider
If the Colts are going to pull off the upset, they’ll likely need to lean on their biggest offensive weapon: Jonathan Taylor. The NFL’s leading rusher is averaging 103.1 yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry, and he’ll be facing a 49ers defense that’s been vulnerable against the run lately.
San Francisco has allowed more than 135 rushing yards in each of its last two games, and opponents are averaging 5.4 yards per carry over the past three. That’s not the kind of trend you want heading into a matchup with Taylor, who can break a game wide open if he gets going early.
A Look Back at the Rivalry
These two teams don’t meet often, but when they do, it tends to get weird.
The last time they squared off was in 2021, when the Colts won 30-18 in a rain-soaked slugfest at Levi’s Stadium. The last time they played in Indy, back in 2017, then-Vice President Mike Pence made headlines by leaving the game after several 49ers players knelt during the national anthem.
And the last time San Francisco beat the Colts? That was all the way back in 2001-the same game that gave us former Colts coach Jim Mora’s legendary “Playoffs?!”
rant.
New Look, Same Stakes
Adding to the Monday night drama, the Colts will debut their “Indiana Nights” uniforms-black helmets with a blue horseshoe, black-trimmed jerseys, and a bold alternate “C” logo featuring an outline of the state. It’s a nod to Indiana’s deep blue night skies, and it’ll give the Colts a fresh look for one of their most important games of the season.
But flashy uniforms won’t mean much if the Colts can’t find a way to win. With the playoff picture tightening and time running out, every possession, every throw, every tackle will matter.
For the 49ers, it’s a chance to punch their postseason ticket and keep climbing the NFC ladder. For the Colts, it’s about survival-and maybe, just maybe, one more ride with Rivers.