Philip Rivers gave it his all, but the Colts fell short, and they must now decide if he truly gives them the best chance to win
The Colts came close to one of the biggest upsets in the NFL this season, but fell just short. Now, they have to look in the mirror and decide if Philip Rivers gives them the best chance to win now.
The Indianapolis Colts came close to pulling off the upset of the year in Week 15 vs. the Seattle Seahawks. They came into the game as a 14-point underdog and ended up losing by only two, 18-16. Led by QB Philip Rivers, the Colts found the end zone, something the Seahawks hadn’t allowed in back-to-back weeks before this game.
The Colts executed their game plan nearly perfectly, controlling the time of possession and winning the field position battle throughout. It sadly wasn’t enough, and you have to ask yourself if it wasn’t enough today, will it be enough ever in the team’s final three games?
Should Philip Rivers be the Colts’ starter going forward?
Rivers battled throughout this game and put on a gutsy performance that he should be proud of. The inability to push the ball downfield will make this type of offense tough to sustain, though. In Week 15, it took a near-perfect game from the defense and special teams to even be in it with a chance to win. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough, and as the team heads into their Week 16 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, you have to wonder if Rivers is the team’s best option at QB.
Unless Anthony Richardson can make a miraculous recovery and be cleared to return to the field, the Colts’ options at QB for Week 16 are Rivers and Riley Leonard. Personally, if Leonard’s knee injury doesn’t hinder his ability to make plays with his legs, I would let the rookie start.
Leonard’s mobility and arm strength add an extra layer to the Colts’ offense that Rivers, at this stage of his career, can’t provide.
This forces the defense to prepare for passes beyond 15 yards, making it harder for defenses to stack the box against Jonathan Taylor. If Leonard’s PCL injury prevents him from using his legs, though, the Colts have no choice but to start Rivers. They are essentially in do-or-die mode the rest of the year, as they basically have to win out to have any chance at the postseason.
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