MINNEAPOLIS — The Colts made a seismic, difficult decision to bench young, developmental quarterback Anthony Richardson and start 39-year-old Joe Flacco at the game’s most important position.
Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen cited one reason above all else for the move.
The Colts coach believed Flacco gave his team the best chance to win now.
Flacco’s first game in the starting role did not necessarily provide evidence to reinforce that belief. Indianapolis took a 21-13 loss at the hands of the Vikings on NBC’S “Sunday Night Football,” largely because the offense turned in arguably its worst performance of the season.
Colts score: New quarterback, same result. Colts, Joe Flacco can’t produce in loss vs Vikings
Indianapolis picked up a season-low 227 yards, failed to score a touchdown and could not capitalize despite a defense that forced three turnovers. Kenny Moore II provided the Colts’ lone touchdown on a 38-yard scoop-and-score of a Grover Stewart strip-sack in the first half.
In light of the team’s struggles, Steichen was asked if Flacco will still be the Indianapolis starting quarterback.
“Right now, yes,” Steichen said.
The Colts head coach was also asked if he still believes Flacco gives the team the best chance to win.
“Right now, yes,” Steichen said.
Flacco struggled against Minnesota’s defense.
Indianapolis largely handled the Vikings blitz-happy scheme, refusing to allow a sack until the final, last-ditch drive. Even with time to throw, Flacco completed just 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards, and he threw a back-breaking interception in the second half on a key third down.
The Colts have also struggled with Richardson at the helm. Richardson has completed a league-worst 44.4% of his passes, thrown seven interceptions and posted a league-worst quarterback rating of 57.2, but he has a penchant for the explosive play.
The move to Flacco was supposed to stabilize the Indianapolis offense.
Instead, it ground to a halt, leading to some of the same problems that have been there all season. Indianapolis could not keep drives going, leading to Minnesota holding the ball for 36:54, a time of possession that allowed the Vikings to take advantage of a tired Colts defense in the end.
With that in mind, Steichen was asked if the shifts back and forth from Richardson to Flacco to Richardson to Flacco have hampered the offense’s ability to build an identity.
“I don’t think so,” Steichen said. “You just go, it’s like with any position. You’ve got to roll and get the next guy up. Obviously, Joe went in there tonight for us.”
Steichen did not place much blame at Flacco’s feet after the game.
In typical fashion, Steichen put most of the blame on himself.
“We’ll go back and look at it,” Steichen said. “There might have been a few completions here and there that he could have had, but again, he’s a calm guy that’s been playing at a high level for a long time. Obviously, a lot of faith in him.”
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