Colts’ Anthony Richardson Discusses Readiness for Texans Game.
In their last encounter, Anthony Richardson made his eagerly awaited return to the field as the Indianapolis Colts faced the Houston Texans. It was a day of highs and lows for Richardson, who completed 9 of 19 passes for 212 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He had impressive completions of 60, 57, and 54 yards but struggled to maintain drives in the 29-27 loss.
Fast forward seven weeks, and Richardson is eager for another chance against the reigning AFC South champions. “We’re excited for this matchup,” he said about the Texans. “It’s another division opponent, another chance to show what we can do as a team. We’re just looking for a win this week.”
For the Colts to secure a victory against C.J. Stroud and the Texans on the road, their offense needs to improve significantly from last week’s performance against the Miami Dolphins, where Richardson struggled to find his rhythm amidst relentless pressure. “They brought a lot of pressure, and we tried to adjust,” Richardson noted. “We know other teams will do the same, so we need to improve, execute our offense, create separation, and deliver the ball effectively.”
In the 16-10 win against Miami, Richardson completed 10 of 24 passes for 129 yards and added 56 rushing yards on 14 carries. However, he recognizes that to win this week, he must perform much better than he did last Sunday.
The Texans, having reviewed the film from the Dolphins game, are likely to adopt a similar strategy, using disguised coverages and pressure against Richardson, who is still relatively inexperienced with only nine NFL starts under his belt. “The Dolphins did a great job of disguising things and applying pressure,” Richardson explained. “At times, we didn’t know what to expect, but you just have to keep pushing forward.”
Looking ahead to this game, Richardson is focused on improving from his first encounter with the Texans in Week 1, when he struggled with rust after an extended absence. Now, with five starts this season, he feels better prepared to face the same opponent again, a situation he hasn’t experienced before. “I think the first game was about shaking off rust. Now we have a better idea of what they might do,” he said.
Richardson has sought consistency in his play since Week 1. While he’s had moments of clarity and effectiveness, he has also made some uncharacteristic errors. Yet, as he gains experience, he’s finding the game is slowing down for him, as seen in his performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers before his injury.
Facing the Texans again will provide valuable experience for Richardson, allowing him to anticipate their defensive strategies better. “Once you get comfortable, you start to recognize patterns and adjust your play accordingly,” he stated. “But we still have to prepare for the unexpected.”
Matches between the Colts and Texans carry extra weight due to their significance in the division standings. A win for the Colts would split the season series and position them atop the AFC South. Conversely, a Texans victory would give them a commanding lead in the division, making it tough for the Colts to catch up.
Sunday’s game in Houston is critical for the Colts, and while they are trying to downplay the pressure, they understand the importance of the outcome for their playoff aspirations. “It’s definitely on our minds, but we’re focused on just winning,” Richardson said. “This is a division game that counts double for us, so we need to come out on top.”
Richardson has previously found success against the Texans, amassing 359 total yards and five touchdowns in just over five quarters of play. The Colts will need him at his best to secure a victory on Sunday.
