Philip Rivers’ return to the NFL on Sunday is a storybook one, but he’s on the wrong side of the ball with the Colts.
With 47 seconds left in Seattle, Rivers completed a crucial third-down pass to Alec Pierce that set up Blake Grupp’s 60-yard field goal, a kick that gave the Colts a lead in a game they desperately needed to improve their chances of making the playoffs. However, the lead could not be maintained. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold completed two passes and set up a 56-yard field goal, which Jason Myers hit as the Colts lost 18-16 in Rivers’ first game since 2020.
advertise
After the game, Rivers said being back on the field was “a blast” but also disappointing because the Colts are “fighting like crazy trying to stay alive and make the playoffs.” They didn’t help the team solve that problem on Sunday, and Rivers knows the team’s time is running out to save itself.
“If I can stay healthy, I feel good and it will Have a good journey,” Rivers said. “But the thing is we have to win. It doesn’t matter if it gets better if we don’t win because it will be over in three weeks. That’s the problem. But it will continue to get better. I mean, that’s obviously the first one. We’re talking about three days of practice. “
Rivers has an extra day to prepare for Week 16 as the Colts host the 49ers next Monday night, and the Colts need to be in top shape if they want to have a chance at making it to the right side of the fairy tale in Week 18.