Quarterback Anthony Richardson’s rare talents on full display as Colts chase down Jets
INDIANAPOLIS – That's what the fuss always has been about.
The lively arm. The threatening legs. The ability to, when absolutely necessary, put the offense on his broad shoulders and find a way.
No one should anoint Anthony Richardson as the no-doubt quarterback of the future for the Indianapolis Colts.
But on a Sunday afternoon rife with questions — primarily, how will he respond after a humbling two-game timeout? — Richardson delivered an authoritative answer to everyone.
On this day at MetLife Stadium, he was the difference — while also getting a helping hand from the Colts' defense and kicker Matt Gay — in the 28-27 win over Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets.
That's what the Colts have envisioned since selecting him with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft. It's a vision that was blurred by a season-ending shoulder injury last season and interrupted when coach Shane Steichen decided Richardson needed a wakeup call regarding his overall approach and preparation.
"The way he played, the way he battled today, was phenomenal,'' Steichen said.
That word — phenomenal — was sprinkled frequently in Steichen's postgame comments.
Richardson completed 20-of-30 passes for a career-high 272 yards and a 10-yard touchdown to wideout Josh Downs that narrowed the Jets' lead to 24-22 with 10:11 remaining in the game.
"I'm pretty sure you guys know that's my guy right there,'' Richardson said of his '23 draft classmate.
Steichen and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter also made certain Richardson was active in the run game. The Colts' first snap was a QB keeper. It went for no gain, but the tone was set.
Richardson rushed 10 times for 32 yards and two touchdowns. The second, a 4-yarder, came on third-and-goal at the 4-yard line with less than one minute remaining in the fourth quarter. The run capped the first fourth-quarter comeback of Richardson's 11-start career.
"It was an automatic quarterback run,'' Richardson said.
Steichen put running back Jonathan Taylor in motion to the right and had Richardson follow wideout Ashton Dulin and rookie left tackle Matt Goncalves around the left edge. Dulin fended off cornerback Isaiah Oliver enough to allow Richardson to reach the goal line, where he used his 6-foot-4, 250-pound frame to eliminate pursuing cornerback D.J. Reed.
It marked the second time in his brief career he's generated two rushing TDs. The first against the Jets was a 2-yarder on the second play of the second quarter that also showcased Richardson's unique skillset.
He rolled to his left, stiff-armed 263-pound defensive lineman Michael Clemons, who had gotten quick penetration, then ran through safety Jalen Mills at the goal line.
Let's be clear — this wasn't one of those one-person, way-way-off Broadway productions.
Gay cleaned up several failed drives with 41, 47 and 56-yard field goals. He's converted 18 of his last 19.
And the defense started and finished hot to compensate for a mid-game lull.
Coordinator Gus Bradley's group forced five straight three-and-outs to open the game — the Rodgers-led Jets had 29 yards on 16 plays — and closed by forcing the Jets to settle for Anders Carlson's 35-yard field goal at the end of a 13-play, 53-yard drive that drained seven minutes and 30 seconds off the clock.
The door was ajar.
It was Jets 27, Colts 22 with 2:41 remaining. Indy had possession of the ball at its own 30-yard line.
That's when a quarterback with unquestioned star power asserts himself.
"He played phenomenal,'' Steichen said. "He played great all day.''
After picking up 4 yards on first down, Richardson pump-faked and hit wide receiver Alec Pierce down the right sideline for 39 yards. Cornerback Sauce Gardner passed off Pierce to cover Downs on a shorter route, and Mills was late to pick him up.
"Shout out to AP for running and trusting me and making that happen,'' Richardson said.
Next, a 17-yard laser to Downs for a first-and-10 at the 10-yard line.
"Shout out to Josh for turning his head and getting the ball in his hands,'' Richardson said.
On third-and-goal from the 4-yard line, Richardson provided the game-winner.
"I just told myself, 'I'm getting in this end zone regardless what happens,'' he said.
Pass rusher Kwity Paye put the Jets out of their latest misery by sacking Rodgers twice on the final, desperation drive.
It proved to be a fitting end to a character-testing two weeks for Richardson. Neither his play on the field nor approach to preparation were up to the necessary standards, according to Steichen. That led to the week 9 benching and watching as veteran Joe Flacco took over.
The Colts' losing streak hit three games before Steichen determined Richardson had done enough to earn another chance.
"Obviously, had the chance to sit back and see it from a different perspective,'' Steichen said. "But again, he was putting in the work and progressing in that way.
"He was ready to roll today.''
That was especially true when the Colts' playoff hopes were flickering. Rodgers' 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kenny Yeboah gave the Jets a 24-16 lead with 13:03 remaining.
In the fourth quarter, Richardson led touchdown drives that consisted of his 10-yarder to Downs and his 4-yard game-winner, and personally accounted for 137 of the Colts' 140 yards over the final 13 minutes.
Richardson was lethal with his right arm, completing 8-of-10 passes for 129 yards and a 152.1 rating. It's worth noting the Jets entered the game with the NFL's No. 2-ranked pass defense, allowing just 168 yards per game.
On the first drive, Richardson kick-started things with a 20-yard hookup with receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and kept it going by rolling to his right to avoid defensive lineman Quinnen Williams' pressure and converting a third-and-2 with a 12-yarder to tight end Mo Alie-Cox.
The touchdown to Downs came with him and Taylor flanking Richardson in the shotgun. Steichen sent in word for Downs and Taylor to flip sides — Downs to the left — and Downs ran a quickie short post against cornerback Isaiah Oliver. He caught Richardson's pass inside the 5-yard line and dragged Oliver into the end zone.
After the game, Steichen offered heart-felt support to his young, beleaguered quarterback.
Phenomenal job, man. Let's keep it going. Keep preparing the right way every week. You keep doing what you're doing, man, it's going to be special.
As much as possible, Richardson kept things in perspective.
"We're definitely excited to get the victory, but we're trying to stack 'em up, honestly,'' he said. "Of course we're going to celebrate it, but we try not to focus on it too, too much because we've got another team coming in this upcoming week trying to stop us and put us down.''
That would be the 9-1 Detroit Lions, who overwhelmed Jacksonville 52-6. The Lions visit Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday.
The Colts moved to 5-6 and remain very much in the discussion to earn one of the seven AFC playoff spots.
One game, insisted Steichen, can provide a spark.
"A hundred percent,'' he said. "Sometimes you go through some stretches like we did ... and you get a big win like we did, and that can spark things.
"Sometimes, it just takes one to get it going.''
And there's no denying as Sunday showed, all things are possible when Richardson plays to this level.
He insisted the two-week demotion allowed him to "relax a little bit."
"Although I didn't want to relax too, too much, it just allowed me to take a step back and clean up some things that I had to clean up.''
Richardson was asked about the faith the Colts showed in him. The franchise never truly lost trust in a player it's counting on for now and beyond.
"I don't know if there's any reward to me,'' he said. "I just hope my teammates see that I'm willing to do anything for them. I'm willing to put my body on the line to go sacrifice anything out there on the field for them.
"I definitely appreciate them just for trusting me and just believing in me throughout the whole process, regardless of what was going on.''
