Indianapolis, IN
What Colts’ Shane Steichen said when asked if Joe Flacco will remain QB: ‘Right now, yes’
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.
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.”
The Kansas City Chiefs entered Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts at 5-5, sitting third in the AFC West behind the Denver Broncos (9-2) and Los Angeles Chargers (7-4).
The Colts, meanwhile, were one of the AFC’s hottest teams at 8-2, led by quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Jonathan Taylor.
At halftime, Indianapolis held a 14-6 lead, capitalizing on Patrick Mahomes’ early interception, who finished the half with 14-of-21 passing for 117 yards and one interception.
However, the biggest headline came in the second quarter, when Mahomes reached 35,000 career passing yards, becoming the fastest player in NFL history to achieve the milestone.
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Since being drafted 10th overall in 2017, Mahomes has become the face of the league, now boasting more than 35,000 passing yards along with over 260 passing touchdowns across nine NFL seasons.
Over that span, he has earned two NFL MVPs, three Super Bowl MVPs, three Super Bowl titles, and six Bro Bowl selections.
In 2018, his first year as the Chiefs’ full-time starter, he became just the second player in league history to throw for more than 5,000 yards (5,097) and 50 touchdowns (50), alongside Colts legend Peyton Manning.
Sunday’s performance also moved Mahomes inside the top 35 all-time in career passing yards.
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Heading into Week 12, Mahomes ranked fifth in passing yards (2,625) and seventh in touchdowns (18), along with just six interceptions and the third-best QBR (72.7) this season.
He was previously listed as the odds-on favorite to win the MVP, but back-to-back losses to the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos have slowed momentum and quickly put the Chiefs’ season in jeopardy.
After Indianapolis, Kansas City will travel to Dallas for a primetime Thanksgiving game against the Cowboys on November 27.
The Chiefs then face the Texans at Arrowhead, host the Chargers, visit the Titans in Tennessee, return home against the Broncos, and finish the stretch on the road in Las Vegas.
With three of these being key divisional matchups, Kansas City will need Mahomes to keep producing at a high level to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Indianapolis Colts will walk into high-level hostile territory tomorrow afternoon when they face the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
If Indianapolis can win and move to 9-2, while sending the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs to 5-6, it will give them a massive momentum boost as they embark on the rest of their tough schedule.
Recently, the Colts added superstar Sauce Gardner to Lou Anarumo’s defense, removing their first-rounders for 2026 and 2027. However, in Pro Football Network’s early mock draft from James Fragoza, Indy still feels defense is a need to add to.
Here are the picks in Fragoza’s mock for the Colts.
Round 2 – Pick 60 | Safety Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
“From effort to instincts to feel in zone, Dillon Thieneman is a defensive coordinator’s dream in the deep third. He may not have the jaw-dropping athletic abilities of others in the defensive backfield, but he’s nearly always in the correct position.”
Oregon Ducks safety Dillon Thieneman is a perfect fit for Lou Anarumo’s defense, if the veteran coordinator remains with Indianapolis in 2026.
Thieneman started his college career with the Purdue Boilermakers, putting up 210 tackles, six picks, nine pass breakups, and two fumbles forced during his 24 games with Purdue.
However, after joining the Ducks, he’s continued his defensive efficiency. This year, Thieneman has put up 49 tackles, a pick, and four pass breakups.
Thieneman has also displayed fantastic Pro Football Focus grades of 84.1 overall, 78.7 tackles, 89.2 coverage. and 10 stops (constitutes a ‘failure’ for the offense.)
If the Colts decide to select Thieneman, he adds much-needed coverage ability to the safety room with Nick Cross and Cam Bynum. Given that Indy also has seventh-rounder Hunter Wohler, adding Thieneman gives them a complete safety room.
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Round 3 – Pick 92 | Linebacker Whit Weeks, LSU
“Although Whit Weeks isn’t as hyped as Harold Perkins Jr., he’s delivered big-time results as LSU’s rangy linebacker, racking up 125 tackles last year and staying productive despite a late-season leg injury this season.
His speed and instincts pop off the tape, and he’s tough enough to stack blocks and cover ground.”
The Colts have starting linebackers Zaire Franklin and Germaine Pratt, but neither excels in pass coverage. The Colts do have Jaylon Carlies, but he’s hardly played and remains injured.
Enter LSU linebacker, Whit Weeks.
Weeks has covered pass-catchers well this year in his six games, as well as stacked 29 tackles, 2.5 tackles or loss, and 1.0 sacks. Even with his ankle injury, Weeks is a solid add to any defense.
Last year with the Tigers, Whit led the NCAA in solo tackles with 61, but also looked fantastic in stopping ball carriers in the backfield with 10.0 tackles for loss.
This would be an excellent addition to Indy’s defense and gives more depth to a linebacker position that desperately needs more help in pass coverage. Keep an eye on for the Colts to be interested in a player like Weeks.
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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Student sections have been packed out and bringing the energy all season competing for The Zone Banner.
And the winner of The Zone Banner is… Brownsburg!
Brownsburg made AC’s Top 8 in eight of the nine weeks of the regular season. They were impressive throughout the season and were active on social media as well, campaigning for their school to win The Zone Banner.
This is Brownsburg’s second time winning The Zone Banner.
WISH-TV Sports Director Anthony Calhoun will present Brownsburg with its championship banner at its gymnasium on Tuesday, November 25.
Past winners
- 2024: Fishers
- 2023: Bishop Chatard
- 2022: Franklin Community
- 2021: Cathedral
- 2020: Westfield
- 2019: Mooresville
- 2018: Brownsburg
- 2017: Carmel
- 2016: Franklin Community
- 2015: Guerin Catholic
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