The novelty is over.<\/p>\n
The 44-year old Philip Rivers started at quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts<\/a> on Sunday. He got the Colts a go-ahead field goal in the final minutes, only for the Seattle Seahawks<\/a> to spoil the party just before the buzzer.<\/p>\n Now that that’s over, though, the Colts have to regroup. They’ve got three weeks left, and the playoffs are still within reach.<\/p>\n They’re 8-6 after Sunday’s loss. Time is running out but not gone yet.<\/p>\n MORE:\u00a0ACL recovery timeline impacts when Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons will return<\/a><\/p>\n Are the Colts in the playoffs right now?<\/p>\n The Colts are out of the playoffs through Week 15.<\/p>\n They hold the No. 8 spot in the AFC, one place out of the final wild card, which is held by the 9-5 Texans<\/a>.<\/p>\n The other two wild cards are held by 10-4 Buffalo and the 10-4 Chargers<\/a>. The AFC South is led by 10-4 Jacksonville.<\/p>\n So at 8-6, the Colts really are eying the Texans at this point.<\/p>\n MORE:\u00a0Bills may not win the AFC East \u2014 but they sent a clear warning to the rest of the NFL<\/a><\/p>\n Is Philip Rivers going to stay the starter?<\/p>\n It seems like this is an easy one. Rivers should keep starting.<\/p>\n “The 44-year-old quarterback gave the Colts what they were hoping for in his first action in five years,” ESPN’s Stephen Holder wrote on Monday<\/a>. “All the basic questions — could he handle the physicality, keep up with the speed of the game and make any plays — were answered. The Colts weren’t looking for a masterpiece, and they certainly didn’t get one. Rivers completed 18 of 27 pass attempts for 120 yards with a touchdown and an interception. But his ability to manage the offense and the blocking schemes against a talented Seattle defense, largely because of his expertise in Shane Steichen’s system, was a major contribution. Look for Rivers to remain the starter.”<\/p>\n