There were a lot of negative takeaways from Sunday’s Week 4 loss for the Indianapolis Colts, but there were some positives as well. No takeaway was more positive than the fact that the Colts found their guy at a quarterback. Anthony Richardson showed promising flashes in his first two games in the NFL, but on Sunday, he finally finished a game, and he made it clear that he’ll be special in this league.
Things didn’t start off well for Richardson and the Colts. The rookie quarterback lost a fumble early in the game, and Indianapolis found themselves down 20-0 at half. However, Indy didn’t fold. Richardson stayed composed, and led Indy on a comeback attempt, forcing overtime by scoring 23 unanswered points.
Anthony Richardson came up big for the Colts
Richardson did damage through the air and on the ground with his legs. He completed 11-of-25 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns, while also carrying the ball 10 times for 56 yards and another touchdown. Indianapolis also had a successful two-point conversion, where Richardson scrambled around some, and tossed the ball to Zack Moss in the end zone.
That conversion came after a touchdown pass from Richardson that showed his talent. On a first down, Richardson escaped from the pocket, but kept his eyes down field looking for receivers. Seeing that tight end Mo Alie-Cox was open, Richardson put the ball on a line, while falling after being stepped on, connecting with Alie-Cox for a 35-yard touchdown. It was Indy’s first score of the game, jump-starting the comeback, and it also showed what Richardson is at his best.
He certainly still has a ways to go. Richardson and the offense left a lot on the table, and he definitely had his fair share of mistakes. However, even in his unpolished form, Anthony Richardson is already a problem for the NFL, and someone the Colts can win with. It’s only been three games, and he’s gradually improving. He did a better job of protecting himself as a runner, and he made plays for Indianapolis when the team needed it.
It’s safe to say that the Colts found their quarterback, and Richardson is only going to get better. With what he’s already shown, teams throughout the league should be concerned about what Anthony Richardson will become.