NFL Confidential: Scouts, Execs, Coaches Amazed by Philip Rivers' Play in Return

No, you weren't experiencing a fever dream watching Sunday's Indianapolis Colts-Seattle Seahawks game. That was Philip Rivers under center for the Colts, playing his first game in five seasons as he nearly led Indianapolis to an upset victory on the road. 

Rivers' stat line wasn't the most impressive in that game, throwing for 120 yards, a touchdown and an interception. But when you consider the circumstances the 44-year-old dealt with, the fact that he almost helped the Colts get a much-needed victory was impressive. 

That's a sentiment that's shared by a good number of people around the NFL, too. FOX Sports' Eric D. Williams and Ralph Vacchiano surveyed the league for their thoughts on Rivers' return, how they thought he played and what could be next for the quarterback. 

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Eric D. Williams: Scouts, personnel executives and coaches I spoke with throughout the NFL agreed on the performance of 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers in nearly leading the Indianapolis Colts to an improbable road win over one of the best teams in the league in the Seattle Seahawks after a five-year absence.

Rivers played about as well as expected, considering he had been coaching high school football just weeks earlier.

"It was very impressive," an NFL coach familiar with Rivers told me. "Watching the highlights, you forget he hasn’t played in four years. He’s one of the smartest and best football players I’ve ever been around, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. He’s a Hall of Famer in my book."

"I thought it was amazing he could execute a game plan in an NFL game after three practices while being out for five years," an NFL personnel executive also told me. 

A national scout in attendance for the game at Lumen Field lauded Rivers’