Philip Rivers made a notable return to the National Football League on Sunday, starting at quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts in a closely contested game against the Seattle Seahawks. The game finished with Seattle winning 18-16 at Lumen Field.

Rivers, 44, came out of retirement after nearly five years away from professional play. He was added to the Colts active roster this week following injuries to other quarterbacks. This marked Rivers’ first NFL start since the 2020 season, according to Reuters. In the game, Rivers completed 18 of 27 passes for 120 yards, threw one touchdown and was intercepted late in the fourth quarter. His touchdown pass to wide receiver Josh Downs came in the first half and gave the Colts a lead going into halftime. 

The Colts took a lead late in the fourth quarter when kicker Blake Grupe converted a 60-yard field goal with under a minute remaining. However, the Seahawks responded on the ensuing possession and Jason Myers kicked a 56-yard field goal with 18 seconds left to secure the win for Seattle. Rivers final pass attempt with 18 seconds remaining was intercepted, which ended Indianapolis’ chance to retake the lead and sealed the Seahawks’ victory.

Despite the loss, Rivers showed moments of leadership and efficiency. His touchdown pass was the first of his career since 2020 and his return to the field drew attention from fans and commentators alike. Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen noted after the game that Rivers’ impact extended beyond the scoreboard and that his experience helped the team stay competitive throughout the matchup.

The Colts, now 8-6, remain in the hunt for a postseason berth but face a challenging stretch to reach the playoffs. Seattle improved to 11-3 with the victory.