Joe Flacco starting at QB for the Indianapolis Colts in November was something alot of people had on their NFL bingo card for 2024. And if you did, then it’s time to rejoice. The Indianapolis Colts announced they are benching Anthony Richardson in favor of veteran Joe Flacco.
The announcement comes on the heels of Anthony Richardson struggling during the Indianapolis Colts 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. Richardson had critical turnovers and only completed 10 out of 32 of his throws.
And somehow this team only lost by 3 and is still .500.
Joe Flacco starting Factor
Joe Flacco brings a wealth of experience and proven performance to the Colts’ offense. In two games this season, Flacco has completed 65.7% of his passes with seven touchdowns and only one interception while leading the Colts a 1-1 record.
• Flacco’s career stats include 42,320 passing yards, 232 touchdowns, and a Super Bowl MVP award.
• Last year, as a starter for the Cleveland Browns, Flacco led a resurgent Browns team to a playoff berth, on the way to being named the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year.
“Last year’s situation is always going to be a little bit unique,” said Joe Flacco. “This year, at least, I’ve been a part of this football team since the spring. I’ve been able to go out there and practice and be a part of it.”
Let that sink in. Flacco led the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs and wasn’t even on their roster in training camp.
Improved Playoff Prospects
Perhaps the Colts believe they too have a playoff run in them and are not ready to throw in the towel on the 2024 season quite yet.
“I feel like Joe gives us the best chance to win,” said head coach Shane Steichen. “I’m just looking at where we’re at with the team. We’re at .500. It’s my obligation to 53 players in the locker room to win football games.”
And Steichen is right. Joe Flacco starting at QB significantly boosts the Colts’ postseason chances, according to CBS Sports:
• With Joe Flacco starting for the team, the Colts’ projected win total increases from 7.5 to 8.5 games.
• The team’s playoff odds with Joe Flacco starting (not Anthony Richardson) at QB more than double, jumping from 21.2% to 42.3%.
Flacco’s experience and recent performances suggest he could be the catalyst the team needs to make a serious playoff push. In his Week 5 start, Flacco threw for 381 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Richardson’s Struggles
Anthony Richardson on the other hand has struggled with injuries and production:
• Richardson’s last game on Sunday, saw him completing only 10 out of 33 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown. During the third quarter, he removed himself from the game, saying he “was tired”, in the midst of a 23-20 defeat to the Houston Texans.
• This season, Richardson’s pass completion rate has dropped to 44.4%, placing him dead last among NFL passers. Anthony Richardsons passer rating is also last in the NFL among qualified passers.
• In 2024, he has thrown more interceptions, totaling seven, than touchdowns, with just four.
There’s another QB that put up some pretty bad numbers and Flacco would take his job for a short time. Can’t remember his name though.
A Learning Opportunity
While the Colts are sticking with Flacco for the time being, they are also saying that this is not the end for Richardson. For now.
“I think right now, sitting back and seeing a veteran that’s done it at a high level for a long time, you can develop that way as well,” said head coach Shane Steichen.
While the decision to start Joe Flacco may be tough for Anthony Richardson, it is a team admitting that their young QB is still very much developing. It is the Colts saying, he’s not where he needs to be, and at this point sitting and watching a veteran quarterback will help the development progress.
And when you have an opportunity to watch a longtime veteran like Joe Flacco win games, for a young QB, that can be very beneficial to the young quarterback’s long-term development. Especially when that veteran QB has won a Super Bowl.
The question may be if Anthony Richardson, the Colts 22-year-old franchise QB, sees it that way.
“I know that when I was that young, there’s no chance that I would have been able to have the perspective and the right head on my shoulders to handle it and take it the right way,” Joe Flacco said. “But now, it being my 17th year, I do have that perspective, and if I can give any of that to him, in terms of, this doesn’t have to be a negative thing. There’s a lot of positives on his end that can come from this.”
It sounds like the Colts are not ready to give up on the Anthony Richardson project quite yet. The Colts are still winning games, and he has shown flashes of greatness.
Maybe the Colts believe Anthony Richardson can be a great QB, but he needs two or three years out of college to develop, like a Jordan Love or all quarterbacks before 2015. Is Joe Flacco starting really so bad? Heck no, it’s a good thing.