Let this be clear: There is not any query who’s the beginning quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts.
Anthony Richardson is the type of bodily outlier that video players create in Madden 25: 22 years outdated, 6-foot-4, 244 kilos and with 4.43 velocity. The Colts used the No. 4 total choose within the 2023 NFL Draft to pick out Richardson, signed him to a $34 million contract and gave him a $21.7 million signing bonus. Indianapolis is invested in Richardson being the way forward for the franchise.
In the meantime Joe Flacco is a 39-year-old whose 40 time could possibly be measured by a sundial. His greatest days, which had been excellent contemplating he led the Ravens to a Super Bowl win within the 2012 season, are properly behind him. He signed a one-year, $4.5 million take care of the Colts within the offseason realizing Richardson was entrenched because the starter.
However, in line with the SportsLine Projection Mannequin, Indianapolis is healthier with its No. 2 quarterback than its No. 1. The mannequin, which simulates each NFL sport 10,000 occasions and is up properly over $7,000 for $100 gamers on top-rated NFL picks since its inception, says the Colts with Flacco as quarterback win 8.0 video games, win the AFC South 18.1% of the time and make the playoffs 36.2% of the time. Against this, with Richardson behind heart, they win 7.5 video games, win the division 12.5% of the time and attain the postseason 25.4% of the time.
Why the distinction? In accordance with Stephen Oh, SportsLine’s principal knowledge engineer and the person behind the mannequin, Flacco is precisely what Richardson will not be (correct) however is precisely what Indianapolis wants. Flacco is a profession 61.6% passer, whereas Richardson sits at 55.3%. This season Richardson has accomplished simply 50.6% of his passes. He additionally has thrown six interceptions, which is tied with the Titans‘ Will Levis for essentially the most within the league (although Levis has thrown 21 extra passes). Lastly Richardson has a passer score of 60.2, which ranks second to final within the NFL, forward of solely the Panthers‘ Bryce Young (44.1).
“Flacco makes his layups, not like Richardson who’s as correct 50 yards downfield as he’s 5 yards downfield,” Oh says. “That is an exaggeration, however you get the purpose.”
Within the group’s sport Sunday towards the Steelers, Flacco needed to are available for Richardson, who was knocked out of the sport with a hip harm. On third downs Flacco went 6-for-8 for 72 yards with six first downs, together with two touchdowns. Previous to Sunday’s sport, the Colts had transformed simply three first downs by the air underneath Richardson.
Flacco completed the sport 16 of 26 for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Indianapolis beat beforehand undefeated Pittsburgh, 27-24.
“I believe my persona in all probability lends itself first rate to such a state of affairs,” Flacco says. “It is like, ‘Do not overthink it, do not overdo it. It is only a sport of soccer. Go on the market. If the man’s open, throw it to him and hit him. Simply hold it easy.'”
Says Colts coach Shane Steichen: “He is a man who has been doing it a very long time. He went in there and operated. He is seen lots of soccer, which is large at that place. He went in and did his job.”
Flacco could must do the job once more for this week’s sport at Jacksonville. Richardson remains to be recovering from the hip harm and didn’t apply on Wednesday. Whereas Steichen says Richardson averted a “enormous, enormous harm,” the quarterback’s taking part in standing for Sunday stays up-in-the-air.
“Hopefully Anthony is on the market; that is the plan,” Steichen mentioned Wednesday. “But when [Flacco] has to do it once more, we think about Joe to go do it.”
As for Week 5, the SportsLine Projection Mannequin is asking for a detailed sport between the Colts and Jaguars. Nonetheless, that sport is not one of many two with A-grade picks based mostly on mannequin simulations. You’ll be able to find those top-tier Week 5 NFL picks at SportsLine.
