The Indianapolis Colts' defense suffered one of its most embarrassing performances in recent memory on Monday night, giving up over 400 yards in a 48-27 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indianapolis Colts came into Monday night's matchup against the San Francisco 49ers with their season on life support. With all the motivation in the world to get a win and end their four-game losing streak, the daunting schedule that the Colts (8-7) face was too much for them once again, as the 49ers (11-4) head back to the west coast with a 48-27 victory.
While the Colts were, at one point, 7-1 with the top ranking in the NFL, they have since dropped six of their last seven games, falling to 8-7 and most likely out of the playoff picture.
This was the second game of 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers' 2025 Colts tenure, and although he looked more impressive than he did last week in his debut, it was not enough to match the uber-productive 49ers offense, which finished with nearly 450 yards.
FIRST QUARTER
Colts head coach Shane Steichen felt good about his offense's chances, as the team won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball first. Steichen's confidence was rewarded as Rivers led the offense down the field in nine plays, finding Alec Pierce from 20 yards out to put Indy up 7-0 early.
The Colts lost center Tanor Bortolini to a concussion on the drive. He was replaced by Danny Pinter.
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was not to be outdone, as he produced on the ensuing drive. In six plays, Purdy found wide receiver Demarcus Robinson in the back of the end zone from 22 yards out to tie the game at 7-all.
Colts running back Ameer Abdullah fumbles the following kickoff return, and it was recovered by San Francisco at the Indianapolis 26-yard line, putting them in near-perfect field position. The 49ers made quick work, as Purdy found running back Christian McCaffrey from two yards out to go ahead, 14-7, with 4:33 remaining in the first quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
The Colts began the second period in the midst of a productive drive. They strung together a 12-play drive in which Rivers found Pierce once again in the end zone, this time from 16 yards out. Kicker Blake Grupe's extra point tied the game at 14, with 14:15 left in the first half.
Purdy continued his surgical attack on the ensuing drive, marching 69 yards in 10 plays, finding star tight end George Kittle in the end zone from 11 yards out to go up 21-14 with 9:36 left in the first half.
The Colts were forced to punt on the following drive, going three-and-out.
The two teams traded field goals on the following two drives: 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro good from 25 yards, and Grupe successful from 39 yards.
San Francisco took the ball last with 0:17 left in the first half. In two plays, they got to Indy's 46-yard line to set up a 64-yard field goal attempt, but the kick was no good as it bounced off the bottom crossbar. The 49ers entered halftime up 24-17.
THIRD QUARTER
The 49ers went back to their fruitful ways with the opening drive of the second half. Purdy got the offense down into the low red zone in eight plays, finding receiver Jauan Jennings for a touchdown from three yards out to go up 31-17, with 10:58 left in the third quarter.
The Colts got back on the board on the ensuing drive, going 33 yards in seven plays, as Grupe connected on a 51-yard field goal to cut the lead to 31-20, with 8:16 left in the third quarter.
The 49ers answered with their own 38-yard field goal to make it 34-20 with 4:02 left in the third quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
Rivers and the Colts offense were able to respond with a methodical drive, going 65 yards in 12 plays, as running back Jonathan Taylor punched it in from a yard out to cut San Francisco's lead to 34-27 with 12:41 left in the game.
The 49ers put the proverbial nail in the coffin on their next drive, as Purdy found McCaffrey from nine yards out for another passing score to create a 41-27 lead with 7:37 left
The Colts went three-and-out on the ensuing drive, punting and giving the 49ers the ball back at the Indy 44-yard line.
The Colts' defense produced its first stop of the day on the next drive, as safety Cam Bynum came up with his fourth interception of the season on a tipped Purdy pass. The play would be in vain, however, as Rivers threw a pick-six to 49ers linebacker Dee Winters. The score put San Fran ahead, 48-27, with 3:26 left in the game.
Inactives: LB Jaylon Carlies, CB Sauce Gardner (calf), RB DJ Giddens, WR Anthony Gould (foot), S Reuben Lowery III, TE Will Mallory, OT Bernhard Raimann (elbow)
Early-Exit Injuries: C Tanor Bortolini (concussion), TE Drew Ogletree (neck), DE JT Tuimoloau (oblique)
Jake Arthur has been covering the Indianapolis Colts for over a dozen years and is a member of the PFWA. He's one half of the Locked On Colts podcast and has worked for the Colts' official website, On SI, and more. You can follow him on X @JakeArthurNFL.