Ever since Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen made the decision to bench quarterback Anthony Richardson in favor of 39-year-old veteran Joe Flacco, it's been the biggest story in regards to the team.
The current 3-game losing streak isn't even the biggest story. Still, the quarterback room is going to dominate conversations. There is no bigger story, nor will there be for a while it appears.
After a Week 10 loss to the Buffalo Bills, head coach Shane Steichen had to know he was going to be asked about the quarterback position. After all, it was a pretty poor performance from Flacco, who ended the day throwing three interceptions, losing a fumble and getting sacked four times.
Flacco's final line saw him go 26-of-35 for 272 yards, two touchdowns and three picks with a quarterback rating of 79.7 and a total QBR of just 22.1.
Even the numbers didn't do Flacco's performance justice. He was awful, and maybe the best evidence came when the Bills were gifted one of the easiest pick-sixes you'll ever see.
Going back to Steichen being asked about the quarterback position in his postgame press conference, the Colts head coach was pretty straightforward with his tone and plans.
Shane Steichen postgame presser:
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) November 10, 2024
Joe Flacco is still the quarterback until I say otherwise.
To say that's not exactly what fans want to hear might be the understatement of the season, thus far.
""Joe Flacco is still the quarterback until I say otherwise.""Shane Steichen
Fans might be watching from their own perspective, but the majority of this fan base probably feels as though Steichen is watching a totally different quarterback than they are.
Flacco hasn't been any better than Richardson, and this has been painfully obvious.
Will Shane Steichen re-insert Anthony Richardson before it's too late?
At 4-6, the Colts aren't necessarily pounding on the door of a postseason berth. However, just two wins gets them to .500 and a very realistic and mathematical shot at a Wild Card spot.
What is stopping Steichen from going back to Richardson at this point? With either quarterback, the Colts are risking giveaways. That's quite literally a given. But, with Richardson, the offense will at least have another dimension added back into the fold with his legs being a threat.
Should Flacco and the Colts lost next week to the lowly New York Jets, dropping to 4-7, it would have to be time for Richardson to get another crack it it, right?
Being mathematically eliminated might change perspective for the head coach, but as of right now, there is still a ton of season left. If Steichen isn't feeling the pressure on his job, right now, he's likely to be feeling it after a fourth-straight loss.
Decision time is approaching, once again, for Steichen. Fans are hoping he makes the right call.