Anthony Richardson got the start against the Patriots and played the entire first half. Let’s break down each and every play of his.
Throw 1
Oh no…#Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/RJhw28ZMO1
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 13, 2026Richardson comes out with a stinker on a designed roll out that left the tight end completely open in the flats. He fails to open up and align his upper body which results in his body staying closed to the target and one hopping it.
Throw 2
Nice RAC for Ogletree. #Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/DDut0VHhNG
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 13, 2026A screen pass here so nothing to break down.
Throw 3
Ohhhhh noooooo#Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/oRSRGh6Fz8
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 13, 2026While the majority of the blame should go to the receiver, Richardson definitely deserves blame for the read, which was completely wrong, and for the placement of the ball. He decided to throw to a receiver in the flats with a trailing defensive back and another one sitting over the top. He then decides to whip a fastball high that forces the receiver to jump high for it. Owen should’ve caught the ball but that ball never should’ve gone there.
Scramble 1
At least he tried to get out of bounds. #Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/XfkbeDX2tD
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 14, 2026This is what Richardson does best and that’s using his legs to create. He does a nice job of getting 7 yards here.
Throw 4
Feels weird to comment on this but he caught a bad snap, so there's that.#Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/dQrD9X88az
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 14, 2026Screen pass so nothing to break down.
Throw 5
Catchable ball for a nice gain from NWI#Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/0USYKUOG8M
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 14, 2026This is a good clean rep from the 5 step drop to the launch angle to the placement.
Run 1
Just when I think I'm out (on him) Richardson keeps reeling me back in#Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/FBJGTwLHyI
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 14, 2026This is a fantastic run… nothing else to say.
Run 2
Almost made it in.#Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/awTz4hy3Gt
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 14, 2026This is also a great run with a nice play design.
Scramble 2
They called him down (he wasn't). Say what you want but Richardson isn't boring to watch.#Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/j9uEPaZ4vN
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 14, 2026This one is pretty simple… he needs to hold on to the ball. He was holding it way too loose for most of the entire run and it came out pretty easy.
Throw 6
AR hits a dart over the middle.#Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/dL9VOCknX6
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 14, 2026He needs to sell the fake better but that was a missile right into the receiver’s body so well done on him for that.
Throw 7
Nice throw to Mallory here. #Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/QpfYhAcGsl
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 14, 2026This is a nice throw, with the tight end Mallory only needing to slow down slightly so kudos to Richardson on that one.
Throw 8
Sometimes its better to be lucky than good. AR pass gets tipped, Mallory snags it anyway.#Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/5mAjTU6c6i
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 14, 2026Richardson really got away with one on this. With better DBs that’s probably an interception or at the very least an incompletion. While you need to throw with some velocity on it, it is very much a touch throw so he doesn’t demonstrate much of it on that one.
Run 4
Another nice run from AR5.#Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/ly2afzxfOq
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 14, 2026Good read on the option and he picks up a nice chunk of yards.
Throw 9
Great blocking on this screen that Bently IV turned into six.#Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/e1A9NmeJmj
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 14, 2026Screen pass so nothing to break down.
Run 5
AR5 doesn't leave this one up for interpretation and finally puts six on the board for Indy.#Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/ivPrttEu9z
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 14, 2026Can’t stop the big fella up close.
Throw 10
AR to Owen for the nice gain.#Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/VCXIlYzUuq
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 14, 2026I like this decision with 3 timeouts and Owen does a nice job of getting yards after catch.
Throw 11
Another strike from AR for a first down. He's going to need to go deep to get into field goal range on this next one.#Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/i5sxyxL27r
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 14, 2026This is a nice throw against a blitz and thrown in a spot where only the receiver can get it. With 2 timeouts, it’s also a good read.
Throw 12
Another nice throw and catch on this drive.#Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/tQU34IhYt0
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 14, 2026This is Richardson’s best throw of the game. An absolute strike on the money to the tight end in stride and he gets out of bounds to get the Colts across the 50.
Throw 13
This will set up an insanely long Field Goal attempt for Blake Groupe.#Colts#ForTheShoe#Patriots#INDvsNEpic.twitter.com/856CK0l0E9
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) August 14, 2026And because of the last throw and decision that got the player out of bounds, it allowed the Colts to run one more play to get into field goal range. This was a very well executed drive by Richardson.
Overall Recap
It was a very rough start for Richardson, but he settled in nicely on the last few drives. The stat line will show 2 turnovers and he’s at fault or partially at fault for both of them. Nevertheless, it was the usual highs and lows from Richardson that we’ve come to see over the years, so while the highs were good, there’s still no consistency from him and that’s concerning.
After all these years with him, I still come back to the same conclusion that there should be an Anthony Richardson package with designed runs, RPOs and a few pass plays that he likes best because he isn’t ready to command a full NFL offense but 5-10 plays a game to show off the explosiveness could be a nice median. It sounds like the Colts are well beyond that and tonight’s game was more of a showcase, but let’s see what the future holds.
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