The Future Outlook for the Indianapolis Colts' Playoff Hopes Following Their Fourth Straight Defeat Against Seattle
The Seattle Seahawks (11-3) secured a dramatic and highly unusual 18-16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts (8-6) on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at Lumen Field. The win, which saw the Seahawks clinch a playoff spot, was delivered entirely by the right foot of kicker Jason Myers, who set a franchise record by hitting six field goals, including the game winner in the final seconds. The victory spoiled the comeback effort of 44 year old quarterback Philip Rivers, who returned from retirement to start for the Colts.
The immediate score and summary of the Seahawks vs Colts contest underscored the offense's struggles and the defense's resilience. The Seahawks failed to score a single touchdown but relied entirely on Myers's kicks to put points on the board. Myers was perfect on the day, converting from 47, 52, 46, 32, 30, and finally a clutch 56 yarder with 18 seconds remaining. This final kick came just moments after the Colts took a brief 16-15 lead on a franchise record 60 yard field goal from their kicker, Blake Grupe. Sam Darnold led a sharp final drive, hitting wide receiver Rashid Shaheed twice to set up the game winner.
The strategic factor in the Colts vs Seahawks matchup was the dual narrative of Seattle's red zone woes and Rivers's surprising performance. The Seahawks' offense struggled mightily to convert drives into touchdowns, going just 2-for-13 on third downs, forcing Myers's prolific output. Meanwhile, the Colts' game plan, built around establishing the run with Jonathan Taylor (87 yards on 25 carries) and relying on the experienced, newly signed Rivers, worked well in the first half, giving them a 13-6 lead. Rivers finished 18-of-27 for 120 yards with a touchdown and an interception, but his final desperation pass was picked off, sealing the Colts' fate.
Looking ahead, the future outlook for the Seahawks vs Colts winner sees Seattle keeping pace atop the NFC West and focusing urgently on improving their offense before a short week matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. The defense, which held the Colts to just 215 total yards, proved they can win low scoring battles, but the offense must find ways to finish drives. For the Colts, the narrow loss, their fourth straight, severely damages their playoff hopes despite the dramatic return of Rivers, and they must now regroup quickly before hosting the San Francisco 49ers next week.