Shane Steichen Put the Colts' Season in Anthony Richardson's Hands

In early November, Colts head coach Shane Steichen benched Anthony Richardson. Just one month later, instead of kicking an extra point to tie the game with 12 seconds remaining, he opted to go for two and put the season in Richardson’s hands. He would be rewarded with a 25-24 win over the Patriots.

But it wasn’t just that 2-point conversion where the game and the season rested on Richardson’s shoulders. Three times on the Colts’ 19-play, 80-yard game-winning touchdown drive, Indianapolis faced 4th down. Each time, Richardson delivered.

The first one was a 4th-and-3 from their own 40-yard line. The Patriots brought pressure off the right side and got a man in free. With no one open quickly, Richardson fled the pocket to avoid the pressure and then made a great throw on the run:

He made that look easy, but that was a difficult throw. Not only was there a defender in his face, but Richardson was running full speed to his right to evade him before throwing the ball back across his body. His physical talent is off the charts.

And Steichen would lean on that talent on their next 4th down, a 4th-and-2 with just under two minutes remaining. The Colts would come out in an empty formation with a bunch to their left. Then Steichen put the ball in Richardson’s hands again: