Philip Rivers! This guy looks like he’s ready to go play again! He’ll be making his second start after coming out of retirement to play for the Indianapolis Colts. The 44-year-old signal-caller was up against the Seattle Seahawks in his first game back and you could see the poise, peppered with grit and resolve. In-car camera preparation as the Colts get ready to face the San Francisco 49ers in their Week 16 “Monday Night Football” game. All the while, Rivers’ teammates and coaches are vociferously rallying around him.
In Rivers’ first game with the Colts, he went 18 for 27 passing. It was a tough game for him to settle into, as he averaged just 4.4 yards per attempt, tied for the fifth lowest of his career. In those two games, his longest completion was a 17-yard throw to tight end Tyler Warren. This instance underscored his ability to make a connection even while grasping at straws. An unfortunate last-second interception blemished his performance, coming on a Hail Mary-type throw as time expired.
Even with these challenges, Rivers provided the Colts a chance to win against the favored Seahawks. Beyond his raw talent, it was the way he handled pressure situations and swarmed blitzing defenders that blew his teammates away. Linebacker Zaire Franklin described Rivers’ mindset as competitive to the core, saying,
“Somebody that’s going out there, willing to battle, willing to fight.”
Franklin noted, “He came through for us. I think we’ve just got to play better on [defense].”
Rivers’ return to the NFL, after nearly five seasons away from the game, has sparked conversations about his fit within the team. Coach Shane Steichen agreed that Rivers has somehow kept gaining the support of his teammates. To that end, cornerback Kenny Moore II spoke to Rivers’ intensity and leadership on the field.
“Just his determination, his passion, fire that he played with, it’s great to see,” Moore said. He added, “And just him putting his body on the line, he doesn’t have to do that. And I’m sure every guy in his locker room greatly appreciated it.”
Running back Jonathan Taylor echoed this sentiment, highlighting the need for the team to step up and support their quarterback.
“We’ve just got to make more plays. We got to help him out. Given the circumstances, we still had a chance. I mean right there at the end. So, how do we make those one or two plays to just finish this and end up on the other side of this?” Taylor remarked.
As Rivers gears up for the pivotal matchup against the 49ers, he carries not only the weight of expectations but the backing of a locker room eager to rally around him. His inaugural game may not have resulted in a victory, but it united the team. As they marched through downtown Chicago, it only strengthened their solidarity and proved their grit.
And please — no looking ahead talk, especially with as big a game that’s on deck against San Francisco. With Rivers at the helm once more, they aim to build off the lessons learned from their close encounter with Seattle. Performance The team argues that we are long overdue to raise performance expectations for every position. Their hope is to use Rivers’ experience and leadership to help them get there.
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