With three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans, it briefly seemed like the Indianapolis Colts were about to pull off the upset win.
After Texans RB Joe Mixon fumbled, Colts DE Dayo Odeyingbo recovered the ball and returned it 84 yards for a touchdown. However, the play was reviewed, and he was ultimately ruled down by contact. On the subsequent drive, Anthony Richardson and the Colts’ offense couldn’t do anything, which was a trend throughout the day. The Texans ultimately defeated the Colts, 23-20.
After the game, Colts fans were extremely frustrated — with the loss, with Richardson’s struggles, and with a strange play where Richardson checked himself out of the game.
Colts Fans Frustrated With Anthony Richardson
Richardson’s struggles continued on Sunday, as he was 10-of-32 for 175 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He added six rushes for 45 yards on the ground.
The majority of his production through the air came on a 69-yard touchdown bomb to Josh Downs. Aside from that play, there wasn’t much to get excited about for Colts fans.
Entering today’s game, Richardson’s 48.5% completion percentage was the lowest through a team’s first seven games since Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman in 2013. Richardson’s struggles continued in Week 8, completing just 31.2% of his passes.
Being a colts fan is so exhausting
— jordan (@bbyseventhirty1) October 27, 2024
As if Richardson’s performance wasn’t upsetting enough — especially considering how good this offense looked with Joe Flacco under center in Richardson’s absence recently — it was a play where Richardson wasn’t under center that infuriated the Colts fan base.
Late in the third quarter, Richardson pulled himself out of the game on a third-down play. On the previous play, Richardson dodged a defender and tried to scramble but was ultimately sacked. Immediately after he got up, he tapped his helmet and called for a sub.
Here’s the sequence when #Colts QB Anthony Richardson was sacked in the 3Q and then subbed himself out of the game. Richardson would later explain he was “tired.”
“That was a lot of running right there that I did, and I didn’t think I was gonna be able to go that next play.” pic.twitter.com/yjInUrJ01F
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) October 27, 2024
While fans initially thought Richardson was hurt, the Colts informed CBS that he was just “out of breath.”
It’s very rare to see quarterbacks check themselves out of a game because they are winded. After the game, Richardson was asked about this sequence, and his answer didn’t help the situation.
“Tired. I ain’t gonna lie,” Richardson said. “That was a lot of running right there that I did. I don’t think I was gonna be able to go that next play. So, I just told Shane [Steichen] I needed a break right there.”
#Colts QB Anthony Richardson on taking himself out of the game in the 3rd quarter: “Tired, I ain’t gonna lie. That was a lot of running right there that I did … So, I just told Shane (Steichen) I needed a break right there.”
(🎥 @WISHNews8)pic.twitter.com/5DiUalDXDU
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 27, 2024
Many Colts fans were frustrated that Richardson — arguably the most athletic quarterback in the NFL — pulled himself out of the game after a sack.
Former Colts punter and current ESPN broadcaster Pat McAfee was stunned when he realized that Richardson left the game simply because he was out of breath. He said he’s never seen anything like that, pointing out that “the QB is your franchise” and “the message it sends is loud and clear.”
I had never seen an NFL QB tap out while still being healthy until watching Anthony Richardson.. The QB is your franchise. The message it sends is loud and influential.
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 27, 2024
Roughly 26 minutes later, McAfee poked fun at Richardson for being out of breath in Week 8 of the season but also celebrated the fact that Richardson checked back in the game and led the Colts on a touchdown drive.
This perfectly sums up the Anthony Richardson experience.
UPDATE: Team official said he was “out of breath” (it’s week 8 of the season)
He would return the next series and lead the Colts to a touchdown..
🗣🗣 THAT’S AR FOOTBALL BABY pic.twitter.com/PYRd4yy9nI
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 27, 2024
The jury is still out on Richardson, who was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The 22-year-old is clearly a work in progress, and the ups and downs have been an emotional roller coaster for Colts fans and Richardson’s fantasy managers.
On the season, Richardson has thrown for 958 yards, four touchdowns, and seven interceptions with a 44.4% completion percentage. He has also rushed 41 times for 242 yards and one touchdown.