Colts Routed by 49ers, Five-Game Skid Puts Playoff Bid on Brink

Overview

• The Colts fell 48-27 to San Francisco for a fifth straight loss, allowing 440 yards, 41 points on the 49ers’ first eight drives and no punts forced.
• Lou Anarumo accepted responsibility for the defensive collapse a day later, calling for improvement at every level after Indy was overwhelmed at home.
• Indianapolis is 8-7 with roughly a 1% chance to reach the postseason and would need to beat Jacksonville and Houston while also getting outside help, including a Baltimore loss.
• Philip Rivers, 44, threw for 277 yards with two touchdowns and one interception as the game plan shifted to more intermediate and downfield attempts.
• Injuries and lineup shuffles persisted, with Sauce Gardner still sidelined by a calf strain, Charvarius Ward on injured reserve, and center Tanor Bortolini exiting with a concussion, while rookie TE Tyler Warren set a franchise rookie tight end record with 748 receiving yards.