Colts vs. 49ers live updates: 'MNF' showdown with playoff stakes as Brock Purdy and Philip Rivers face off

Indianapolis needs a win to remain alive in the AFC playoff hunt

The conclusion of a chaotic Week 16 slate arrives on "Monday Night Football" between two franchises with varying playoff outlooks: the Indianapolis Colts (8-6) host the San Francisco 49ers (10-4).

The Colts' playoff chances have taken a nosedive along with their record of late: they're on a four-game losing streak after an 8-2 start, which has dropped their playoff chances from 98% to just 7.2%, according to SportsLine. The last team to miss the postseason after an 8-2 or better start was the 1995 Raiders. 

Indianapolis likely needs to win all three of its remaining games against the 49ers, Jaguars (11-4) and Texans (10-5) in order to crack the AFC's postseason picture. The Colts possess the NFL's most intriguing quarterback situation with 44-year-old eight-time Pro Bowler Philip Rivers behind center following Daniel Jones' season-ending Achilles injury. 

San Francisco has already clinched an NFC playoff spot, but much bigger goals remain available. If the 49ers win their three remaining games against the Colts, Bears (11-4) and Seahawks (12-3), the 49ers would win the NFC West and secure the conference's top seed. That would certainly simplify their path to playing in Super Bowl LX on their home turf at Levi's Stadium.

Can the 49ers secure the first of three consecutive victories required to rise to the top of the NFC? Or will the Colts preserve their playoff aspirations for another week? Stay tuned to the live blog below for updates, analysis, highlights and more. 

Where to watch 49ers vs. Colts

• Date: Monday, Dec. 22 | Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
• Location: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
• TV: ESPN | Stream: Fubo (try for free)
• Follow: CBS Sports App
• Odds: 49ers -5.5, O/U 45.5 (via DraftKings Sportsbook)

[Dec 22, 2025 at 7:30 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

After battling a turf toe injury, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy enters Week 16 with a 5-1 record, 12 touchdown passes and 7 interceptions in 2025. He has lost three of his five starts on "Monday Night Football" while throwing 5 touchdowns to 11 interceptions.  Even in a Week 12 home win on MNF against the Carolina Panthers, he threw an interception on three consecutive drives. Of Purdy's 34 career interceptions, 32% of them (11) have come on "Monday Night Football." Only Tommy Kramer (13) has thrown more interceptions in his first five "Monday Night Football" starts than Purdy. 

Brock Purdy career on Monday Night Football	Stats
W-L	2-3
Pass YPG	221.3
TD-INT	5-11*
Passer Rating	75.6

* Second-most interceptions in first five starts on MNF all-time

[Dec 22, 2025 at 7:15 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

If the 49ers win out from here until Super Bowl LC, they will have not had to play away from Levi's Stadium in 48 days. Monday's game is currently their last scheduled game away from home. Monday against the Colts will be interesting because it will provide San Francisco the opportunity for their first win against a team with a winning record since Week 5 at the Los Angeles Rams. 

49ers hypothetical remaining schedule if they win out to Super Bowl LX	Site
Week 16	Lucas Oil Stadium
Week 17	Levi's Stadium
Week 18	Levi's Stadium
NFC Divisional Round	Levi's Stadium
NFC Championship Round	Levi's Stadium
Super Bowl LX	Levi's Stadium

* Would mark 48 days since last game away from Levi's Stadium

[Dec 22, 2025 at 7:00 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Jonathan Taylor leads the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns and ranks second in rushing yards with 1,443. However, he's been struggling during the Colts' four-game losing streak. He has four consecutive games under 100 yards rushing during the streak. Taylor's 92.1 career rushing yards per game average ranks as the fourth-most in NFL history. 

Jonathan Taylor this season	First 10 games	Last 4 games
Team record	8-2	0-4
Rush YPG	113.9	76.0
Yards/carry	6.0	3.7
Rush TD	15	1

[Dec 22, 2025 at 6:45 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Indianapolis has seen their playoff chances fall off a cliff during their four-game losing streak, and a home loss on Monday against the San Francisco 49ers would all but eliminate them from postseason contention. That would make the Colts the first team in 30 years to miss the playoffs after an 8-2 or better start. The last team to do so was the 1995 Raiders. 

Colts' chances to make playoffs by week, according to SportsLine	Record	Playoff Chances (SportsLine)
Week 11	8-2	98%
Week 12	8-3	93%
Week 13	8-4	74%
Week 14	8-5	42%
Week 15	8-6	14%

[Dec 22, 2025 at 6:30 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Rivers was just 2 for 8 passing with an interception on throws of 10-plus air yards in Week 15. He was also 1 for 5 for two yards when pressured. Of his 120 yards passing, he went 9 for 10 with 36 yards when throwing behind the line of scrimmage while he was 9 for 17 for 84 yards on all other throws. 

[Dec 22, 2025 at 6:15 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Rivers threw for 120 yards, one touchdown and one interception while completing 18 of his 27 throws in an 18-16 defeat against the Seattle Seahawks after an 1,800 day layoff, the longest by a quarterback 40 years or older all-time. It was his fewest passing yards in a game in nearly 16 years (99 in Week 17 of the 2009 season against Washington). 

[Dec 22, 2025 at 6:00 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (1,761 yards from scrimmage) and 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (1,742 yards from scrimmage) are two of the NFL's top-five all-purpose backs this season, and they'll take center stage on "Monday Night Football."

2025 NFL scrimmage yards leaders	Scrimmage yards
Bijan Robinson (ATL)	2,026
James Cook (BUF)	1,820
Jonathan Taylor (IND)	1,761
Christian McCaffrey (SF)	1,742
De'Von Achane	1,726