The Indianapolis Colts are in turmoil. Not only have they lost three games in a row, they're embroiled in a quarterback controversy, and multiple team captains have openly criticized the team in media interviews.
Despite the string of losses, the Colts are known to have a lot of potential. Jonathan Taylor is a phenomenal running back, DeForest Buckner and Zaire Franklin are some of the best defenders in the NFL, and then, there's Anthony Richardson - the young quarterback with insane athleticism but problems with consistency. Despite having just 10 starts total in the NFL, head coach Shane Steichen benched Richardson in favor of aging quarterback Joe Flacco, who supposedly was going to give the Colts a better shot at winning. Yet Flacco has struggled in his two starts, leading for fans and analysts alike to push for Richardson to be put back in as starter. Yet Steichen remains insistent that Flacco will start for the Colts.
All of this, both on the field and off, has led to more turbulence for the Colts in the latest power rankings, with many questioning how the Colts can recover.
Josh Kendall, The Athletic: #21 (+/- 0)
Anthony Richardson was trending on X early in the day Sunday. That’s not a good sign considering he was benched two weeks ago. Veteran Joe Flacco hasn’t backed up the team’s decision to make that move. Flacco threw three interceptions Sunday and is 0-2 since replacing Richardson. Coach Shane Steichen says the veteran will remain the starter “until I say otherwise.” That should probably be soon. Developing a young player, even one with a 44.4 completion percentage, makes more sense than continuing with Flacco, who is 21st in EPA per dropback.
Fox Sports: #22 (+/- 0)
Perhaps this weekend can be a get-right game against the pitiful New York Jets, but there’s not much to be excited about. The fourth overall pick is on the bench for the foreseeable future, yet their replacement sure looks like a typical soon-to-be 40-year-old quarterback.
Stephen Holder, ESPN: #20 (-1)
Early-season injuries to top Colts players such as DeForest Buckner and Jonathan Taylor have limited their impact. But Stewart has been a consistent presence throughout, leading the team with eight tackles for loss and creating more pass rush than any year in his career. Stewart is tied for the team lead with 3.5 sacks -- rare for a nose tackle -- and is 10th in the NFL in run stop win rate (43%).
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: #22 (+/- 0)
Two straight losses may have this team reconsidering the decision to play Joe Flacco. Maybe it's time to go back to Anthony Richardson.
Jake Arthur, SI: #23 (-1)
The Colts' offense is out of answers at this point. Neither Anthony Richardson nor Joe Flacco has sparked the offense, but the defense – which intercepted Josh Allen twice in a 30-20 loss to the Bills – is playing well enough to win games against good teams. Indy has lost three in a row headed into a game at the Jets.
Mike Florio, NBC Sports: #22 (+1)
Can Joe Flacco finally validate the decision to make him the starter?
Bleacher Report: #22 (+1)
When the Indianapolis Colts benched young quarterback Anthony Richardson in favor of Joe Flacco, it was ostensibly because the veteran gave Indy a better chance to win now.
Two weeks in, that decision looks pretty, um, ungood.
Flacco has been a turnover machine since taking over, including three more interceptions and a lost fumble against the Bills. But despite that poor performance and unhappy fans, Colts head coach Shane Steichen told reporters that for now at least, he's sticking with Flacco at quarterback.
"Until I say otherwise, Joe's our guy right now. a guy that's a veteran guy. We've had two games that we'd like to have back," Steichen said. "Right now, Joe's the guy. I think you gotta keep believing. It's never about one guy. It's the ultimate team game. You're gonna go through adversity in football season. We gotta go get better."
If at first you don't succeed…or something.
Analyst's Take
The Colts can't be as stubborn as they're coming off publicly. The organization can see how poorly its decision to start Joe Flacco has gone. The Colts aren't positioned any better to win with the 39-year-old quarterback behind center. Head coach Shane Steichen may have reiterated that Flacco is still the starter. But no one will blame him for changing course and going back to Anthony Richardson.
To take that previous statement a step further, Steichen should immediately reinsert Richardson as the starter. Bare minimum, Richardson provides athleticism and playmaking ability as a scrambler and runner. He won't be in a position where he can't convert a 4th-and-1 late in a game because he's incapable of taking off for the first down. Also, Indianapolis needs something to get this franchise rejuvenated. Flacco isn't doing it. -- Brent Sobleski
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: #21 (-1)
The Colts are trying to remain competitive with Joe Flacco at QB, but they need a more reliable passing game to support Jonathan Taylor. The defense isn't good enough to keep Flacco in comfortable situations.