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New England, Massachusetts — Anthony Richardson has encountered a myriad of challenges during his initial two years in the NFL. After a four-game stint in his rookie year that ended prematurely due to a shoulder injury, Richardson faced further adversity this season with a hip issue. Moreover, he found himself benched for two games following criticism for opting out of a game due to fatigue. Despite his unpredictable start to 2024, Richardson still holds the potential to guide the Colts (5-7) to a postseason berth, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2020.
As the Colts prepare for a matchup against the New England Patriots (3-9) this Sunday, their upcoming opponents — Denver, Tennessee, New York Giants, and Jacksonville — collectively hold a disappointing record of 17-41. The only team with a winning record that they will face is Denver, who stands at 7-5. If the Colts manage to win out, they could reach 10 victories, providing them a solid chance at postseason contention.
“Everything’s still on the table for us,” Richardson remarked. “But there’s a sense of urgency just getting some Ws, stacking them up, because we know that we need the rest of them to get what we want.” Colts head coach Shane Steichen acknowledges that revitalizing an offense which has faltered over the last five games will be crucial. Despite the challenges, Steichen expresses unwavering confidence in his team.
“I think it’s the guys in the locker room,” Steichen stated. “I’ve got a lot of faith in those guys, and all it takes — you get one game rolling, you get on a little rhythm, you get on a little roll.”
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo shares a similar sentiment regarding his players. Although playoff aspirations are out of reach in his inaugural season, he emphasizes the importance of establishing foundational elements for the future. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye understands that protecting the football is vital to this goal, having turned the ball over seven times in three games and eight times in the last four.
“That’s a problem,” Maye admitted. “I think we’re losing the turnover margin in most of the games with me back there, so that’s something I need to improve on.”
The Patriots’ offensive struggles have received notable attention this season, but recent performances have shifted some focus to their defense and coordinator DeMarcus Covington. The first-year play caller’s unit has allowed 603 passing yards in the past two games, including a significant performance from Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa, who threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns last week. Mayo has stated that communication needs to enhance within the secondary but has dismissed the idea of removing Covington from his play-calling role.
“DeMarcus is doing a good job as far as calling plays. It comes down to executing what play is called,” Mayo remarked.
Examining Richardson’s performance this season reveals that while his passing statistics may not be impressive, with a completion percentage of just 47.1% — the lowest among starting quarterbacks — his contributions go beyond the numbers. He has faced defensive challenges but managed to produce some of his highest passer ratings in recent games. Steichen noted that Richardson’s stat line does not adequately represent his abilities.
“I don’t think his stat line reflected the way he played,” Steichen commented following a recent game where Richardson completed 11 of 28 passes for 172 yards against Detroit. “We had some big plays negated by penalties. But I thought he was efficient running the football. He threw it to the right guy, made the right reads. I know he missed a few he wants back, but man, I thought he did a great job.”
On the offensive front, the Colts have rostered three rookie players over the past two weeks and may need to adjust their starting lineup again this week if left tackle Bernhard Raimann cannot play due to a knee injury. Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly and right guard Will Fries remain on injured reserve, with Fries unlikely to come back this season and Kelly’s situation still uncertain. Additionally, rookie Tanor Bortolini, who replaced Kelly, has entered concussion protocol, creating further complications for the offensive line.
“He came in (Monday) this morning with concussion symptoms, so he is currently in the protocol,” Steichen explained, suggesting veteran Danny Pinter as the probable replacement. “I think right now we’re looking at Danny at that spot.”
Pinter brings with him experience, having started seven games in his five-year tenure with the Colts and appearing in nine contests this season, but he has not started a game since September 25, 2022, after missing the entirety of last season due to an ankle injury.
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