After a sour end to his time with the Chargers, Philip Rivers proved in 2020 that he still has some gas left in the tank. During his first season with the Colts, Rivers led Indianapolis to an 11-5 record and a playoff game. He passed for 309 yards and two touchdowns in the Colts’ 27-24 loss to the Bills in Saturday’s wild card game.
Frank Reich said after Saturday’s loss that he wants the 39-year-old Rivers back for the 2021 season. However, Rivers said he has not made a decision on his future. Rivers will either play an 18th NFL season or he will begin his career as a high school head coach.
“If it’s God’s will I be with the Colts in Indy next year, then I’ll be here,” Rivers said. via Zak Keefer from The Athletic. “If not, I’ll be on the sidelines with a ball gown on my head and football coaching.”
Rivers was emotional during his post-match press conference. He calls the 2020 Colts a special team to be a part of. “He admitted that part of his emotion was the fact that he did not know if Saturday was his last game.
“Your 17th year you’re about to turn 40 and you do not know if this is the last time you walk into the tunnel,” Rivers said, via George Bremer of The Herald Bulletin “To develop the band we had, it’s pretty special. … We just believed it was the year.”
Rivers also mourned the missed opportunities Saturday. Before 10-7, the Colts could not score from the Bills’ 1-yard line at the end of the first half. The violation of the Bill quickly prevailed just before the break. With their first possession of the second half, the Colts moved 60 yards on 14 plays before Rodrigo Blankenship’s 33-yard goal attempt hit the right-hander.
“We are not surpassed. That’s for sure,” Rivers said. “We went up and down the field. We just did not do the little things.”
Rivers were right. The Colts ’offense scored five times more than the Bills, picked up another seven-third shutouts and piled up 75 yards further. The Colts were just 2-out-5 in the red zone, while Buffalo’s attack led by Josh Allen took advantage of both of his red-zone opportunities. In the first quarter from 24-10, Rivers ‘onslaught on Zach Pascal was down, and Jack Doyle reduced the Colts’ deficit to three points. But the Colts ‘return eventually fell short, with Rivers’ last-second Hail Mary pass not in the end zone.
Although he has not decided on his future, it is clear that the Colts want him at least one more year behind the center.
“Seventeen years has never won one, and he puts everything at stake,” said linebacker Darius Leonard. via Jim Ayello of the Indianapolis Star. “Play through pain. Give us everything … For us not to give him one this year, man, it’s very difficult.”