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Rivers Still Slings It…But the Clock Is Ticking

December 15, 2025

Phillip Rivers had a week to remember, and it just got better for the 44-year old veteran. He was signed out of retirement by the Indianapolis Colts. A grandfather in the NFL is nearly unheard of, and it was skeptical whether Rivers would be able to put up any kind of respectable numbers in his nearly five-year hiatus from the game.

Yet, Rivers did what I thought would be impossible. He threw a touchdown in his first start in nearly 1,500 days. Rivers finished 18-of-27 for 120 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Although Rivers put up a heroic effort in his anticipated league comeback, the Colts ultimately did what so many Charger teams did with Rivers in years past: come up just a little bit short. The Colts lost to the Seattle Seahawks 18-16 with a field goal in the waning stages of the fourth quarter.

Rivers and the Colts have a lot of work to do in the next three weeks of football. They are on the outside looking in, as the eighth seed in the AFC, if the playoffs would begin tomorrow, just behind AFC South rivals Houston Texans.

Here is how the AFC playoff picture looks right now:

  1. Denver Broncos: 12-2
  2. New England Patriots: 11-3
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars: 10-4
  4. Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-6
  5. Los Angeles Chargers: 10-4
  6. Buffalo Bills: 10-4
  7. Houston Texans: 9-5
  8. Indianapolis Colts: 8-6

Now, there is nothing standing in the way of Indianapolis by way of tiebreakers with Houston, who they face in Week 18. They have a tough few weeks ahead, with games against the 49ers, Jaguars and Texans in the final stretch. If Rivers would be able to lead the Colts into the playoff picture, it would cement his status as a Hall of Famer; if not, I don’t ever believe Rivers could ever get a gold jacket.

For me, a Hall of Famer needs a “signature moment.” Rivers had a good career, but he had a lot more memorable interceptions than positive moments. Even Eli Manning had more signature moments than Rivers. Big moments in big positions. Rivers just doesn’t have that for me.

Brandon, Author

Brandon spends his days managing a plumbing warehouse and his nights obsessing over the Broncos — and somehow still finds time to write for Broncos Wire. A diehard fan with orange and blue running through his veins, he’s currently training his toddler to boo the Chiefs on sight. Insightful, loyal, and just petty enough to be entertaining, Brandon brings the fandom fire every week.