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Stephen Holder, ESPNDec 1, 2024, 07:23 PM ET
- Stephen joined ESPN in 2022, covering the Indianapolis Colts and NFL at large. Stephen finished first place in column writing in the 2015 Indiana Associated Press Media Editors competition, and he is a previous top-10 winner in explanatory journalism in the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest. He has chronicled the NFL since 2005, covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005-2013 and the Colts since 2013. He has previously worked for the Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times, Indianapolis Star and The Athletic.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quarterback Anthony Richardson had just thrown his first and only touchdown pass of the afternoon, but there was more work to do. His Indianapolis Colts still trailed the New England Patriots by one point with 12 seconds remaining.
So, coach Shane Steichen faced a decision and he ultimately made the one Richardson was hoping for — calling for his physically-imposing quarterback to keep the ball on a game-winning 2-point conversion run.
“Whenever there’s a situation like that, I would like the ball in my hands,” said Richardson.
Richardson powered across the goal line, reaching the end zone on a second effort while running behind guard Quenton Nelson to give the Colts a 25-24 come-from-behind win over the Patriots that kept Indianapolis’ playoff hopes alive. With the victory, Richardson continued his impressive rebound from his recent benching, engineering his second come-from-behind victory on a final drive in three weeks.
The decision to go for the win, rather than play for overtime with an extra point, was an easy one, Steichen said.
“It was one of those deals inside 30 seconds,” he said. “I felt good about the [play] call. Obviously, [you’ve] got to feel good about the call, but you go for the win right there in that situation. If there was a lot more time, maybe or two minutes or something, maybe take the [extra point].”
He added, “You’re right there with [12] seconds left. We’ve already made it down there. Let’s go win.”
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According to ESPN Research, the Colts were the first team to attempt a 2-point conversion when down by one point in the final 15 seconds of regulation since Week 12 of 2022. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Chargers both had successful 2-point attempts on that day.
On Sunday, Richardson had just thrown a 3-yard touchdown pass to receiver Alec Pierce in the back corner of the end zone to cut the Patriots’ lead to 24-23. The play capped a 19-play drive that covered 80 yards in five minutes, 22 seconds and included three converted fourth downs.
Having already decided he would go for a 2-point conversion, Steichen knew exactly what play he wanted when it came to the crucial attempt.
“Put it in [Richardson’s] hands to go get it,” he said.
Richardson said he had the option to hand the ball to running back Jonathan Taylor on the play. But after reading the defense, he resolved to keep the ball and handle it himself.
“I was reading the outside guys on it, but once I looked in the middle, I just decided I was going to take it and just put it in my hands,” he said. “… And we made it happen.”
The game not only gave Richardson his second come-from-behind win in three games, following his powerful scoring run against the New York Jets in Week 11. It also gave him his third game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime this season, second most to Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes. Richardson led a game-winning drive against the Miami Dolphins in Week 7, though the teams were tied and the Colts did not trail in the final quarter.
But by any measurement, Richardson is showing dramatic growth since his two-week benching last month, during which veteran Joe Flacco started and went 0-2.
Richardson threw two interceptions earlier in the game and was the victim of two frustrating dropped passes inside the redzone on the game-winning drive. Overall, his passing numbers — 12 for 24 for 109 yards — were mediocre and limited by lopsided time of possession because of the Colts’ defensive lapses. But Richardson kept his composure, something for which he is gaining a reputation.
“He came back and he’s playing on a different level,” receiver Michael Pittman Jr. said. “And we’re going to get behind him and hopefully go on a run.”
The Colts entered the game with a 25% chance of making the playoffs, according to EPSN Analytics. Without taking into account the results of Sunday’s games, they increased those odds to 31% with the win. But the Colts have one of the easiest remaining slates of games in the NFL, with the Denver Broncos the only one of their four remaining opponents with a winning record.
Said linebacker Zaire Franklin of Richardson: “He’s a competitor. He’s a leader. And I think when you’ve got a guy like that at the quarterback position, I think you’ve got a chance. So, thankfully, he’s on our side.”
