MINNEAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts opted for a midseason quarterback change, bringing in Joe Flacco to replace Anthony Richardson, aiming to seize the moment and take advantage of an opportunity to chase down the faltering Houston Texans in their division.
However, if the Colts struggle to enhance their scoring, their prospects may quickly become bleak.
Flacco’s return as a starter on Sunday night was challenging against the formidable Minnesota defense, highlighted by one interception, several late sacks, and a modest 179 yards from 16 of 27 passes in a 21-13 loss against the Vikings.
“They definitely brought the pressure,” Flacco acknowledged. “They executed their game plan well throughout the match. We managed a few successful plays, but we consistently hindered ourselves.”
In their ongoing fight to improve, the Colts (4-5) were only able to score two field goals by Matt Gay in the second half, with their only first-half points coming from a fumble return touchdown by Kenny Moore II. Across their past three games, the team has managed just three offensive touchdowns.
Coach Shane Steichen commented on the defensive challenges they faced, recognizing the Vikings’ effective strategies. “They mixed their coverages and blitzing schemes expertly. We anticipated the difficulty of this matchup. They are a quality team, but we need to perform better. I must improve as well,” he stated while vowing to thoroughly analyze the team’s strategy moving forward.
For the upcoming week, the focus is not on altering the roster but rather on refining their approach. Steichen made it clear that there were no plans to bring Richardson back into the game, confirming that Flacco would remain the starter for the time being.
“There were a few completions that eluded us, but he remains composed while showcasing his extensive experience,” Steichen noted. “I have considerable confidence in him.”
As the Colts prepare to host the Buffalo Bills next week (7-2), they experienced a lack of offensive production, running just 49 plays for a total of 227 yards.
“We crossed into their territory frequently but stalled too often, leaving us in tough spots for field goals,” receiver Alec Pierce remarked. “We must improve our capability to continue drives.”
This effort must begin on the ground, where Jonathan Taylor struggled against a defense known for its strong run-stopping abilities, entering the game with one of the best averages in the league for fewest rushing yards allowed. Taylor fumbled on the first drive, which was retrieved by Harrison Smith, and he ended the night with 48 yards on 13 carries—no runs longer than 13 yards—and caught three passes for 11 yards total.
“We didn’t need to overcommit to the run defense,” Smith observed. “It mainly came down to our linemen breaking off blocks and making plays.”
Just a week earlier, Taylor had a solid performance against the Texans, rushing for 105 yards and scoring a touchdown on 20 carries.
“We’ll work on correcting that,” Steichen assured. “I believe we’ll address these issues.”
Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, has faced injury challenges this season, missing two games due to an oblique muscle injury and the entirety of his rookie season’s final 12 games with a shoulder injury.
His dynamic running abilities provide a different offensive dynamic for the Colts, but Steichen brushed aside concerns regarding how the sudden stylistic shift impacted the team’s performance.
“It’s like any position; you have to adapt,” Steichen concluded. “It’s the next player up.”