Colts star indicts punchless Jets after win: ‘It was the most relaxed I’ve been'

Did Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson just relaunch his career?

After being benched for Weeks 9 and 10 and looking overwhelmed for most of this season, Richardson re-entered the Colts' starting lineup against the New York Jets on Sunday because back-up QB Joe Flacco became a turnover machine. The 2024 No. 4 overall pick promptly put together the most impressive game of his career to drop the Jets to 3-8 after a 28-27 win at MetLife Stadium .

In the process, Richardson led the first game-winning drive of his career — six plays, 70 yards — that he capped with a 4-yard touchdown run with 46 seconds left.

"It's pretty cool, especially to do it against the Jets and Aaron Rodgers," Richardson told reporters . "I've been watching him since I was a kid. So, it's a blessing just to be able go against a legend."

The risks of drafting Richardson have been realized through 11 games of his career. He's an electric athlete with game-breaking ability, a deadly runner and passer on deep throws. But he's not polished in the pocket and his accuracy has suffered; he had a 59.5% completion percentage in four games last year, a mark that has sank to 44.4% in six games of 2024.

When it all comes together for Richardson, it looks like Sunday: 20 of 30 passing for 272 yards and one touchdown and two rushing TDs on 32 yards (10 attempts).

Another indictment of a Jets' defense that has looked aimless since the firing of coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start?

"I won't say I was the most prepared or most confident," Richardson said. "It was the most relaxed I've been. There really wasn't any pressure on me. I was just out there taking it one play at a time. I just focused on my assignment. I wasn't trying to press or do anything too much."

The Colts are 5-6 and in the thick of the playoff race, while the 3-8 Jets are trying to sell their fan base that next week will be better.

Rodgers threw two touchdown passes and running back Breece Hall had a TD catch and ran for a score, but the Jets dropped their seventh in eight games and fell to 1-5 under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich.

Rodgers was 22 of 29 for 184 yards after a brutally slow start during which he went 9 of 13 for just 76 yards. New York failed to get a first down until its sixth offensive possession, when they made two and scored a touchdown.

"I mean, it's disappointing," Rodgers said, repeating the theme of the day for the Jets. "I know I've said that three times now, but we've been working really hard trying to figure out what the issues are. It's not just one person. Sometimes it's me, sometimes it's somebody else."