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49ers vs. Colts live score, updates, highlights from NFL 'Monday Night Football' game

49ers vs. Colts live score, updates, highlights from NFL 'Monday Night Football' game

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Week 16 comes to a close on Monday night as the Indianapolis Colts host the San Francisco 49ers for “Monday Night Football.”

With the action of the week so far, the 49ers have officially clinched a playoff spot. San Francisco heads into this matchup as the No. 6 seed, but still has a mathematical chance at the No. 1 seed for the NFC. The 49ers need to win out, and need a lot of outside help for it to happen, but it is plausible. 

The Colts are currently on the outside looking in for the AFC playoff picture. Indianapolis’s best chance of making the playoffs comes as a wild-card team. The Colts aren’t eliminated from playoff contention with a loss, but it makes the playoffs tougher to reach. Indianapolis will turn once again to veteran quarterback Philip Rivers, who is looking to notch his first win since coming out of retirement. 

The Sporting News is tracking live scores, updates and highlights from Colts vs. 49ers on Monday night. 

STREAM: Watch 49ers vs. Colts live with Fubo (free trial)

49ers vs. Colts score

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49ers vs. Colts live updates, highlights from ‘Monday Night Football’

Halftime: 49ers 24, Colts 17

9:48 p.m.: With 11 seconds remaining, Purdy connects with Bourne downfield for 14 yards. Now, with three seconds, Piniero comes out to attempt a 64-yarder. 

Though, he does not it, doinking the ball off the crossbar. Piniero comes so close to one of the longest field goals in NFL history, but comes up just short.

Still, the 49ers go into the locker room up seven. Purdy has three touchdowns in the first half for the first time in his career. On the other side, Rivers has two passing touchdowns and 175 passing yards. San Francisco gets the ball to start the second half.

49ers 24, Colts 17

9:45 p.m. FIELD GOAL: The Colts make it a seven-point game.

After Rivers can’t find Warren downfield, Blake Grupe comes on to hit a 39-yard field goal.

With 17 seconds left, San Francisco will get the ball back.

9:41 p.m.: Desperately needing a first down, Rivers tries to get the ball to Pierce on the left sideline. Though it comes up incomplete, there is a pass interference penalty that moves the chains.

Then, the next play, Rivers connects with Downs again, going for 14 yards and a first down.

Indianapolis is inside the 49ers 30.

49ers 24, Colts 14

9:36 p.m. FIELD GOAL: Purdy and Kittle almost connected for their second touchdown of the night, but the pass falls incomplete on third down.

Though, the 49ers take a two-score lead, with Eddy Piniero making a 25-yard field goal.

Rivers and Indianapolis will get the ball back with 1:51 remaining. This feels like a crucial drive, especially with San Francisco getting the ball to start the second half.

9:32 p.m.: The 49ers are right outside of the 10.

Purdy throws a dart to Kendrick Bourne for 11 yards, setting up a new set of downs.

9:30 p.m.: Purdy has been red-hot since the jump.

Now, he hits Skyy Moore for 23 yards down to the Indianapolis 41.

9:28 p.m.: On 3rd & 7, the 49ers convert with Purdy once again hitting Kittle. This one goes for 12 yards and a first down.

9:22 p.m.: The 49ers get to Rivers for the first time tonight. It’s C.J. West who engulfs Rivers in pressure, setting up a 3rd & 12.

Then, we finally have a stop. Though Rivers is able to connect with Pittman, it’s not enough.

Indianapolis punts for the first time tonight.

49ers 21, Colts 14

9:16 p.m. TOUCHDOWN: Brock Purdy has his third touchdown of the game, with this one going to another frequent target.

Here, Purdy rolls out right then finds Kittle in the back of the end zone. It goes for an 11-yard score as the 49ers take the lead again.

Neither team has yet to get a stop.

9:14 p.m.: McCaffrey has another chunk run, following Kyle Juszczyk for an 18-yard carry.

9:13 p.m.: On the first third down the 49ers faced, Purdy scrambles right to the line to gain but its short.

Though, on fourth down, Purdy gets tush pushed for a new set of downs.

9:07 p.m.: The 49ers offense is starting strong, especially McCaffrey. He takes the first carry of the drive 12 yards to the San Francisco 43.

49ers 14, Colts 14

9:00 p.m. TOUCHDOWN: Rivers has his second passing touchdown of the night, and it’s to Pierce again.

This time, Rivers lobs one up to the right of the end zone and Pierce once again comes down with it. It goes for 16 yards for Pierce’s first two-touchdown game.

Four drives, four touchdowns.

End of the first quarter: 49ers 14, Colts 7

8:54 p.m.: Downs has been Rivers’ go-to receiver, and the two connect again here for 12 yards down to the San Francisco 10.

Rivers has 121 passing yards, already more than last week.

8:53 p.m.: The Colts have another first down.

This time, Rivers once again goes over the middle of the field to connect with Pierce. It goes for 17 yards down to the San Francisco 25.

8:51 p.m.: Indianapolis has another first down and is across midfield.

Rivers goes through his options then hits his tight end, Drew Ogletree, for 12 yards.

8:49 p.m.: The Colts are at midfield again after two plays.

First, Rivers connects with Downs then a Taylor run gives Indianapolis a first down.

49ers 14, Colts 7

8:44 p.m. TOUCHDOWN: McCaffrey has his 15th touchdown on the season.

On 2nd & goal, Purdy hits him alone in the end zone, and the 49ers make it 14-7. It’s a two-yard score.

The back has 34 scrimmage yards and a touchdown, with Purdy already having two touchdown passes in the first quarter.

8:41 p.m.: The 49ers are inside the 10.

Kittle hauled in a 14-yard reception and it was followed by two McCaffrey runs, and the 49ers are looking to flip this game on its head.

8:40 p.m.: San Francisco has the ball immediately after a kickoff turnover.

Ameer Abdullah takes the kickoff up the middle, and it’s Ji’Ayir Brown — who was beat on the touchdown — that forces a fumble. Jake Tonges recovers and the 49ers have the ball inside the 30.

49ers 7, Colts 7

8:36 p.m. TOUCHDOWN: The 49ers answer right back.

On 2nd & 8, Purdy throws a bullet over the middle of the field to Demarcus Robinson, who reels it in for a 22-yard score. 

Purdy completed all three of his passes that drive for 53 yards and a touchdown. After the opening drives, it’s 7-7.

8:35 p.m.: Right after McCaffrey gets his first reception of the game, the back takes a carry nine yards down to the Indianapolis 24. The 49ers have a new set of downs.

8:32 p.m.: Carry No. 1 for Christian McCaffrey goes for four yards, with the 49ers looking to strike back fast.

The next play, San Francisco is already in Indianapolis territory after Purdy lobs one up to George Kittle over the middle of the field. The superstar tight end comes back to make a play on the ball and it goes for 26 yards.

San Francisco is inside the 40.

Colts 7, 49ers 0

8:28 p.m. TOUCHDOWN: Philip Rivers and Indianapolis strike first on a stellar opening drive.

On a free play, Rivers lobs one up to Alec Pierce in the end zone, and the receiver brings it down for a 20-yard score.

Rivers was 5-for-7 for 73 yards and a touchdown on the first drive as the Colts take a 7-0 lead.

8:26 p.m.: Now on 3rd & 7, Rivers hits Michael Pittman Jr. on a drag and he takes it well above the first down chains. But, an illegal formation penalty on Jalen Travis negates the play.

With that, the Colts still convert on 3rd & 12. Rivers finds Downs in between a few defenders and the wide receiver stumbles forward for 13 yards and a first down.

8:24 p.m.: Right after the Taylor run, Rivers finds Josh Downs on the left side of the field. It goes for 18 yards and Indianapolis is inside the 35.

8:23 p.m.: On the first third down of the game, Rivers connects with Taylor over the middle of the field and the running back has space. He takes it 19 yards all the way to the Colts 49.

8:20 p.m.: Colts center Tanor Bortolini went down on the second play of the game, which was a Jonathan Taylor seven-yard run.

He is currently being checked on by trainers.

8:17 p.m.: “Monday Night Football” has kicked off at Lucas Oil Stadium.

44-year-old Philip Rivers and the Colts won the kickoff and elected to receive.

8:14 p.m.: Kickoff is moments away.

The stakes are high: for the 49ers, a loss cements a wild card spot in the NFC. The Colts will not be mathematically eliminated with a loss, but will face a steep uphill climb.

8:05 p.m.: The 49ers have real Super Bowl aspirations and look to be in their home stadium come February 8, 2026.

This is the first of two straight primetime contests for San Francisco.

7:53 p.m.: Tonight’s quarterback matchup is between pick No. 4 in the 2004 NFL Draft vs. Mr. Irrelevant in 2022.

7:44 p.m.: The “Indiana Nights” alternate uniform is in full swing.

7:32 p.m.: Do you think Jason Kelce is in the holiday spirit? 

7:26 p.m.: Philip Rivers is back under the lights.

The Colts desperately need a win to stay alive in the AFC playoff race. 

7:11 p.m.: Brock Purdy is getting loose before “Monday Night Football.”

7:08 p.m.: Indianapolis has posted its inactives for tonight’s contest.

Most notable is Sauce Gardner, who has been week-to-week with a calf injury. The corner played two full games after being acquired from the New York Jets before injuring his calf against the Houston Texans.

7:07 p.m.: This matchup features two of the best running backs in the NFL in Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor.

McCaffrey is 78 rushing yards away from 1,000 on the season. 

6:48 p.m.: San Francisco has listed its inactives for “Monday Night Football.”

Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is out with a knee injury.

6:39 p.m.: San Francisco enters tonight at 10-4 and having a playoff berth clinched.

With a win tonight, the 49ers will stay eligible for the NFC West title, which is currently held by the Seattle Seahawks. 

6:37 p.m.: The Colts will be wearing their “Indiana nights” alternate uniforms for tonight’s primetime contest.

6:10 p.m.: 44-year-old Philip Rivers makes his second start in 2025 tonight against the 2022 Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy.

You can follow Rivers’ stats from “Monday Night Football” here. 

5:43 p.m.: Tonight, DeForest Buckner plays the team that drafted him with the seventh overall pick in 2016.

MORE NFL WEEK 16:

Where to watch 49ers vs. Colts

49ers vs. Colts start time

  • Date: Monday, December 22
  • Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET

Week 16’s “Monday Night Football” game between the 49ers and the Colts will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET. 

Joe Buck will be the play-by-play analyst for the game, with Troy Aikman serving as the color commentator. Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi will be the sideline reporters for the game. 

What channel is 49ers vs. Colts on today?

  • Date: Monday, December 22
  • TV Channel: ESPN, ABC
  • Live stream: ESPN App, Fubo

The Week 16 matchup between the 49ers and the Colts will be broadcast on ESPN, and simulcast on ABC. There will also be an alternative broadcast on ESPN2, with Field Yates, Dan Orlovsky and Luke Kuechly.

A live stream will be available on the ESPN App as well as Fubo, which carries ESPN and ABC in its channel lineup and is currently offering a free trial. 

MORE: Updated AFC, NFC playoff pictures in Week 16

49ers remaining schedule

With a playoff berth clinched, here is how San Francisco closes out the regular season. 

Date Game Time (ET)
Sun., Dec. 28 vs. Bears (SNF) 8:20 p.m.
TBD vs. Seahawks TBD

MORE: Updated 2026 NFL Draft order in Week 16

Colts remaining schedule

Here is how Indianapolis will end the regular season. 

Date Game Time (ET)
Sun., Dec. 28 vs. Jaguars 1 p.m.
TBD  at Texans TBD

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