Making his first start since Week 8, quarterback Anthony Richardson led the Indianapolis Colts to a 28-27, come-from-behind win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday.
Richardson was benched after a 10-of-32 passing performance in a Week 8 loss to the Houston Texans, but after the Colts went 0-2 with Joe Flacco as the starter, head coach Shane Steichen turned back to the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, and it paid dividends.
The second-year signal-caller finished Sunday’s game with 272 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions on 20-for-30 passing, plus 32 yards and two scores on the ground, including the game-winning, four-yard touchdown run with 46 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter: Richardson helped the Colts jump out to a 13-0 lead in the game, which included a two-yard touchdown run on a quarterback keeper, but the Jets stormed back with 14 unanswered points.
After Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers put New York up by eight with an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kenny Yeboah early in the fourth quarter, Richardson answered with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Josh Downs to pull Indy within two points:
An Anders Carlson field goal extended the New York lead to five with 2:41 left, setting the stage for a masterclass drive by Richardson, which included a 39-yard pass to Alec Pierce and 17-yard pass to Downs before the game-winning touchdown run. Indianapolis spoiled a great showing by Jets running back Breece Hall, who enjoyed one of his best games of the season. After having not scored a touchdown since Week 7, Hall had a 29-yard touchdown catch in the closing seconds of the second quarter and an 18-yard touchdown run less than two minutes into the third quarter to turn a 13-point deficit into a one-point lead:
Rodgers didn’t have a big day for the Jets in terms of yardage with 184 yards through the air, but he went 22-of-29 and threw two touchdowns with no interceptions. The loss dropped the Jets to 3-8 on the season and 1-7 over their past eight contests, meaning their already-dim playoff hopes are now on life support. Conversely, the Colts improved to 5-6 and snapped a three-game losing streak. They also put themselves firmly back in the playoff conversation in the AFC.
While there will likely continue to be growing pains with Richardson, he likely solidified his status as the Colts’ starter for the rest of the season and perhaps beyond if he can get them into the playoffs. As for the Jets, Sunday’s loss is a microcosm of one of the most disheartening seasons in franchise history, and it perhaps calls into question Rodgers’ future in New York. The Jets will lick their proverbial wounds next week while on the bye before returning to face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13, and the Colts will have a big challenge next Sunday at home against the one-loss Detroit Lions.
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