A glimpse of the future: Richardson responds to benching with the best game of his career

A late-game touchdown drive, capped by AR's scoring run, gave the Colts a much-needed victory over Aaron Rodgers and the Jets. The future suddenly looks bright.

MY COUCH, Ind. – This felt like the beginning of something, something good, something exciting. This felt like Day 1 of the future. This felt like the day when Anthony Richardson took his first baby steps toward becoming an NFL quarterback, taking control of the Colts offense with 2:24 left and facing a five-point deficit and leading Indy downfield for the late, game-winning touchdown in a deeply necessary 28-27 victory over the Jets.  

If Richardson’s career eventually takes off – if he becomes another version of Josh Allen or maybe a bigger Lamar Jackson – we may very well look back at this sunny Sunday in the swamplands of Jersey as the day it all started for the Colts’ 22-year-old project.

Look, we know development is not an unbroken straight line. He’s going to have his miserable days, like the 10-for-32 abomination against Houston before his benching, but as he showed Sunday, leading a team with three rookie offensive linemen and a defense that was getting gashed in the second half, he can win football games. He led the Colts to a 13-0 lead, then brought them back after the defense collapsed in the second half, and in the waning moments, he completed 5-of-7 passes for 69 yards and a TD pass to Josh Downs, giving the Colts the lead for good.  

“That’s the definition of poise,” cornerback Jaylon Jones said. “When we were on the sideline (before the game-winning drive), I told him, `It’s 5 time.’ “

Shane Steichen was asked what he told Richardson after the game.

“I just said, ‘Phenomenal job, man,’ “ the Colts head coach said. “ `Keep it going. Keep preparing the right way every week, man. You keep doing what you’re doing — man, it’s gonna be special.’ ”