THE Indianapolis Colts (4-5) took a bold chance this week by putting their long-term future prospects on hold. benching second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson in favor of 39-year-old Joe Flacco.

They did so because they felt the veteran gave them the best chance to win games this season. Sunday evening, on the road against the Minnesota Vikings (6-2), this daring swing ended in failure as the Colts lost on national television by a score of 21-13.

Perhaps the result would have been the same or worse with Richardson, but so far the insertion of Flacco has not reinvigorated the offense.

Despite the Colts’ clumsy offense, neither team held a lead of more than one score until just over two minutes left when the Vikings led 21-10.

On the Colts’ drive before Minnesota’s game-clinching score, with over five minutes left, the Colts ended a 9-play drive that was called off on downs. Vikings safety Harrison Smith had big hits on Michael Pittman Jr. and Ashton Dulin, respectively, on third and fourth downs. Colts stars Pittman and Jonathan Taylor were hit during the drive, affecting their availability on crucial downs.

— Colts decision-makers decided to give the offense a boost and some identity by replacing Richardson as starting quarterback with veteran Flacco, and it didn’t go as planned. Flacco was able to find some short and intermediate completions, which were missing for much of the season, but Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores generated a lot of pressure on Flacco, which disrupted the Colts’ rhythm. Trailing 14-7 early in the fourth quarter, Flacco threw a ball as a defender ran toward him, and the pass was easily intercepted by Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. From there, Minnesota took all the momentum and never looked back. Flacco completed 16 of 27 passes (59.3%) for 179 yards (6.6 YPA), 0 TD, 1 INT and a passer rating of 63.7. He was also sacked three times last practice.

– With how much Minnesota’s defense blitzes and charges the box, a pass-heavy approach was probably the smart play for the Colts offense while being supported by a smart veteran like Flacco. After all, the Vikings defense entered the game ranked third in the NFL in rushing yards per game (83.9) and yards per carry (3.9) allowed. This led to long stretches in the middle of the game when Taylor was rarely used, as he only carried the ball 13 times, compared to 27 pass attempts for the Colts.

— The Colts’ interior defense went crazy, especially in the first half, as DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart wreaked havoc on the Vikings’ interior O-line. Stewart went on a one-play crime spree in the first half by bulldozing center Garrett Bradbury, throwing quarterback Sam Darnold to the ground for a sack, which also forced a fumble that was returned by cornerback Kenny Moore II for a touchdown and the first. points from the game. Buckner finished with 1.0 sack, 1 tackle for loss and 3 quarterback hits. Stewart had 2.0 sacks, 1 tackle for loss, 2 quarterback hits and a forced fumble.

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— It’s another defensive touchdown under the lights for Moore, who also made 6 tackles (1 for loss).

— The Colts linebackers played like they had a fire lit under them this week. There were still a few mistakes in the run defense (not all of which were on them), but there were big plays made by all three starters Zaire Franklin, EJ Speed ​​and Grant Stuard in the game running and passing. Franklin entered Sunday leading the NFL in tackles with 87. He finished the game with 8 more and an interception. Speed ​​added 12 tackles (2 for loss), while Stuard had 3 tackles (1 for loss).

— Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson is arguably the best in the business, and his coaches know how to get him open even more than he already can himself. That showed Sunday night in the form of 137 yards on 7 receptions (19.6 avg.).

— The Colts’ third-and-long defense remains a problem. There were a few examples in this match, one in each half. On a 3rd and 16 in the first half, the Vikings offense picked up 22 yards and a first down on a pass from Darnold to Jefferson. Luckily for Indy, Stewart’s big sack fumble happened on the next play. On a less fortunate note, in the second half the Colts defense faced 3rd and 9 from their own 14-yard line, when they gave up a 10-yard reception for a first down from Darnold to Jordan Addison. Darnold and Addison connected again on the next play for a 4-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.

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