In the final preseason game between the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals, quarterback Anthony Richardson's performance was a mix of promise and challenges, reflecting the typical growing pains a young player experiences as he moves into a starting role in the NFL.
Promising Start: Richardson Leads Offensive Series with Touchdown
Richardson opened the game with a successful offensive series that culminated in a touchdown, showing his potential as he led the Colts down the field against the Bengals' backup players. During this series, Richardson completed 7 of 8 passes, accumulating 65 yards and culminating the offense with an accurate 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
The only blemish on this sequence was a pass intended for tight end Drew Ogletree in the end zone that slipped through his hands, indicating that Richardson's accuracy was largely spot on.
However, after this strong start, Richardson's performance became inconsistent. For the remainder of his playing time, he completed only 1 of 6 pass attempts, as defensive pressure increased and his accuracy decreased.
On his second series, Richardson's struggles were highlighted when he threw an interception to Bengals safety Jordan Battle, who returned it 9 yards for a touchdown. This marked a significant setback and highlighted areas where Richardson needs to improve, particularly in reading defensive coverages and making quick decisions under pressure.
Subsequent series were marred by disconnects with receivers, including two notable misses in third-down situations to Adonai Mitchell, resulting in stalled series and clears.
Inconsistencies Mark Richardson's Performance
Richardson's challenges continued when he suffered a catch and lost the ball during his final series, further illustrating the difficulties he faced in terms of awareness in the protection pocket and ball security. Attempting to recover, he ran for 3 yards on a third-and-15 situation, but ultimately failed to reach the first down.
Despite these problems, Richardson maintained a positive attitude after the game, expressing his enjoyment of playing soccer and acknowledging that mistakes are part of the learning process.
He emphasized the importance of these experiences for their development and expressed confidence in their ability to improve, noting that the team's first series demonstrated their potential, while the last series offered valuable lessons.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen shared this sentiment, expressing unwavering confidence in Richardson despite his inconsistent performance. Steichen emphasized that it is common for quarterbacks to miss throws, regardless of their level of experience, and expressed his belief that Richardson will make meaningful and impactful plays for the team in the upcoming season.
This supportive posture suggests that the Colts organization views these preseason problems as opportunities to learn and grow, rather than causes for concern. The team's focus appears to be on building chemistry and cohesion within the offense, recognizing that time and experience will contribute to better performance and consistency.
Meeting Highlights
In terms of game highlights, the Indianapolis Colts posted a 27-14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, concluding their preseason schedule on a positive note.
Another notable contribution came from Colts quarterback Jason Bean, who orchestrated a nearly eight-minute series in the fourth quarter, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown run that solidified the team's lead. This series demonstrated the depth and resiliency of the Colts quarterback corps.
In addition, kicker Spencer Schrader showed impressive range and reliability by converting two long field goals, one from 56 yards and the other from 41 yards, providing crucial points and momentum for the Colts.
Running back Demetric Felton also turned in a standout performance with a dynamic 40-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, highlighting his explosive playmaking ability.
On the Bengals' side, the decision to rest all starters led to a challenging game for their backup players, as the team struggled offensively and ultimately finished the preseason winless with an 0-3 record.
This could raise questions about the Bengals' depth and preparation entering the regular season. However, Bengals coach Zac Taylor remained positive, emphasizing the value of game reps for backup players, which could be beneficial during the regular season if they are required due to injury or other circumstances.
Number 1️⃣ for 🔟. pic.twitter.com/CEQQ6ZFjeo
- Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) August 23, 2024
Lessons from the preseason
Noticeably absent from the Colts' offensive efforts was star running back Jonathan Taylor, who was a limited presence with just four carries for 15 yards before exiting the game, likely as a precautionary measure to preserve his health for the regular season.
Richardson, who is coming off an injury-plagued rookie season in which he was only able to start four games, is under scrutiny to prove his durability and ability to stay healthy for an entire season as the Colts' anticipated franchise quarterback.
The management of playing time and workload for key players like Taylor and Richardson during the preseason reflects the coaching staff's strategic approach to balancing preparation with the need to maintain player health in the face of a demanding regular season schedule.
The Indianapolis Colts are set to open their regular season at home on September 8 against the Houston Texans. This matchup will provide an early test for Richardson and the team's overall readiness following their preseason performances.
Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals will host the New England Patriots in their season opener, where they will try to take advantage of the rest given to their starters during the preseason to start the season strong against a competitive opponent.
