The Week 16 edition of “Monday Night Football” between the Indianapolis Colts (8-7) and the San Francisco 49ers (11-4) will be remembered as the Brock Purdy game. The 49ers quarterback powered San Francisco to a 48-27 road victory with a career-high five passing touchdowns.
Purdy finished 25 of 34 for 295 yards, five touchdowns and one interception, becoming the first 49ers quarterback with a five-touchdown passing performance since Hall of Famer Steve Young threw a Super Bowl–record six touchdowns in Super Bowl XXIX against the Chargers. It also marked the first time a San Francisco quarterback threw at least five touchdown passes in a regular-season game since Joe Montana did so in 1990.
Purdy was red-hot from the start, throwing three touchdown passes on the 49ers’ first three drives. He spread the scoring around, connecting with four different receivers: a 22-yard touchdown to Demarcus Robinson, two scores to Christian McCaffrey (from two and nine yards out), an 11-yard strike to George Kittle, and a three-yard touchdown to Jauan Jennings.
Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (14 of 21 for 277 yards, two touchdowns and an interception) lit up the scoreboard early in the first half, but he couldn’t find the end zone after intermission. His lone turnover came on a 74-yard pick-six by 49ers linebacker Dee Winters that produced the final score of 48-27.
The game’s first major turning point came after Indianapolis tied the game at seven. San Francisco forced a fumble on Colts kick returner Ameer Abdullah, recovered at the Indianapolis 26-yard line, and Purdy capitalized by throwing his second touchdown of the night to McCaffrey to give the 49ers a 14-7 lead.
Thanks to the 49ers’ victory over the Colts, three AFC teams clinched playoff spots: the Jaguars (11-4) Chargers (11-4) and Bills (11-4). San Francisco’s dreams of winning the NFC West and securing the NFC’s top overall seed can be realized with two more wins at home against the Bears (11-4) and Seahawks (12-3). The Colts’ only road to the postseason with an 8-7 record involves them winning out and the Houston Texans losing out.Â
Takeaways
Brock Purdy can lead the 49ers to the promised land
Early in Purdy’s tenure as San Francisco’s starting quarterback, debates raged over whether or not he was a “game manager” in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Nights like Monday — and the 49ers being 11-4 despite season-ending injuries to defensive All-Pros like edge rusher Nick Bosa and middle linebacker Fred Warner — certainly disprove that notion. San Francisco is now on a five-game winning streak. If Purdy can keep this up with two more victories, the 49ers will seize the NFC”s top seed.
Philip Rivers should return to play in 2026
Indianapolis’ playoff hopes are nearly at zero, but Rivers should continue his NFL career at 45 years old in 2026. He shredded 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s defense for the first two-and-a-half quarters of the night, something that will likely have multiple teams interested in his services — perhaps as a bridge quarterback — next season. Rivers proved that if you give him time and any semblance of a run game, he can be an average starting quarterback despite diminished arm talent and mobility. He can definitely still play.
Kyle Shanahan making compelling Coach of the Year case
On a five-game winning streak and two wins away from being the NFC’s No. 1 seed, Shanahan deserves plenty of consideration to be the 2025 Coach of the Year. He currently sits as tied for third in terms of his chances to win the award (+550), according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Despite losing his two best defensive players, McCaffrey clearly not having the same explosion and having a rotating cast of pass-catchers all year long, San Francisco has continued to roll. Shanahan deserves plenty of credit for all of that.Â