49ers thrash Colts behind Purdy’s 5 TD passes: Live updates and reaction from NFL ‘Monday Night Football’
SOURCE:The Athletic|BY:The Athletic Live Team and more
Indianapolis' loss clinches playoff berths for the Bills, Chargers and Jaguars
Indianapolis' loss clinches playoff berths for the Bills, Chargers and Jaguars
The Athletic Live Team and more
December 23, 2025 at 12:45 AM EST
49ers QB Brock Purdy threw a career-high five TD passes tonight Getty Images
Purdy shares the wealth
Getty Images
Brock Purdy’s five touchdown passes went to four different receivers, as he spread the ball around against a Colts defense that was missing its two starting cornerbacks and whose backups were dreadful. Tight end George Kittle was too much for the safeties as well, as led the way with seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown before sitting out the fourth quarter after tweaking ankle.
Jauan Jennings had five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown, while Christian McCaffrey (2) and Demarcus Robinson has there other scoring grabs. Kendrick Bourne did not score a touchdown, but made $500,000 on the night as he needed one yard to cash in on an incentive for 500 yards, and finished with 27.
Collapsing season for Colts
Getty Images
The Colts have now lost six of their last seven games as their playoff hopes continue to dwindle. Indianapolis was not eliminated from postseason contention following its lopsided loss Monday, but according to The Athletic’s playoff simulator, their playoff chances have dropped to 1 percent. The Colts are on the verge of becoming the first team since the Chicago Bears to start 7-1 and miss the postseason.
49ers offense carries San Francisco
Getty Images
The 49ers offense carried the defense again, as it turns out a 44-year-old quarterback with no mobility was not the elixir that a feeble pass rush needed. The 49ers only sacked twice and bothered him a few times, as the Colts drove down the field their first two possessions and only trailed by seven points in the fourth quarter.
The Colts only ran the ball 17 times, making talented RB Jonathan Taylor an afterthought, but it was working. Rivers was getting rid of the ball quickly, the 49ers’ linebackers were a step slow and the cornerbacks also didn’t play well. Darrell Luter Jr., in for the injured Renardo Green, especially struggled and was victimized by Alec Pierce on his two touchdowns.
Linebacker Dee Winters put some cologne on the whole thing at the end with a 75-yard interception return to make it 48-27.
Indy's abysmal defense
Getty Images
Indianapolis gave up a season-high 48 points Monday as its defense failed to show up in one of the biggest games of the year. Brock Purdy’s five TD passes are a new Monday Night Football record for the 49ers, who still have a chance to claim the NFC’s No. 1 seed. San Francisco racked up 440 yards and didn’t punt. The only time the 49ers failed to score on a possession was when Eddy Pineiro missed a 64-yard field goal attempt at the end of the second quarter and Colts safety Cam Bynum picked off Purdy in the fourth quarter.
Special teams comes through for 49ers
Getty Images
The 49ers tinkered with their special teams units on Monday, but that phase of the game continues to come up with big plays. Against the Colts, it was Ji-Ayir Brown punching the ball from returner Ameer Abdullah in the first quarter. Jake Tonges pounced on it at the Indianapolis 26-yard line and five plays later Brock Purdy connected with Christian McCaffrey for a one-yard touchdown.
It was the third time the special teams had set up the 49ers offense for a short score, the other two coming after long returns from Skyy Moore. One blemish: Eddy Pineiro missed his first field goal of the season. But even that was impressive. It was from 64 yards at the end of the half, would have been a career long and hit the dead center of the crossbar. The 49ers played without special teams stalwarts Curtis Robinson, Chase Lucas and Robert Beal Jr., all of whom were healthy scratches.
Rivers turns back the clock
Getty Images
The Colts were adamant that the Philip Rivers we saw last week, who threw for just 120 yards and one TD against one interception in his season debut, was not the same Rivers we would see Monday night. Early on, Rivers proved them right, throwing for 121 yards and one TD in the first quarter alone. He finished 23-of-35 passing for 277 yards and two touchdowns against one brutal pick-six. Rivers connected with Alec Pierce for a 20-yard score in the first quarter and a 16-yard score in the second quarter. Pierce totaled four catches for 84 yards as he continues his breakout season.
However, aside from Pierce, Rivers didn’t get much help elsewhere. Jonathan Taylor was held to just 46 yards on 16 carries, marking the fifth straight game he failed to reach 100 rushing yards, which coincides with Indy’s fifth straight loss. Rivers finally faltered in the late in the fourth quarter when he was picked off by 49ers linebacker Dee Winters, who returned the interception 74 yards for a touchdown.
McCaffrey on the brink of history
Getty Images
With six catches, Christian McCaffrey tied Roger Craig for most receptions in a season by a 49ers running back – 92. But his 29 receiving yards means he’s fallen a little farther off the pace to have the second 1,000-1,000 season of his career. His 117 rushing yards on Monday puts him over 1,000 yards – 1,039 to be exact – in that category. At his current pace, however, he’d finish with 962 receiving yards.
Up next for San Francisco
Getty Images
The 49ers have now won five straight games and remain in contention to win the NFC West.
San Francisco will return home in Week 17 to host the magical Chicago Bears on "Sunday Night Football" before facing the Seattle Seahawks at home in Week 18, which could be a battle for the division title depending on how things break over the next two weeks.
Up next for Indy
Imagn Images
The Colts will finish the regular season with a pair of AFC South matchups, facing the Jacksonville Jaguars at home before closing the season in Houston against the Texans.
Technically, Indianapolis can still make the postseason but it would need a wild amalgamation of improbable scenarios.
Big day for Pierce
Getty Images
If you had the courage (or desperation) to start Alec Pierce in the fantasy football playoffs you were handsomely rewarded tonight.
The 25-year-old wideout is having a career year and he only added to that tonight, catching four passes for 86 yards with two touchdowns from Philip Rivers.
Pierce is an impressive athlete with great speed and an uncanny ability to make contested catches, which he showed again tonight against the 49ers.
JT was held in check
Getty Images
A fourth-quarter touchdown from Jonathan Taylor with the Colts trailing by two scores might have salvaged a lot of fantasy football playoff matches. Prior to that, the star running back was held in check by the 49ers defense.
Taylor finished with 46 yards rushing on 16 carries, averaging just 2.9 yards per attempt and added another three catches for 33 yards. He has now been held under 100 yards on the ground in five straight games.
No punts needed
For the second straight week, the 49ers' Thomas Morstead didn't need to punt. He had to keep himself busy tonight.
Strong game from Jennings
Getty Images
Jauan Jennings has been a favorite of target of Brock Purdy for several years now and their connection on the field continues to shine through.
Tonight, the veteran wideout made several important catches on critical downs, including a 3-yard score on third down in the third quarter. Jennings finished with five catches for 71 yards a week after catching two touchdowns against the Titans.
In fact, Jennings now has a touchdown in four straight games.
NFC West standings
The Athletic
The NFC West is a gauntlet. The Cardinals would agree at least. The Seahawks, 49ers and Rams are all playoff bound
Colts cannot stop Kittle
Getty Images
The only thing that could stop George Kittle tonight was the ankle injury he suffered in the third quarter.
The star tight end was dicing up the Colts defense, accumulating 115 yards and a touchdown on seven catches before rolling his ankle. He had his helmet on in the fourth quarter which gives the impression that he could have returned to the game if necessary but his status for next week will require monitoring.
Kittle now has four touchdowns in his last five games and has totaled at least 67 yards receiving in each of those games.
Run CMC
Getty Images
Christian McCaffrey does not have the same burst he once did but he remains one of the most dynamic, versatile running backs in the NFL and maybe ever. Tonight was a prime example, accumulating 146 scrimmage yards on 27 touches to go with two receiving scores. McCaffrey rushed for 117 yards on 12 carries, having one of his most efficient games of the season. He also had his longest run of the year tonight, breaking off a 24-yarder in the second half.
Through the air, he caught six passes for 29 yards and two touchdowns, both of which came on routes ran out of the backfield where he is a mismatch for opposing linebackers. After an injury-plagued 2024 season, McCaffrey bounced back with a special season as he approaches 2,000 scrimmage yards.
AFC South standings
The Jaguars have clinched a playoff berth. The Texans inch closer to the postseason, too. The Colts don't have any more room for error. They need to win out and hope Houston loses out to stand a chance of qualifying.
Purdy picks apart Colts
Getty Images
Have a night, Brock Purdy! In fact, have a career night.
San Francisco's quarterback balled out on "Monday Night Football" completing 25-of-34 passes for 295 yards with five touchdowns and a late interception. He completed passes to eight different pass catchers and threw touchdowns to Christian McCaffrey (2), George Kittle, Jauan Jennings and Demarcus Robinson. Over his last three games, Purdy has thrown nine touchdowns and just one interception, continuing to find form after missing a large chunk of the season with turf toe.
While his aggressiveness can lead to turnovers at times, Purdy's confidence to push the ball down the field and the raport he has with his pass catchers with Kyle Shanahan at the helm makes this team mighty dangerous.
Three teams clinch after Colts loss
With the Colts loss to the 49ers, the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars have all clinched playoff spots in the AFC.
