Colts' late-season collapse puts them on cusp of missing playoffs

INDIANAPOLIS — Philip Rivers gave the Indianapolis Colts a chance Monday night.

Their defense did not.

After a 48-27 loss to San Francisco, Colts coach Shane Steichen struggled to explain how his team allowed the 49ers to score so many points, accumulate 440 yards and never force a punt in a home game Indy desperately needed to win.

Instead, it's simply the next chapter in a late-season collapse that has left Indy's once-promising playoffs floundering.

''I told those guys in there, like, ‘Shoot, we signed up for 17 of these things, and we've got a division opponent, and we're not out of this thing,''' Steichen said after the Colts lost their fifth straight. "Until they tell us we're done, we're freaking fighting like crazy, and so we're going to come back in this week, get ready to work and be ready to go for Jacksonville at home.''

The reality is, yes, the Colts (8-7) still could sneak in by beating the Jaguars (11-4) and Houston (10-5) in their final two games. But they'd also need Baltimore lose one of its last two games, the Texans to also lose Saturday against the Chargers and hope the tiebreakers fall their way.

Anything else would cement their place as the sixth team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to miss the playoffs after starting at least 8-2. The most recent to do it was the 1995 Oakland Raiders, who lost their final six games.

But little has gone right the second half of the season.

Daniel Jones' strong start to the season ended because of two injuries, the second being a season-ending torn Achilles tendon that led to Rivers coming out of retirement after five seasons. The injury and quarterback change have allowed defenses to focus on running back Jonathan Taylor.

And the defense that was supposed to get even better over the second half with the addition of two-time All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner has only gotten more banged up. The result: Indy is on the outside of the playoffs for a fifth straight year with little sign they can turn things around in time to salvage their season.

''I mean, we've got to find a way to finish strong and knock out these two next opponents,'' Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said after returning from a five-game absence Monday. "Everybody has got to give a little bit more, that's what it is.''

What's working

What needs help

The secondary. When the Colts traded for Gardner, they anticipated using three cornerbacks to shut down opponents. Instead, Gardner has missed three straight games with a strained calf and Charvarius Ward is on his second stint on injured reserve with a concussion. Their absences were more than noticeable as 49ers QB Brock Purdy picked apart Indy's pass defense.

Stock up

Rivers. For 3 1/2 quarters, the eight-time Pro Bowler looked like he had taken a trip back in time. He was efficient, on time and even threw the ball down the field reasonably well. Sure, his arm strength and mobility may be waning. And, yes, his late interception was returned for a score to seal Indy's fate. But Rivers showed, even at his age, he's still capable of winning games.

Stock down

Injuries

Now that Buckner is back from his neck injury, the Colts have two major concerns — the secondary and the offensive line. Ward will miss another game this week on IR, and while the Colts need Gardner on the field, it's unclear whether he'll return on a short Christmas week. With RT Braden Smith also on injured reserve (concussion and neck) and the possibility of Raimann and Bortolini missing Sunday's game, the Colts could again be shuffling the lineup.

Key numbers

145, 98 — Indy has allowed opponents to score 145 points during this five-game losing streak while the Colts have only 98.

What's next

___