Brock Purdy delivered a standout performance by throwing a career-high five touchdown passes, propelling the San Francisco 49ers to a 48-27 victory against the Indianapolis Colts. The game took place in Indianapolis, where Purdy completed 25 of 34 passes for 295 yards, although he did throw one interception. His teammate, Christian McCaffrey, contributed significantly with 146 total yards and two touchdowns.
This victory marked the 49ers” fifth consecutive win, keeping them in contention for the top seed in the NFC playoff race, especially after securing a playoff spot due to the Detroit Lions” loss to Pittsburgh the previous day.
In a surprising twist, the Colts” quarterback Philip Rivers, making his second appearance after a five-year absence, kept the game competitive. Rivers managed to complete 23 of 35 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns but ultimately threw a late interception that sealed the game for San Francisco. This loss was the Colts” fifth in a row, further diminishing their playoff hopes.
Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Los Angeles Chargers solidified their positions in the AFC playoffs following the Colts” defeat. This extended postseason appearance marks the seventh consecutive for Josh Allen and the Bills, while Justin Herbert and the Chargers aim for their second playoff berth in two seasons under coach Jim Harbaugh. For Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars, this playoff appearance will be their second in five seasons.
In other news, the Kansas City Chiefs have announced plans to relocate from Arrowhead Stadium to a new domed stadium across the state line in Kansas, with the completion set for the start of the 2031 season. This decision followed a unanimous vote by Kansas lawmakers to approve funding through STAR bonds to cover a significant portion of the stadium”s costs.
Additionally, DK Metcalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been suspended for two games following an altercation with a fan during a recent game against Detroit. He will miss the upcoming game against Cleveland and the regular-season finale against Baltimore.
In the NBA, Zion Williamson scored 24 points to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to their fifth consecutive victory, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 119-113.
Lastly, the historic rivalry between Notre Dame and USC will be paused as Notre Dame has scheduled a game against BYU for 2026, leaving the USC game off the schedule for now.
