Even after reviewing the game film and having the opportunity to sleep on it, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen told reporters on Monday that Joe Flacco will again get the start in Week 11 against the New York Jets.
Shane Steichen says Joe Flacco will start against the Jets.
— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) November 11, 2024
When Steichen was asked why the team won’t go back to Richardson, he said “Not ever losing faith or trust in him. We’re going through a process.”
Steichen still believes that Flacco gives the Colts the best chance to win, noting his “veteran leadership” after Sunday’s loss to Buffalo. And despite losing three straight games and sitting at 4-6 on the season, the Colts’ playoff hopes are still alive, with Indianapolis just one game behind Denver for the final wildcard spot.
While that is still true, with each passing week, an already highly questionable decision to bench Anthony Richardson looks worse and worse as the offense continues to look abysmal.
On the season, the Colts are now 1-3 in games where Flacco starts at quarterback. Over the last two weeks specifically, he is responsible for six turnovers and the offense has scored a combined 26 points with him at quarterback–seven of which came in the final minute against Buffalo when the game was already out of reach.
In general, the passing game has been very disjointed, and there’s also no threat of utilizing the quarterback in the run game or the ability to extend plays to at least provide some other avenue for the offense to move the ball.
By starting Flacco two weeks ago, the Colts put their long-term plans on hold with Richardson–a quarterback who needs reps and experience is now on pace to enter his third NFL season with just 10 career starts if Flacco plays the remainder of the year.
And for what? To potentially make the playoffs as the seventh seed? The organization sees an opportunity to win-now, whatever that means, and is attempting to do so at the expense of their young quarterback.
The Colts have said that they aren’t giving up on Richardson and that taking a step back should help. Sure, in theory, that sounds great, but in terms of working out in a positive way for Indianapolis, recent history isn’t on their side.
Instead, the Colts are choosing to further delay the long-term growth of Richardson as they chase the short-term satisfaction of being a playoff team–which is going poorly. The only reason they remain in the hunt is because the teams ahead of them keep losing as well.
(This article was updated to provide additional information.)