The Indianapolis Colts are 8-6, but that record doesn’t tell the full story. After dropping five of their last six, Indy’s season is teetering on the edge of collapse - and not just any collapse.
We’re talking about one of the most dramatic late-season downturns the league has seen in the last decade. Injuries have certainly taken their toll, but this skid isn’t just about bad luck.
It’s also about a team whose early-season overperformance may have finally hit the wall.
But here’s the thing: this team isn’t folding.
From GM Chris Ballard to head coach Shane Steichen and the players on the field, the Colts are still swinging. They’re not packing it in, and they’re not looking for moral victories - they’re looking for actual ones. That won’t be easy, not with a brutal closing stretch that includes the 49ers, Jaguars, and Texans - three teams with playoff aspirations and the talent to back it up.
And leading the charge? Philip Rivers.
Yes, that Philip Rivers. The 44-year-old future Hall of Famer was pulled out of retirement and tossed into the fire in Week 15 against Seattle. And while the Colts didn’t come away with the win, Rivers gave them something they’ve been missing: stability, leadership, and a quarterback who knows how to manage a game, even when the physical tools aren’t what they once were.
Let’s be clear - Rivers isn’t going to wow anyone with his arm strength at this point. The deep ball isn’t really in the playbook anymore, and the Colts aren’t going to light up the scoreboard with 40-yard bombs.
But what Rivers brings is a steady hand. He knows where to go with the football.
He gets it out quickly. And most importantly, he doesn’t beat himself.
That was on full display against the Seahawks, where Rivers - after just a few days of practice and five years away from the game - kept the Colts in it until the final moments. Head coach Shane Steichen summed it up well after the game: “For him to go out there and do what he did after five years off... I thought it was pretty awesome to see.”
And it was. The Colts lost 18-16, and yes, Cincinnati defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo deserves a ton of credit for the way his unit played.
But let’s not forget - if it had been Riley Leonard under center instead of Rivers, the outcome could’ve looked a lot different. Leonard is a promising young quarterback, but he’s still raw.
He’s more likely to force throws, more likely to turn the ball over, and against the kinds of defenses Indy is about to face, that’s a dangerous game to play.
Rivers, on the other hand, won’t give the ball away early. He’ll keep the Colts in games, even if he can’t put up 30 points. And with the margin for error as thin as it is right now, that might be exactly what Indy needs.
Make no mistake - the Colts need a miracle to reach the playoffs. But with Rivers at the helm, they’ve at least got a shot to stay competitive in games they might not otherwise belong in. And in a season that’s been full of twists, turns, and now a 44-year-old comeback story, that might be enough to keep hope alive just a little longer.