- Brock Purdy threw for 295 yards and a career-high five touchdown passes in the 49ers’ win.
- The Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Chargers each clinched playoff berths after the Colts’ loss.
- 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers had a solid game for the Colts, throwing for 277 yards and two touchdowns.
The playoff-bound San Francisco 49ers are getting hot at the right time.
The 49ers got by the Indianapolis Colts, 48-27, to win their fifth consecutive game.
Conversely, the Colts have now lost five straight games.
Brock Purdy and the 49ers scored on their first four drives of the game, and carried their momentum into the second half against a defenseless Colts team.
Purdy tossed a career-best five touchdown passes. Philip Rivers played admirably, but it wasn’t enough to defeat the red-hot 49ers.
Here are the winners and losers from the interconference matchup on ‘Monday Night Football’:
WINNERS
Career night for Brock Purdy
The 49ers QB is playing well.
Purdy threw for 295 yards and a career-high five touchdown passes in the win.
Purdy completed 25 of his 35 passes. He had one inaccurate ball that he threw a little high to WR Kendrick Bourne that was picked off by Colts safety Cam Bynum.
Overall, Purdy was efficient all game. He had 151 passing yards, and three touchdown passes in the first half alone.
Purdy and the 49ers offense haven’t punted in the month of December.
Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle
The 49ers offense continues to revolve around their two star playmakers.
McCaffrey is the engine to the 49ers offense. The running back had 27 touches, 146 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns.
Kittle tallied seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.
San Francisco has a chance to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC if it wins its next two games, but the 49ers can’t afford to lose Kittle or McCaffrey.
Dee Winters takes one to house
Winters got his first career interception when he stepped in from of a pass intended for tight end Tyler Warren. The 49ers linebacker caught the football and returned it 74 yards to the house.
The pick-six sealed the win for San Francisco.
Christmas gift for Kendrick Bourne
Bourne earned his $500,000 receiving yards bonus on Monday night. A nice holiday bonus for the wideout who’s had a nice year in San Francisco.
Philip Rivers impressive in second start
Anything Rivers does at this point is a win. It’s hard to call the 44-year-old Rivers a loser playing in his second game after a five-year hiatus.
With his family watching in a suite, Rivers carved the 49ers up during Indy’s opening series. Rivers completed 5-of-7 passes for 73 yards on the Colts’ nine-play, 72-yard touchdown drive.
Rivers completed 23-of-35 passes for 277 yards to go with two touchdowns and one interception. It was the first time Rivers passed for over 275 yards since Dec. 6, 2020.
Rivers still has good accuracy and anticipation. His familiarity with Shane Steichen’s offense is evident.
Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers
The Bills, Jaguars and Chargers each clinched a playoff berth because of San Francisco’s win over Indianapolis on Monday. The three playoff-bound AFC teams owe the 49ers a Christmas present.
California NFL teams
All three NFL teams in the Golden State have clinched a playoff spot.
LOSERS
Defense
There was little resistance from either defense, especially in the first half.
Both offenses combined for 41 points, 444 yards and 27 first downs in the first half. The 49ers averaged 7.6 yards per play. Indianapolis averaged 6.5 yards per play.
The defensive units played a little better in the second half.
Niners defensive tackle Alfred Collins had a strip sack in the fourth quarter that ruined a Colts drive.
Colts safety Cam Bynum had an interception. San Francisco linebacker Dee Winters had a pick-six.
Sauce Gardner-less Colts defense
The Colts certainly miss Gardner.
The 49ers scored on their first four series, including three touchdown drives.
San Francisco scored on seven total drives and gained 440 yards on a helpless Colts defense. The 49ers averaged 6.7 yards per play and didn’t punt once.
Ameer Abdullah
Abdullah fumbled on his first kickoff return and gave San Francisco ideal field position at Indy’s 26-yard line. The 49ers capitalized off the turnover with a touchdown five plays later to take a 14-7 first-quarter lead.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
