Indianapolis Colts fans assumed what became reality one day ahead of Indy's Week 15 showdown versus the Seattle Seahawks: Philip Rivers would start at quarterback. The question was whether he might back up Riley Leonard in his first game back. He won't.
At least, not according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. Rapoport tweeted on Saturday that Rivers would indeed start against Seattle. The move is a massive risk, of course, but what choice did Indianapolis really have?
The team could have gone with Leonard as QB1, but he is a rookie who hasn't played much and has questionable accuracy. He is a better athlete than Rivers, even a younger version of Rivers, but for the Colts offense to run near maximum efficiency, a quality passing attack is needed.
Indianapolis Colts will start Philip Rivers at quarterback in Week 15
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said in the days ahead of Week 15 that his team was preparing to face Rivers. If Leonard was the quarterback, fine. NFL teams scheme against scheme, not just against a player. But Seattle wasn't going to be fooled by Indianapolis not confirming which quarterback would start.
Plus, while Rivers might be 44 years old and retired for the last five years, he still probably gives the team a better chance to win at least two of their next four games than Leonard would have. Rivers might have had diminishing arm strength before he initially retired, and he has never been fleet of foot, but he has always had a brilliant mind for football.
Even against an elite Seahawks defense, Rivers will know he needs to get the ball out of his hands quickly and allow his excellent group of Colts playmakers to try to work their magic against Seattle. A heavy dose of running back Jonathan Taylor will help, too.
The question now is how Philip Rivers reacts to being hit by NFL defensive players. He hasn't had to go through that since 2020. Seattle normally rushes four players and doesn't blitz much, but the Colts will also be without starting right tackle Braden Smith.
How well Indianapolis can keep Rivers upright will go a long way toward determining who wins the game in Week 15. Moreover, it will go a long way toward determining the Indianapolis Colts' playoff fate this season. With four games left, however, the team has to approach each game as if it were a postseason game. That is why starting Philip Rivers is the wise choice.