Can the Colts Win with Phillip Rivers?

by Zak Drapeau 12/12/2025

Sportz Nation

In two days time the Colts will be playing one of their toughest games of the season in Seattle against a white-hot Seahawks team. This game will come after losing back-to-back AFC South games and in the midst of a 3-game losing streak.

The game comes after one of the most disappointing losses of the season in Jacksonville when new Colts-legend Daniel Jones went down with a torn achilles in the 2nd Quarter of their 36-19 loss to the Jaguars. Backup and rookie Quarterback Riley Leonard would finish up the rest of the game and go 18-of-29 passes with 145 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. He would also add a rushing touchdown in garbage time.

So the question was posed, what do the Colts do now? And if you guessed they sign a 44 year-old Hall of Famer out of Retirement you were right!

Does that mean Tom Brady is coming out of the Commentary booth to suit up for one of his rivals?

NOPE. It means Phillip Rivers is getting off the couch.

Photo by Perry Knotts/ Getty Images

In a move that shocked the world and made the Colts' headline news more than their incredible start to their season did, the Colts announced that they have signed Phillip Rivers to their practice squad and have since even stated that he may start this week even. This week being the week the Colts go to Seattle to face one of the best defenses in the league.

Some caveats of this signing is that Rivers actually retired as a Colt post the 2020 season where he actually led the team to the playoffs. Since retirement, Rivers has been coaching at the St Michaels Catholic High School in Alabama and it's been reported he runs the "same offense as the Colts".

The Rivers signing was a move completely out of left field in a season where the Colts were at one point Super Bowl favorites and now are going to be fighting to even make the postseason. So let'd ask the brutal question... Can Phillip Rivers win in Indy?

The remaining games on the Colts' schedule are brutal...

@ Seahawks

vs 49ers (MNF)

vs Jaguars

@ Texans

With the best parts of our season coming on the back of Jonathan Taylor's explosive start, the remaining potential of this team will almost assuredly rely on the same.

The Colts have recently suffered several injuries as well which has led to their latest slide in the last month. Defensive stars Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward and DeForest Buckner along with OT Braden Smith are all expected to miss this weeks game along with several before it.

So let's answer it... Can they win?

I'd give them 10-1 odds and even DraftKings are naming the Seahawks as 13.5-point favorites.

The Colts will need Rivers to be accurate and sharp in the pocket right from the gate while also using Jonathan Taylor to his fullest. The thing is, the Seahawks defense has been on fire lately and this trip to Seattle will be the farthest road trip the Colts experience this season.

So here's a little bonus, what chances do I give the Colts to make the playoffs. Currently sitting at 8-5 and in 3rd of the AFC South but only 1 game behind the lead, the Colts will have to win at least 2 of their remaining games to make the playoffs. Their best chances will be their 2-gamke home streak against the 49ers and Jaguars.

I don't believe the Colts can make the playoffs but I also believed we'd be a Bottom-5 team with Daniel Jones at the beginning of the season. Rivers has the leadership, competitiveness and experience to pull it off but how could he NOT struggle being brought back this late in the season?

This week may be a blodd bath in his first return to the league where I expect him to start. But I hold some hope for the next few weeks when the team gets healthier.

I will never give up hope. For the Colture.

-Z.D.