3 winners (and 2 losers) from the Colts win over the Dolphins

The Indianapolis Colts were able to beat the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, 16-10, despite a disappointing first half and more inconsistencies with quarterback Anthony Richardson. Though it wasn't a pretty win, it was still the second victory in a row for the Colts, who are still eager to prove they could be playoff contenders and that they are growing their young talent.

There was little to be excited about overall, but there were still a few standouts for the Colts - and some areas that needed definite improvement. Then, of course, there's the riddle of Anthony Richardson, who continues to fluctuate between exciting, explosive plays and duds.

Winner: Segun Olubi

A big part of why the Colts were able to turn things around in the second half was due to some brilliant plays from Olubi - particularly in the beginning of the third quarter. Olubi not only was able to strip the ball from Raheem Mostert, but also recovered the fumble and ran for 18 yards.

It completely changed the momentum of the game, and could arguably be the moment that put the Colts on the path to victory. And he said his history as a runningback is what helped him make such a great play. "That was my first position, I loved it," he said. "Playing running back, having vision, being able to see what's going on."

Loser: Run Defense

Overall, the Colts defense has markedly improved since Week 1. And they were largely responsible for the win, keeping the Dolphins offense from gaining too much momentum. This was even more impressive considering how many of their defensive standouts are currently injured.

Yet still, the run defense is the weak spot. Sunday, they allowed 188 rushing yards at 4.7 yards per carry. While it's significantly better than earlier in the season, the run defense needs to step up its game for the Colts to be more competitive moving forward. After all, the Dolphins are objectively not a good team. This performance doesn't bode well for upcoming contests, when there will be much tougher opponents to compete against.

Winner: Grant Stuard

Grant Stuard has, until now, been playing on special teams. When EJ Speed was injured, Stuard was moved into the strong side linebacker spot opposite Jaylon Carlies. But then Carlies had to leave the game with an ankle injury, Stuard was moved into the weak side position opposite Segun Olubi, and it could have spelled disaster.

Instead, Stuard excelled. He led the team in tackles, with 19 total, including one of the Colts’ five tackles for a loss. He also partnered with Zaire Franklin on a forced fumble, which was recovered by the Colts. All in all, it was a spectacular game for Stuard.

Loser: Shane Steichen

Steichen has a reputation for being a coach who can develop young quarterbacks into stars, which was specifically thought to be the key to unlocking Anthony Richardson's potential. But by his own admission, his play calling has not been doing Richardson many favors.

After Sunday's game, that was especially clear in the first half. The plays he called were not tailoring to Richardson's strengths, nor reading the defense well. “I didn’t do a good enough job for all these guys today,” Steichen said to reporters afterward. “It was on me. I didn’t do a good enough job offensively; I’ve got to do a better job for these guys going forward.”

It was a point he continued to expound upon - that Richardson was not being served as well as he could have been.

“I’ve got to do better, I’ve got to put him in better positions. You go back, and we’ll watch the tape, but I mean there wasn’t a lot of stuff open, to be honest, when I was out there watching it. That’s on me," Steichen said, adding, "“I’ve got to do a better job of putting him in position."

Winner: Laiatu Latu

The Colts had been promising in the days leading up to the Dolphins game that Latu's time was coming - and Sunday, it did. He had his second sack of the season, and also stopped a run from Mostert, leading to a loss of yards. Among rookie defensive linemen, only DeWayne Carter has had more tackles for loss so far this season, and only by one. He also ranks in the top five for highest pressure rates by rookie defenders in Week 7.

Latu has been rumored to be a shoo-in for Defensive Rookie of the Year, and games like yesterday are an example of why.

Anthony Richardson

Richardson's performance Sunday was an encapsulation of everything we've come to expect from the young QB. He had 129 passing yards and 56 rushing yards, and completed 10 of 24 passes. It wasn't a great percentage, but he also showed just why he's such a threat to any team's defense. He ran for over 30 yards in the first quarter alone, and had a brilliant pass in the end zone to Alec Pierce that was cancelled out only due to penalties. He also showed his toughness, as Jalen Ramsey tried to sack him from behind, but couldn't take him down. Richardson also didn't throw any interceptions this game - a small bar, perhaps, but a crucial one for Colts fans, as Richardson has struggled with inaccurate passes.

Sunday, to be fair, some of his missed passes weren't his fault. On occasion, they went right through the hands of his receivers, or he was directed by Steichen towards someone under heavy coverage. Yet all the same, it was hardly a brilliant performance. He managed to get a win, and that was it. He's far from the best quarterback in the league, and he has many people questioning if the Colts made a mistake gambling on him. Others are sure that he simply needs more time.

Despite it all, Richardson remains confident in his athletic abilities. “I’m here because of who I am,” he said after the game. “I’m one of one. Not many people can do what I do.”