Philip Rivers' last NFL game was so long ago that only 6,772 people attended because of COVID protocols

Billy Heyen

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Philip Rivers' last NFL game was so long ago that only 6,772 people attended because of COVID protocols image

The last time Philip Rivers played in the NFL, the stands were mostly empty.

It was the 2020 season, and COVID-19 protocols were in place. Rivers' last game for the Indianapolis Colts that campaign came on Jan. 9, 2021, a postseason loss to the Buffalo Bills in front of 6,772 people.

Now, nearly five years later, Rivers is back. He's signed to the Colts' practice squad, and Indy may need him to start at QB on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks as the rest of its quarterback depth chart battles injury.

Rivers is 44 years old now, and if he plays, he'll get a chance to rewrite his ending.

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In that AFC Wild Card game in 2021, Rivers was very solid. He completed 27-of-46 passes for 309 yards.

Rivers threw a pair of touchdowns against the Bills, one to Jack Doyle and the other to Zach Pascal.

There are at least a few familiar faces still on Indy's offense that touched the ball that day. Rivers completed five passes for 90 yards to Michael Pittman Jr. The Colts got a rushing touchdown from Jonathan Taylor. Rivers also completed four passes that day to Mo Alie-Cox.

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They couldn't quite get past Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in that one as the Bills got their first playoff win in a quarter-century, with Allen throwing two TDs and running for one while Stefon Diggs had 128 receiving yards.

Yeah, it's been a while.

Rivers would love a chance to get back to that postseason round again. That's what the Colts are hoping he can do for them if called upon. The season could go down the drain following Daniel Jones' torn Achilles, and there's a chance Rivers is the only one who can save it.

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Staff Writer