Here is the bad part: The Indianapolis Colts are now 8-6, having lost five of their last six games, and are on the verge of the most epic collapse in the NFL in a decade. Injuries certainly played a part, but a regression to the mean of quality play did too.
Here is the good part: The Colts, from general manager Chris Ballard all the way down, won't give up or stop trying to win games. Doing so won't be easy, though. Indy still has to play the San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans. All good teams.
Indianapolis will likely try to win those games with Philip Rivers at quarterback. Based on what fans saw in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks, the 44-year-old is extremely limited physically. He has the mental game to run Steichen's offense, but that will probably come with a lack of explosiveness.
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen has the right words about Philip Rivers
Still, Rivers appears to give the Colts the best chance to win any of their three remaining games. He does so now with the arm talent to throw 60 yards, but with the approach to not do too much, lead inspirationally, and get the ball in his playmakers' hands, even with mostly short routes.
Steichen couldn't have been happy with the loss, but he was, like many Indianapolis Colts fans, proud of the effort Philip Rivers put forth after not playing for five seasons and practicing only a few days.
After the game, Steichen told reporters, "For him to go out there and do what he did after five years off... I thought it was pretty awesome to see."
It was awesome to see. The truth is that while Indianapolis lost 18-16 (and Lou Anarumo's defense deserves a lot of credit for that), had the Colts been playing Riley Leonard instead of Philip Rivers, the game could have been much different. Rivers knew how to avoid mistakes until a last-second pass that was simply a short Hail Mary.
Leonard might have put the ball in harm's way far more. He might do that if he has to play in the final three games as well. Indianapolis doesn't play any bad defenses. Rivers might not get his team to 30 points or more, but he also won't turn the ball over early in games.
Are the Indianapolis Colts increasingly in need of a miracle to make the playoffs? Yes, but Philip Rivers might keep them in games they might not otherwise deserve to be in.