INDIANAPOLIS — There probably will be bigger moments in Anthony Richardson’s career.
Remember, he’s 22 and started just his 13th game against the New England Patriots.
But until something better comes along, Sunday’s gotta-have-it, gut-check performance will do quite nicely.
The future of the Indianapolis Colts rose to the monumental challenge of the moment: trailing 24-17, 5:34 remaining, first-and-10 at his 20. Richardson orchestrated a drive for the ages: 19 plays, 80 yards with 12 seconds to spare.
Colts 25, Patriots 24.
“Nineteen-play drive, holy smokes,’’ coach Shane Steichen said in his postgame presser. “That’s big time to go down there and score with little or no time on the clock to get the victory.’’
Two weeks ago, Richardson authored the first fourth-quarter comeback of his brief career with a 4-yard touchdown run with 46 seconds remaining that denied the New York Jets, 28-27.
Sunday, he did it again, and actually one-upped himself.
Richardson’s 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Alec Pierce with 12 seconds remaining brought the Colts to within 24-23. Pierce whipped Patriots safety Kyle Dugger on a crosser in the end zone on the third fourth-down conversion on Indy’s longest drive of the season.
Then, the gutsy call by Steichen and bullish 2-point conversion by Richardson.
At some point, Steichen decided there wouldn’t be overtime. It would be win-or-else.
“Go for the win right there,’’ he said. “Felt good about the call.’’
And there never was a doubt how Sunday would end, one way or the other.
“Put the ball in 5’s hands to go get it,’’ Steichen said.
Down deep, that’s exactly what Richardson had envisioned.
“No doubt,’’ he said. “Whenever we’re in that situation, I’d like the ball in my hands. I feel like I can make a play. But it’s up to the coach, it’s not up to me to make the decision.
“But if he believes I can make a play, make a change, I’ll do it. If not, somebody else has to do it.’’
The call Steichen felt good about on the all-or-nothing 2-point conversion attempt? A zone read that required Richardson to read linebacker Jahlani Tavai to his right and react accordingly. He faked a handoff to running back Jonathan Taylor to the right, but appeared to have already made up his mind.
“I was reading the outside guys on it,’’ Richardson said, “but once I looked in the middle, I just decided I was going to take it and put it in my hands and try to make a decision right there and try to make it work.
“We made it happen.’’
Left guard Quenton Nelson pulled and led Richardson through the middle of the patchwork offensive line that included center Danny Pinter and right guard Mark Glowinski, both first-time starters this season.
Nelson pancaked 315-pound tackle Christian Barmore.
“If he felt comfortable going for 2 and getting the W, I was rocking with it,’’ Richardson said.
Steichen felt comfortable putting the football — and the game —in Richardson’s hands.
“Shoot, the physicalness that he runs with down there,’’ he said. “It’s hard to stop him down there. Shoot, they’ve got to have a couple — three or four guys — to get him down.
“It was a helluva run by him.’’
And it was a helluva drive that kept the Colts’ playoff hopes alive. They’ll take a 6-7 record into next week’s long-awaited bye — players have the entire week off — before focusing on a critical Dec. 15 road trip to Denver.
“We’ve got a four-game season coming up,’’ Steichen said.
The magnitude of the final four games markedly increased because the Colts found a way to stick around, then drive a stake through the Patriots’ heart. They won in Foxboro for the first time since 2006.
“It means we’re still alive, and we have a chance,’’ wideout Michael Pittman Jr. said. “We have to win out to give ourselves the best possible situation, and it started today.’’
The Colts defense was a mixed bag.
It allowed the NFL’s worst offense to generate 442 total yards and 200 rushing yards. Each was a season-high and the most by the Patriots since 2022. New England reached the red zone six times but came away with just two touchdowns and two field goals. Joey Slye yanked a 25-yard field goal attempt wide left to sabotage one red-zone trip while defensive back Julian Blackmon’s interception ended the other.
Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye was sacked four times, but he completed 24-of-30 for 238 yards with one touchdown and the one crippling interception.
The latter was one of the defense’s better moments and a turning point.
Maye delivered a pass to tight end Hunter Henry at the goal line late in the third quarter, but linebacker Zaire Franklin got a hand on the football as Henry was securing it. The ball bounced off Henry and into the hands of Blackmon.
The offense? It scored on two of its first three drives — Richardson’s 7-yard TD pass to Jonathan Taylor and Richardson’s 3-yard rushing TD — and finished with the dramatic game-winning journey. But it also had to deal with two Richardson interceptions and a pair of three-and-outs.
When it mattered, though, Richardson delivered.
“You put the ball in 5’s hands,’’ Franklin said. “He is a superstar in the making. I just love watching him continue to grow and develop as a player and continue to bounce back and fight.
“He is a special player.’’
The 19-play drive was the Colts’ longest since a similar possession almost a year to the day at Tennessee (Dec. 3).
“It was insane. That was absolutely insane,’’ Pittman said. “I don’t think I ever played that many plays straight in my career. To go down and do that and come away with points was pretty great.’’
The 19-play drive was replete with critical plays. There was Richardson’s 11-yard hookup with tight end Mo Alie-Cox on fourth-and-3, Richardson’s 6-yard run around left end that converted fourth-and-2, Taylor moving the chains on third-and-1 with a 3-yard run and Richardson’s 3-yard TD to Pierce on fourth-and-goal.
Twice, the Colts botched opportunities along the way: rookie receiver AD Mitchell couldn’t secure a deep pass from Richardson, and tight end Kylen Granson failed to snare a diving attempt near the goal line.
But when it mattered most, plays were made and a win that seemed to be slipping away was earned.
Pittman was among several players who appreciated Steichen’s faith in Richardson and the offensive line to finish in such a dramatic fashion. It’s believed to have been the first time since at least 2000 the Colts won in such a fashion: a late drive followed by a two-point conversion.
“It’s all-or-nothing,’’ Pittman said. “So, it shows he really trusts our line. He really trusts Anthony, and ultimately he put the ball in Anthony’s hands and we came away with a win.’’
Bottom line: a win
A quick glance at Richardson’s bottom line probably will draw criticism: 12-of-24, 109 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions; 48 yards and one TD on nine carries.
But his impact transcends the raw stats.
“Just a phenomenal effort by him today,’’ Steichen said. “Great resiliency.’’
The 109 yards are Richardson’s fewest when he’s finished a game, and he’s now completed 12 or fewer passes in nine of his 13 starts.
The Colts won for just the 15th time since 1984 when their QB completed 12 or fewer passes for 110 or fewer yards, and the first time since 2021.
With his 48 rushing yards, Richardson moved into the No. 2 slot for most by a quarterback in Colts’ history. His 383 yards trail only Mike Pagel’s 441 in 1983.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter/X at @mchappell51.
