1. Even without much success on the ground, the Colts' passing offense had some standout moments.
The Colts scored 27 points despite running back Jonathan Taylor being bottled up for 46 yards on 16 carries (2.9 yards per attempt), with his longest rush going for just seven yards.
That's because 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers had an outstanding night, throwing for 277 yards while completing 65.7 percent of his passes with two touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 97.0.
We heard leading up to Week 16 about how the Colts' offense wouldn't necessarily look like it did against the Seattle Seahawks – with Rivers throwing quick and short on the majority of his attempts – on Monday night versus the 49ers. And, indeed, what we saw from Rivers on Monday was not like what we saw at Lumen Field; Rivers completed two of five passes that traveled 20 or more yards in the air (both touchdowns to Alec Pierce) after going 0/2 on those downfield throws against the Seahawks.
On intermediate throws that traveled between 10 and 19 yards past the line of scrimmage, Rivers completed six of 11 passes for 115 yards against San Francisco; in Seattle, he was two of six for 33 yards on those throws. Combined, 16 of Rivers' 35 pass attempts (46 percent) went 10+ yards beyond the line of scrimmage, while last week, only eight of his 27 attempts (30 percent) traveled that far in the air.
2. Tyler Warren broke a decades-old record.
With 30 yards three catches Monday, Tyler Warren now has 748 receiving yards this season – which sets a new Colts franchise record for a rookie tight end, breaking a record that stood for 62 yards. Hall of Famer John Mackey was the previous record holder with 726 yards as a rookie with the 1963 Baltimore Colts; Warren won the Mackey Award, which is presented to college football's top tight end, in 2024 before becoming a first-round pick in 2025.
Warren, though, struck all the right notes when asked about breaking the record amid his team's five-game losing streak.
"I don't want to downgrade or sound like I'm not excited about it, but we need wins right now as much as anything," Warren said. "I am appreciative of it, and don't want to make it sound like it's something that's not, but that's kind of the main focus right now."
3. The Colts switched up their starting offensive line.
Rookie Jalen Travis flipped from right tackle, where he played last week with Braden Smith (neck/concussion) on injured reserve, to left tackle. Left guard Quenton Nelson and center Tanor Bortolini stayed in their usual spots, while Dalton Tucker slid in at right guard and Matt Goncalves – who played tackle in college and the NFL up until this year – kicked out to right tackle from right guard; the Colts inserted Luke Tenuta at left tackle after Bernhard Raimann sustained an elbow injury against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15.
Then Bortolini sustained a concussion on the second play on Sunday's game. That left the Colts with an offensive line, from left to right, of Travis, Nelson, Danny Pinter, Tucker and Goncalves. So only Nelson, at left guard, remained from the Colts' Week 1 starting offensive line – which, to this point, had played together for the vast majority of offensive snaps this season.
Despite so many moving parts, Rivers was under pressure on just 12 of 37 dropbacks (32.4 percent); for some context, the Denver Broncos' pressure rate allowed of 32.5 percent this season is fourth-best in the NFL.
"I thought they did a good job protecting Philip all night," Steichen said. "Obviously, those guys stepping in – Tuck stepping in at the guard spot (and) some shuffling going around there. Gonz moving out to the tackle spot, and Jalen moving over. And then obviously, Danny had to come in for Bort. I thought he did a good job. He's been here for a while. He prepares the right way. I thought those guys battled like crazy."
4. Lou Anarumo discussed the Colts' defensive struggles.
The Colts' defense came undone on Monday – "we got dominated today," linebacker Zaire Franklin said – and was unable to stop the 49ers until safety Cam Bynum picked off quarterback Brock Purdy late in the fourth quarter, and with the Colts trailing at that point by two touchdowns. San Francisco's first eight possessions yielded 41 points, and all but an quick end-of-half drive went deep into Colts territory:
| Drive | # of plays | Yards | End field position | End result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 69 | IND 22 | TD |
| 2 | 5 | 26 | IND 2 | TD |
| 3 | 10 | 69 | IND 11 | TD |
| 4 | 12 | 75 | IND 7 | FG |
| 5 | 2 | 14 | IND 46 | FG (missed) |
| 6 | 8 | 64 | IND 9 | TD |
| 7 | 8 | 49 | IND 19 | FG |
| 8 | 10 | 70 | IND 9 | TD |
Monday's game was just the seventh time in Colts history that an opponent did not punt; that hadn't happened since a Week 13 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2007 (which the Colts still won, 28-25).
On Tuesday, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo took responsibility for the Colts' defensive showing against San Francisco.
"(It's) such a week-to-week league," Anarumo said. "And there's obviously no excuse, the way we played last night, the way we executed. Obviously, when it comes to the performance, it starts and ends with the guy you're looking at. So, we have to do better than we did last night at every level of the defense – up front, linebacker, coaching those positions, certainly DBs, the guys out there. Everything has to be better. It was certainly a drastic change from the week prior."
The week prior, the Colts did not allow a touchdown against the Seahawks, who entered Week 15 second in the NFL in points per game.
The best photos from the Colts versus 49ers matchup on Monday Night Football at Lucas Oil Stadium.
K Blake Grupe #10
K Blake Grupe #10
LB Germaine Pratt #53
LB Germaine Pratt #53
WR Coleman Owen #9
RB Tyler Goodson #31
RB Tyler Goodson #31
G Quenton Nelson #56 and T Jalen Travis #75
C Danny Pinter #63
G Matt Goncalves #71 and QB Phillip Rivers #17
WR Alec Pierce #14 and WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
QB Phillip Rivers #17 and RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and QB Phillip Rivers #17
QB Philip Rivers #17 and WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Alec Pierce #14 and TE Drew Ogletree #85
TE Drew Ogletree #85, WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11, WR Alec Pierce #14 and RB Tyler Goodson #31
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11, G Quenton Nelson #56, WR Alec Pierce #14, Reggie Wayne Wide Receivers and Shane Steichen Head Coach
WR Josh Downs #2
WR Josh Downs #2
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Alec Pierce #14
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
TE Mo Alie-Cox #81 and TE Tyler Warren #84
G Matt Goncalves #71, C Danny Pinter #63, RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
RB Tyler Goodson #31 and RB Jonathan Taylor #28
C Danny Pinter #63, G Quenton Nelson #56, QB Philip Rivers #17 and RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
WR Josh Downs #2
TE Tyler Warren #84
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
WR Josh Downs #2
WR Josh Downs #2
TE Drew Ogletree #85, P Rigoberto Sanchez #8 and K Blake Grupe #10
P Rigoberto Sanchez #8 and K Blake Grupe #10
Shane Steichen Head Coach and QB Phillip Rivers #17
WR Coleman Owen #9
QB Philip Rivers #17
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
G Matt Goncalves #71, G Dalton Tucker #68 and C Danny Pinter #63
QB Phillip Rivers #17
TE Drew Ogletree #85
G Quenton Nelson #56, WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11 and QB Philip Rivers #17
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Josh Downs #2
QB Philip Rivers #17
CB Cameron Mitchell #43
CB Cameron Mitchell #43
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
QB Philip Rivers #17
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DT Eric Johnson II #98
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DT DeForest Buckner #99, DT Eric Johnson II #98 and DT Grover Stewart #90
CB Cameron Mitchell #43, DE Tyquan Lewis #94 and S Camryn Bynum #0
CB Jaylon Jones #40
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Josh Downs #2
C Danny Pinter #63
RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and G Matt Goncalves #71
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
CB Kenny Moore II #23
CB Kenny Moore II #23
QB Philip Rivers #17
DT Neville Gallimore #92
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
LB Segun Olubi #50, S George Odum #39 and RB Tyler Goodson #31
S George Odum #39
LB Segun Olubi #50
CB Cameron Mitchell #43
LB Germaine Pratt #53
LB Germaine Pratt #53
DE Tyquan Lewis #94
DT DeForest Buckner #99
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DE Laiatu Latu #97
RB Tyler Goodson #31
S George Odum #39, RB Tyler Goodson #31, CB Jaylon Jones #40 and TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
CB Jaylon Jones #40, RB Tyler Goodson #31 and LB Austin Ajiake #58
LS Luke Rhodes #46
LB Segun Olubi #50, LS Luke Rhodes #46 and LB Austin Ajiake #58
LS Luke Rhodes #46
LB Zaire Franklin #44
LB Zaire Franklin #44, DE Kwity Paye #51 and DT Eric Johnson II #98
LB Zaire Franklin #44, T Jalen Travis #75, DE Kwity Paye #51, DT Grover Stewart #90 and DT Eric Johnson II #98
S Camryn Bynum #0 and CB Jonathan Edwards #35
LB Austin Ajiake #58 and S Camryn Bynum #0
WR Alec Pierce #14
RB Tyler Goodson #31
RB Tyler Goodson #31
QB Riley Leonard #15
QB Phillip Rivers #17
QB Riley Leonard #15
DT Eric Johnson II #98
LB Zaire Franklin #44
DE Laiatu Latu #97, DT Grover Stewart #90, DE Samson Ebukam #52, LB Zaire Franklin #44, CB Kenny Moore II #23, CB Mekhi Blackmon #29, DT DeForest Buckner #99 and DE Kwity Paye #51
LB Germaine Pratt #53
TE Tyler Warren #84, G Matt Goncalves #71, G Dalton Tucker #68, C Danny Pinter #63, QB Philip Rivers #17, G Quenton Nelson #56 and WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
QB Philip Rivers #17
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Alec Pierce #14
QB Philip Rivers #17
T Luke Tenuta #67, P Rigoberto Sanchez #8, K Blake Grupe #10 and TE Drew Ogletree #85
DE Laiatu Latu #97 and DT Grover Stewart #90
DE Samson Ebukam #52, DT DeForest Buckner #99, DE Laiatu Latu #97, CB Mekhi Blackmon #29, S Rodney Thomas II #25 and CB Kenny Moore II #23
WR Josh Downs #2
WR Josh Downs #2
WR Josh Downs #2, G Matt Goncalves #71, G Dalton Tucker #68, G Quenton Nelson #56 and QB Daniel Jones #17
P Rigoberto Sanchez #8 and K Blake Grupe #10
CB Kenny Moore II #23
DT Neville Gallimore #92
WR Coleman owen #9
QB Philip Rivers #17 and RB Jonathan Taylor #28
WR D.J. Montgomery #2 and TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
G Dalton Tucker #68, G Matt Goncalves #71, T Jalen Travis #75 and QB Philip Rivers #17
K Blake Grupe #10 and P Rigoberto Sanchez #8
K Blake Grupe #10 and P Rigoberto Sanchez #8
DE Laiatu Latu #97 and DE Tyquan Lewis #94
G Quenton Nelson #56, LB Zaire Franklin #44 and G Matt Goncalves #71
C Danny Pinter #63, G Dalton Tucker #68, TE Tyler Warren #84, T Jalen Travis #75 and WR Alec Pierce #14
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
G Quenton Nelson #56
TE Tyler Warren #84
QB Philip Rivers #17
QB Philip Rivers #17
K Blake Grupe #10 and P Rigoberto Sanchez #8
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DT Grover Stewart #90
LB Zaire Franklin #44
QB Philip Rivers #17
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
QB Philip Rivers #17
QB Philip Rivers #17
QB Philip Rivers #17
WR Josh Downs #2
WR Josh Downs #2
WR Coleman owen #9
WR Josh Downs #2
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
DT Grover Stewart #90
DT Grover Stewart #90
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
QB Philip Rivers #17
RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and QB Philip Rivers #17
G Matt Goncalves #71, C Danny Pinter #63, WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11, RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and G Quenton Nelson #56
T Jalen Travis #75 and RB Jonathan Taylor #28
QB Philip Rivers #17
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and QB Philip Rivers #17
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
WR Josh Downs #2
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11, RB Tyler Goodson #31, RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Alec Pierce #14, QB Philip Rivers #17 and G Quenton Nelson #56
K Blake Grupe #10
DT Grover Stewart #90
LB Germaine Pratt #53 and LB Zaire Franklin #44
DT Grover Stewart #90, DT Neville Gallimore #92 and DE Kwity Paye #51
WR Coleman owen #9
G Dalton Tucker #68, G Quenton Nelson #56, T Jalen Travis #75, WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11, G Matt Goncalves #71, QB Philip Rivers #17, RB Jonathan Taylor #28, WR Alec Pierce #14, TE Tyler Warren #84 and WR Josh Downs #2
RB Jonathan Taylor #28, C Danny Pinter #63 and G Quenton Nelson #56
TE Drew Ogletree #85
C Danny Pinter #63, G Quenton Nelson #56, T Jalen Travis #75, G Matt Goncalves #71, QB Philip Rivers #17, TE Tyler Warren #84, WR Laquon Treadwell #13, WR Alec Pierce #14, WR Josh Downs #2 and G Dalton Tucker #68
WR Alec Pierce #14
TE Tyler Warren #84, RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and QB Philip Rivers #17
WR Alec Pierce #14
TE Tyler Warren #84, WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11 and WR Alec Pierce #14
S George Odum #39
DT Grover Stewart #90 and DE Tyquan Lewis #94
DE Durell Nchami #74, DE Samson Ebukam #52, LB Zaire Franklin #44, DE Kwity Paye #51, DT Grover Stewart #90, DT DeForest Buckner #99, CB Kenny Moore II #23, DT Eric Johnson II #98 and DT Neville Gallimore #92
QB Philip Rivers #17 and RB Jonathan Taylor #28
QB Philip Rivers #17
WR Coleman owen #9
RB Jonathan Taylor #28, G Matt Goncalves #71, QB Philip Rivers #17 and TE Tyler Warren #84
RB Ameer Abdullah #26
TE Tyler Warren #84
S George Odum #39
S George Odum #39
S George Odum #39
S George Odum #39
DT Grover Stewart #90 and DT Neville Gallimore #92
RB Tyler Goodson #31
S Camryn Bynum #0
S Camryn Bynum #0
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11, G Quenton Nelson #56 and RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and TE Tyler Warren #84
5. The Colts' know their odds to make the playoffs are low, but they can't let that drag them down this week.
The Colts have a 1 percent chance to make the playoffs, per The Athletic, and need plenty of help – beyond ending their five-game losing streak – to break a theoretical 10-7 tie with the Houston Texans.
So how are the Colts handling having their playoff candle be nearly extinguished?
"You're definitely aware of it," Steichen said. "I think, obviously the guys are aware of it. They see it. It's all out there. Do we talk about it a ton in the building and in meetings? No. I mean, those guys are aware of it, but we know that we've got a job to do and we've got to go handle our business, regardless of how the scenarios play out come Sunday."
For more on those scenarios, click here.
