Colts Rolling with Philip Rivers After Gritty Week 15 Effort
The Colts turned back the clock in Week 15, handing the reins to veteran quarterback Philip Rivers in a tight loss to the Seahawks. It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective enough to keep Indianapolis in the fight until the final whistle. And it sounds like the Colts are sticking with the 42-year-old signal-caller as they push through the final stretch of the season.
Head coach Shane Steichen made it clear: Rivers wasn’t brought in to hold a clipboard.
“Obviously, we wanted to see how Philip did on Sunday, and I thought he did some really good things,” Steichen said. “To bring in a guy of his age and where he’s at in his career - we didn’t bring him in here to sit on the bench.”
Rivers finished the game with 120 yards, a touchdown, and a pick - modest numbers, sure, but this wasn’t about lighting up the scoreboard. The Colts leaned heavily on the run game and ball control, a calculated strategy designed to keep Seattle’s offense off the field and manage the tempo. And for the most part, it worked.
“That was the game plan,” Steichen said. “We wanted to run the ball, control the clock, take easy completions.
I thought we did a pretty good job of that. And our defense was phenomenal.
They played awesome. Obviously, [Seattle] didn’t score a touchdown.”
The Colts had a shot to steal the game late, settling for a field goal that gave them a chance to win in the closing moments. It didn’t pan out, but Steichen saw enough to be encouraged - especially from Rivers, who hadn’t played in an NFL game in years.
“First one back in a long time. He did what was necessary to put us in position to win that game,” Steichen said. “I thought Philip did a hell of a job of managing that game plan.”
Rivers, known for his toughness and competitive fire, came out of the game feeling good - bumps and bruises included.
“He’s in the quarterback room right now watching tape,” Steichen added. “He’s like, ‘I’ve got my normal bruises that I had when I played.’ But he said, ‘I feel pretty darn good.’”
This comeback isn’t just about nostalgia - it’s about giving the Colts a chance to win. Rivers knows the stakes, and he’s all in.
“He’s here to help us win football games. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be here,” Steichen said. “He’s going to fight like crazy, just like he always has his whole career, to help win one week at a time.”
As for rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, the Colts are taking a cautious approach. While he’s been cleared from an eye standpoint, Steichen isn’t rushing him back into action.
“He’s just starting to work back into physical activity,” Steichen said. “Working out in the weight room and running and doing all those things and throwing.”
For now, the Colts are riding with Rivers, who’s already shown he can still manage a game plan and keep the team competitive - even in a hostile environment, and even after a long layoff.
Texans: Darrell Taylor Nearing Return
Texans defensive end Darrell Taylor is inching closer to a return. The pass rusher, currently on injured reserve with an ankle injury, is expected to be medically cleared next week, according to Aaron Wilson. That’s a promising development for a Houston defense that could use some added juice down the stretch.
Titans: Coaching Search Underway, Players Involved
The Titans are heading into the offseason with a major decision looming - finding their next head coach. Quarterback Cam Ward has been part of the conversation, having spoken with executive Chad Brinker and GM Mike Borgonzi about the search process. That kind of player input isn’t always common, but it speaks to how invested Tennessee is in making the right hire.
Meanwhile, the league handed down fines to a pair of Titans linebackers. Cedric Gray was fined $6,492 for a facemask penalty, while Jihad Ward was hit with a $7,806 fine for a blow to the quarterback’s head/neck area.
The Titans are clearly in transition, but with key players involved in the process and accountability being enforced on the field, it’s a team trying to build the right way as they reset for the future.