San Francisco Stays Alive for the NFC’s No. 1 Seed
Monday night in Indianapolis had a storyline that felt like a movie at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Philip Rivers, 44, returned to the NFL and looked sharp early. But the result belonged to Brock Purdy and the
San Francisco 49ers. San Francisco won 48–27 and leaned on a passing burst that overwhelmed the Indianapolis Colts. Purdy finished with five touchdown passes.
The win moved the 49ers to 11–4 and kept them in the hunt for the NFC West and the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
How the scoreboard got out of hand
The game started tight, then the pace changed fast. Indianapolis jumped out 7–0 on a 20-yard touchdown to Alec Pierce. Rivers delivered early confidence and moved the ball. Yet San Francisco answered with points on wave after wave. At halftime, the 49ers led 24–17. The second half turned into a runway. The 49ers opened the third quarter with a 64-yard touchdown drive. That made it 31–17, and the Colts were suddenly chasing.
Purdy’s five-TD night in simple numbers
Elite quarterback games often show up as efficiency plus explosives. Purdy completed 73.5% of his passes. He threw for 295 yards. He had 5 passing touchdowns and 1 interception. That is the full story in one line: high accuracy and constant scoring pressure. The 49ers kept rotating targets, so the defense could not lock in on one matchup.
Rivers was good, but the game moved past him
Rivers did enough to keep the Colts competitive early. Rivers completed 65.7% for 277 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. In the first half, he went 14-of-21 for 175 yards and two scores. That is strong output for a first home start back. The problem was not the early offense. The problem was what followed: San Francisco kept scoring, and Indianapolis could not trade touchdowns for long.
Big moments that broke the Colts’ resistance
Blowouts usually turn on two or three snaps that change belief. San Francisco’s opening drive of the second half ended in a touchdown, pushing the lead to 31–17.
- Purdy threw a touchdown early in the third quarter to Jauan Jennings on third-and-goal, his fourth touchdown pass of the night at that point.
- The Colts cut it to 34–27 in the fourth quarter. Then Rivers threw a pass into traffic. Linebacker Dee Winters intercepted it and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown. That made it 41–27 and ended the suspense.
- Purdy answered again with another touchdown, his second to Christian McCaffrey, to restore a double-digit lead.
Halftime stats that predicted the finish
The mid-game split showed why San Francisco could separate. At halftime, Rivers had 175 passing yards and 2 touchdowns. Purdy had 165 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. The 49ers had 250 yards of offense on 7.6 yards per play, versus 194 yards for the Colts on 6.5 yards per play. That efficiency gap usually grows as the game goes on. It did.
What this win means for playoff positioning
Late-season wins matter more when they affect seeding and home-field paths. The 49ers’ win improved them to 11–4 and kept them alive for the NFC West title and a shot at the No. 1 seed. The Colts’ loss had league-wide impact too. It clinched playoff spots for the Jaguars, Bills, and Chargers.
FAQ: 49ers vs. Colts
1) What was the final score of 49ers vs. Colts?
San Francisco won 48–27 in Indianapolis.
2) How many touchdown passes did Brock Purdy throw?
Purdy threw 5 touchdown passes.
3) What were Purdy’s passing yards?
He threw for 295 yards.
4) What was Purdy’s completion rate?
He completed 73.5% of his passes.
5) Did Purdy throw an interception?
Yes, he had 1 interception.
6) How did Philip Rivers perform in the first half?
He went 14-of-21 for 175 yards with 2 touchdowns.
7) What were Rivers’ full-game numbers?
Rivers had 277 passing yards, 2 TDs, and 1 interception.
8) Who scored the Colts’ first touchdown?
Alec Pierce scored on a 20-yard touchdown catch.
9) What was the halftime score?
San Francisco led 24–17 at halftime.
10) What happened on the first 49ers drive of the second half?
The 49ers drove 64 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 31–17.
11) When did the Colts pull within one score?
They cut the lead to 34–27 in the fourth quarter.
12) What play ended the Colts’ comeback chance?
Dee Winters’ 74-yard interception return for a touchdown.
13) Which 49ers receiver scored on third-and-goal early in the third quarter?
Jauan Jennings scored on a short touchdown catch.
14) Did Christian McCaffrey score as a receiver?
Yes, Purdy threw a touchdown to McCaffrey, and later added another to him.
15) What was the 49ers’ record after the win?
The win improved San Francisco to 11–4.
16) What did this win mean for NFC seeding?
It kept the 49ers alive for the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed.
17) Which teams clinched playoff spots due to the Colts’ loss?
The Jaguars, Bills, and Chargers clinched playoff spots.
18) How did the Colts’ season trend in the recap?
The recap notes they started 7–1 but then lost 6 of their next 7 games.
19) Where was the game played?
The game was played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
20) What is the simplest takeaway from this game?
San Francisco’s efficiency and red-zone finishing created separation that Indianapolis could not match.
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10 Best Hotels around Lucas Oil Stadium
- Omni Severin Hotel
- Hyatt Regency Indianapolis
- JW Marriott Indianapolis
- Hilton Indianapolis Hotel & Suites
- Wyndham Indianapolis West
- Courtyard Indianapolis Downtown
- Holiday Inn Indianapolis Downtown
- Drury Plaza Hotel Indianapolis Downtown
- Comfort Inn South
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Indianapolis Downtown
10 Best Things to Do around Lucas Oil Stadium
- Lucas Oil Stadium
- Indianapolis Colts Experience
- NCAA Hall of Champions
- Indiana State Museum
- Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
- Monument Circle
- Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
- Indianapolis Canal Walk
- Indianapolis Zoo
- Mass Ave Arts & Dining District
