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Stephen Holder, ESPN
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The sharp suit Anthony Richardson donned upon his arrival at MetLife Stadium on Sunday suggested he meant business.
But when the Indianapolis Colts quarterback engineered two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, including the game-winner with 46 seconds left, to beat the New York Jets while justifying his reinstatement as the team’s starter, Richardson He left no doubt that he had come this far. with a purpose.
Richardson, the fourth pick in the 2023 draft, had perhaps the best day of his young career as he led the Colts to a 28-27 victory that kept their postseason hopes alive and reversed a worrying downward trend on offense, not to mention that ended. a streak of three consecutive losses.
The last two games, during which Richardson was benched and served as a backup to veteran Joe Flacco, were a wake-up call for the young player.
“That allowed me to relax a little bit,” Richardson said. “It just allowed me to take a step back and just clean up some things that I needed to clean up. And that was really my focus, to make sure that when I got the opportunity again, to make sure that I was the best I could be and I was doing the right thing for the equipment”.
Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen said last week that he wanted to see Richardson be more focused on the details involved in game preparation.
Richardson’s coach and his teammates said they had seen a renewed level of focus from him before Sunday’s game, his 11th professional start. He came to work earlier in the morning, spent more time meeting with assistant coaches and took more control of the game plan, they said.
“He was trying hard,” Steichen said. “I was ready to roll today.”
The results followed. Richardson completed 20 of 30 attempts for a career-high 272 yards and accounted for three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing). He was especially brilliant in the fourth quarter, completing 8 of 10 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown.
Richardson and the Colts went 70 yards in eight plays on a possession capped by Richardson’s 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Josh Downs with 10:11 remaining. A failed 2-point conversion left the Colts still trailing 24-22.
The Indianapolis defense allowed a field goal on the ensuing drive, with Aaron Rodgers and the Jets eating up 7:30 of the clock in the process and extending their lead to 27-22.
That’s when Richardson’s time came. The Colts got the ball with 2:41 left, and two plays later, Richardson produced the Colts’ biggest play of the day. Receiver Alec Pierce found a hole in the Jets’ zone coverage and Richardson hit him with a perfectly placed throw for 39 yards. Richardson found Downs for 17 yards on the next play, and the Colts were at the Jets’ 10-yard line, ready to win the game.
On third-and-goal from the 4-yard line, Steichen didn’t think too much about it: He put the ball in his big quarterback’s hands, with the 6-foot-4, 244-pound Richardson making a powerful run up the left side and finding the ball. end zone.
The score sparked a wild celebration on the Colts bench.
“Emotions were at an all-time high,” Richardson said. “I was so excited that we scored.”
Calling a quarterback run in that situation was an extension of Steichen’s modified offensive approach throughout the day. He implemented more throws on the run and designed quarterback runs for Richardson, and the decision played to the quarterback’s strengths.
Richardson didn’t have great rushing numbers (32 yards on 10 carries) but he has previously said that carrying the ball allows him to get into the flow of the game. And Richardson’s ability to run for short yards was critical, as evidenced by the game-winning touchdown run and his earlier score in which he crushed safety Jalen Mills on the way to the end zone and then proceeded to do a dance of TikTok in celebration.
“I think it helps our offense get in rhythm,” Richardson said.
Most importantly, though, Richardson proved himself worthy of the faith placed in him this week. His job was taken away and his faith was restored. But he still had to prove he could do his part.
“I definitely appreciate them for trusting me and believing in me throughout the whole process, regardless of what I was going through,” Richardson said.
