The Indianapolis Colts fell short, 18-16, to the Seattle Seahawks as they dropped their fourth straight game in Phillip Rivers’ return to the NFL.
The Colts struck first when Blake Grupe connected on a 42-yard field goal on an 11-play, 41-yard drive, giving Indianapolis a 3–0 lead.
Seattle answered later in the quarter as Jason Myers drilled a 47-yard field goal after a 6-play, 34-yard drive, tying the game 3–3 at the end of the quarter. Early in the second quarter, Grupe booted a 54-yard field goal – his second of the game – on a 6-play, 17-yard possession, putting the Colts back up 6–3. Indianapolis then extended its lead on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Rivers to Josh Downs, capping a 10-play, 58-yard drive and making it 13–3 after Grupe’s extra point. It was Rivers’ first touchdown pass in nearly five years came in his first game back.
Seattle responded just before halftime as Myers hit a 52-yard field goal on a 9-play, 44-yard drive, trimming Indianapolis’ lead to 13–6.At the half, Rivers completed 10-of-16 passing attempts for 82 yards and a score, as the 44-year-old looked to will Indianapolis to a victory. In the third quarter, Seattle added another score with Myers’ 46-yard field goal following an 11-play, 43-yard drive, narrowing the score to 13–9. Meyers continued to connect and went a perfect 6-for-6 kicking. Meyers scored all 18 of Seattle’s points. Myers added another field goal in the fourth quarter, this one from 32 yards following an 8-play, 66-yard drive, to make it 13–12. Grupe then connected on a 60-yard field goal later in the quarter to push the Colts back ahead 16–12, but Myers hit a 56-yard field goal on Seattle’s next possession, putting the Seahawks up 18–16, which ended up being the final score. The lengthy march of field goals, especially Myers’ long kicks, proved decisive in a game with just one combined touchdown from both teams.
Rivers completed 18 of 27 passing attempts for 120 yards, threw a touchdown and an interception in his first game in the NFL in nearly five years.
Michael Pittman Jr. caught three passes for 26 yards, Tyler Warren caught three passes for 19 yards, Jonathan Taylor caught three passes for 14 yards, and Josh Downs caught three passes for 13 yards and a touchdown.
Alec Pierce has just one reception, but it was a crucial first-down grab in the final minutes of the game to extend Indianapolis’s 7-play, 26-yard drive that set up a potential Blake Grupe game-winning 60-yard field goal.
Indianapolis dropped to 8-6 and has now lost four consecutive games and five of its last six after starting the season 7-1. The Colts will take on the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16, in hopes of their ninth win of the season.
Colts vs. Seahawks Week 15 highlights
44-year-old Phillip Rivers celebrates like any 44-year-old after his first TD in nearly five years
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Everything to know from Colts’ Week 15 loss in Phillip Rivers’ return
Reporting by Miles Jordan, Colts Wire / Colts Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
