A big change in Philip Rivers’ game plan, Tyler Warren sets a franchise record, Lou Anarumo explains what went wrong with defense in loss to 49ers

3. The Colts switched up their starting offensive line.

Rookie Jalen Travis flipped from right tackle, where he played last week with Braden Smith (neck/concussion) on injured reserve, to left tackle. Left guard Quenton Nelson and center Tanor Bortolini stayed in their usual spots, while Dalton Tucker slid in at right guard and Matt Goncalves – who played tackle in college and the NFL up until this year – kicked out to right tackle from right guard; the Colts inserted Luke Tenuta at left tackle after Bernhard Raimann sustained an elbow injury against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15.

Then Bortolini sustained a concussion on the second play on Sunday’s game. That left the Colts with an offensive line, from left to right, of Travis, Nelson, Danny Pinter, Tucker and Goncalves. So only Nelson, at left guard, remained from the Colts’ Week 1 starting offensive line – which, to this point, had played together for the vast majority of offensive snaps this season.

Despite so many moving parts, Rivers was under pressure on just 12 of 37 dropbacks (32.4 percent); for some context, the Denver Broncos’ pressure rate allowed of 32.5 percent this season is fourth-best in the NFL.

“I thought they did a good job protecting Philip all night,” Steichen said. “Obviously, those guys stepping in – Tuck stepping in at the guard spot (and) some shuffling going around there. Gonz moving out to the tackle spot, and Jalen moving over. And then obviously, Danny had to come in for Bort. I thought he did a good job. He’s been here for a while. He prepares the right way. I thought those guys battled like crazy.”