Former Colts starter came up big in Week 9 (while Indy came up empty)

The Indianapolis Colts suffered a humiliating loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers after Super Bowl-worthy performances during the first eight weeks of the season. Quarterback Daniel Jones silenced the haters and proved that the Colts weren't wrong to pick him over Anthony Richardson, the young quarterback who had been Indy's first-round pick in 2023.

Yet all that came to a crashing halt in Week 9, and Jones specifically had a terrible day. He completed 31 of his 50 pass attempts for 342 yards and a touchdown, as well as six turnovers: three interceptions and three fumbles.

Understandably, it makes fans question how much of this is Jones coming back to reality, versus him just having an off day, with the offensive line letting him down. But it stings even more realizing that a former Colts quarterback had an insanely good performance the same week... while Daniel Jones was struggling.

Joe Flacco looked like a starter again (just not for the Colts)

Veteran QB Joe Flacco notoriously took over for Anthony Richardson last season, and to put it plainly, it was a disaster. No one was surprised at all when he was let go, and initially, he signed with the Cleveland Browns. He didn't play well there, either, and was soon traded to the Cincinnati Bengals.

That would seemingly make Flacco the laughingstock of the league, but instead, he just had an insanely good game for the Bengals, all while having a sprained AC joint in his right throwing shoulder - one so bad, he reportedly could barely even lift his arm.

Flacco ended the game with an absolutely insane 470 yards and four touchdowns, a career high for the former Super Bowl MVP. The Bengals still narrowly lost, but it wasn't because Flacco didn't do everything humanly possible to bring home the dub. He's looked like his old self since leaving for Cincinnati.

Unfortunately, in Week 9, the same could be said for Daniel Jones.

Previously this season, Jones has been excellent under pressure and executed Shane Steichen's offense with near-perfect precision. Against the Steelers, you never would have known it, though. He struggled while pressured, he made dumb decisions, and looked like the quarterback the New York Giants couldn't wait to be rid of.

Of course, none of this means anyone is wishing Flacco was back in Indianapolis; even if he did have a spectacular season, he's still a 40-year-old QB who wouldn't be a long-term answer for the Colts at QB. But there's also no denying that it's a bit like rubbing salt into the wound to see your quarterback struggling, while the starter you let walk has a career day.