BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Jason Myers delivered one of the finest kicking performances in Seattle Seahawks history, drilling a franchise-record six field goals and sealing the victory with a clutch 56-yarder in the final half-minute as Seattle edged the Indianapolis Colts 18-16 on Sunday.
The decisive kick came with 29 seconds remaining, capping a tense back-and-forth finish that featured late lead changes and the highly anticipated return of veteran quarterback Philip Rivers. At 44 years old and nearly five years removed from his last NFL start, Rivers briefly appeared poised to author a remarkable comeback story before Seattle’s special teams had the final say.
Moments earlier, Rivers had guided Indianapolis into scoring position, setting up Blake Grupe’s booming 60-yard field goal with 47 seconds left to give the Colts a 16-15 lead. The kick energized the visiting sideline and suggested the Colts might finally snap out of a late-season slide that had jeopardized their playoff hopes.
Seattle, however, still had time and belief. Rashid Shaheed returned the ensuing kickoff 28 yards to the Seahawks’ 37-yard line, giving quarterback Sam Darnold a manageable starting point. Calm under pressure, Darnold completed two passes to Shaheed for 25 yards, moving the ball just far enough to bring Myers into range. The veteran kicker then calmly split the uprights from 56 yards, sending the home crowd into celebration and lifting Seattle to its 11th win of the season.
The winning drive marked Darnold’s third game-winning march of the season and the 13th of his NFL career, underscoring Seattle’s growing confidence in close games. With the victory, the Seahawks kept pace with the Los Angeles Rams atop the NFC West, setting up a crucial divisional showdown later in the week.
Rivers’ return was the central storyline entering the game. Pressed into action after Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon, Indianapolis turned to the longtime former Chargers quarterback, who had been coaching high school football and spending time with his growing family. Despite the long layoff, Rivers showed flashes of his old poise and competitive fire.
He completed 18 of 27 passes for 120 yards, throwing a touchdown pass in the first half that briefly steadied a Colts offense searching for consistency. While his numbers were modest, Rivers’ command helped keep Indianapolis within striking distance throughout the afternoon. His final throw, an attempt to force the ball downfield with 11 seconds remaining, was intercepted by Seattle cornerback Coby Bryant, who recorded his career-high fourth interception of the season and officially ended the Colts’ last chance.
Indianapolis fell to 8-6, extending a difficult stretch that has seen the team lose four straight games and five of its last six, pushing it out of playoff position in the AFC. For all the intrigue surrounding Rivers’ return, the defeat left the Colts still searching for answers as the season enters its closing weeks.
The afternoon ultimately belonged to Myers, who entered the game as the NFL’s leading scorer and added another chapter to his career year. He connected from 47, 52, 46, 32 and 30 yards before delivering the decisive kick from 56. His six field goals were one shy of his career high of seven, set in 2018, and pushed his season total to 153 points, the highest single-season mark of his career.
The Seahawks did not score a touchdown, making the win a rare one in franchise history. It marked Seattle’s first victory without a touchdown since a 6-3 win over Chicago late in the 2024 season, a testament to both Myers’ reliability and a defense that repeatedly held Indianapolis in check.
Darnold finished the game 22 of 36 for 271 yards, efficiently distributing the ball and avoiding costly mistakes. Jaxon Smith-Njigba continued his standout season, leading all receivers with seven catches for 113 yards and providing Seattle with consistent production in the passing game.
The game also featured several injury concerns. Indianapolis lost offensive lineman Bernhard Raimann to an elbow injury in the second quarter, and he did not return. Seattle linebacker Derick Hall injured his hand early but came back in the second quarter, while tackle Abe Lucas briefly left the game in the second half with an arm and shoulder issue before returning.
Indianapolis will look to regroup when it hosts San Francisco on Monday night, hoping to halt its slide and reinsert itself into the playoff conversation. Seattle, meanwhile, will turn its attention to a pivotal Thursday night matchup at home against the Rams, with the NFC West lead hanging in the balance after a victory defined by precision kicking and late-game composure.
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