ClutchPoints
The Indianapolis Colts endured a stunning smackdown on Monday Night Football in Week 16. The San Francisco 49ers went on the road and played their best game of the season against a Colts team that appeared outmatched and overwhelmed.
San Francisco’s 48-27 bludgeoning of the Colts was not a knockout blow. But Indy’s playoff aspirations are on life support after the team was thoroughly outplayed in prime time. The Colts now need to win their final two games and get a lot of help to have a shot at the postseason. And those final two games are no cakewalk. Indianapolis faces the red-hot Jacksonville Jaguars (who’ve won six straight games) in Week 17. Then the Colts take on the Houston Texans (who’ve won seven straight games) on the road in the season finale.
On Monday night, Indianapolis did not look like a team that belonged in the playoff conversation. The 49ers steamrolled the Colts, going up and down the field at will. And Indy’s defense could do absolutely nothing to stop them.
A defiant Colts team rallied to save their season in Week 15. Indianapolis held a potent Seattle Seahawks’ offense to 18 points and 314 total yards while winning the time of possession battle. The defensive effort gave a rusty Philip Rivers a chance to win in his 2025 debut. Although the Colts came up short, they were in the game until the very last seconds.
Week 16 was an entirely different story.
The 49ers blasted past the game’s 46.5 over/under all by themselves, scoring a season-high 48 points on Monday night. San Francisco rolled up 440 total yards of offense in a dominant performance.
The 49ers didn’t need to punt in the Week 16 beatdown. They scored on seven of their 10 possessions. The other three were a missed 64-yard field goal at the end of the first half, kneel downs in victory formation at the end of the game and a fourth-quarter interception.
The pick was likely too little too late, coming with less than five minutes to play and Indianapolis trailing by 14. But whatever boost it provided was promptly undone when Rivers threw a pick-six to Dee Winters three snaps later.
The interception was Brock Purdy’s only blemish on an otherwise outstanding performance. He went 25/34 for 295 yards and a career-best five touchdown passes. Purdy became the first 49ers QB to throw five touchdowns in a game in 35 years.
Yes, the Colts were missing Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward on Monday night. But both corners were also out last week when the team held Sam Darnold in check. Purdy diced up Indianapolis’ secondary, connecting with George Kittle seven times for 115 yards and a score. Jauan Jennings added five receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. And Demarcus Robinson chipped in with a 2/23/1 line.
And then there was Christian McCaffrey.
It’s time to shift focus onto Indy’s overall game plan. Obviously defensive coordinator Lou...
