Philip Rivers Returns: Colts Turn to Veteran Arm in Crucial Playoff Push
With Daniel Jones out for the season, the Indianapolis Colts had a decision to make under center-and they turned back the clock. In Week 15, Philip Rivers took the reins against the Seattle Seahawks, marking his first NFL start since 2020. And while the Colts fell just short in an 18-16 loss, Rivers’ return wasn’t just a one-week cameo.
Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that Rivers will start again in Week 16 when the Colts face the San Francisco 49ers. Though another quarterback on the roster has been medically cleared from an eye injury, the team is still easing him back into football shape. For now, it’s Rivers’ show-and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Let’s talk about what we saw from Rivers in his return. The 42-year-old completed 18 of 27 passes for 120 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.
Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but considering the time away from live action, it was a respectable outing. Most importantly, he came out of the game healthy and showed he could still command an NFL huddle.
But the tape doesn’t lie-there are areas that need to improve. Rivers averaged just 4.4 yards per attempt, and his longest completion was a 17-yarder to tight end Tyler Warren. That kind of short-yardage passing might keep the chains moving occasionally, but it’s not going to stretch defenses or open up the run game the way Indianapolis needs down the stretch.
And that brings us to the bigger picture. Jonathan Taylor remains one of the league’s most dynamic backs, but opposing defenses aren’t going to let him beat them single-handedly.
They’re going to stack the box and dare Rivers to throw it over the top. If the Colts want to keep their playoff hopes alive, Rivers has to show he can push the ball downfield and keep defenses honest.
The Colts now sit at 8-6, and with the AFC playoff race tightening by the week, every snap matters. This isn’t just a feel-good story about a veteran making a comeback-it’s a high-stakes gamble on experience, leadership, and football IQ. Rivers has been in these situations before, and the Colts are banking on that poise to carry them through a critical stretch.
Week 16 against the 49ers will be a serious test. San Francisco brings a ferocious front and a defense that thrives on disrupting timing and rhythm-two things that can be tricky for a quarterback still knocking off rust. But if Rivers can settle in, take care of the football, and find ways to move the chains, Indianapolis just might have a shot to keep their postseason dreams alive.
One thing’s clear: the Colts believe in Rivers. Now it’s up to him to prove that belief is well-placed.