Pride of Detroit
Week 16 comes to a close with a “Monday Night Football” matchup featuring the San Francisco 49ers (10-4) and the Indianapolis Colts (8-6).
The 49ers have clinched a playoff berth in the NFC Playoffs—the Detroit Lions can only hope to tie their record, and San Francisco holds the tie-breaker, so they’re in—but they’re still fully in the hunt for seeding and still have a shot at winning their division. Currently, the 49ers are a half-game behind the Rams and a game-and-a-half behind the Seahawks in the NFC West.
Meanwhile, the Colts currently sit in the No. 8 spot in the AFC Playoff picture and third in their division. For Indianapolis, this is a near must-win game for them, as they’re currently a game-and-a-half behind the Texans, who currently hold the No. 7 spot in the AFC Playoffs and are also in second place in the AFC South. If the Colts win this game, they’ll have a 6% chance of making the playoffs, while a loss drops them down to 1%, per the Athletic’s (New York Times’) playoff simulator.
From a rooting perspective, because the Lions cannot catch the 49ers in the NFC Playoff seeding, there’s nothing really to root for in this game.
Here’s how to watch tonight’s game:
When: Monday, December 22, 2025 — 8:15 p.m. ET
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana
TV: ESPN
Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, with field reporters Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge
Online streaming: ESPN+, Hulu + Live TV, NFL+
No Manningcast this week: The Manningcast returns in Week 18
