The Colts head to New England after getting bludgeoned by Detroit at home last weekend 24-6. A plethora of changes will need to be made this week to get a road victory. The Colts are still in the thick of the playoff hunt for that final spot and this week (and every week) will be crucial. Let’s dive into the keys to victory for this week.
Support For Anthony Richardson
Our weekly talking points on Anthony Richardson continue this week. Since his return to the starting lineup, we have seen an improvement. His confidence, accuracy, and game management have stood out. You can tell that he has won back the locker room, and the team wants him to succeed. Whether or not he truly lost the locker room is something we may never truly know.
The difference between his two games was obviously the level of competition but also the support he had. Against the Jets, it was the best performance we had seen of his career. A multitude of reasons but he got support from his teammates. Last week, the Lions prevented that as he got zero support from his skill position players. Penalties and unforced errors shattered their chances at any victory. With the level of competition not up to the level of Detroit this weekend, we must see a complete effort of support for Anthony Richardson if they want to win this game.
Adonai Mitchell Opportunity?
Colts’ rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell might finally get his first NFL start and larger opportunity. The injury report so far shows Alec Pierce (Foot), Ashton Dulin (Ankle), and Josh Downs (Shoulder) look to be either out or most likely out for this week. This would leave Micheal Pittman Jr as the only healthy starting receiver. It appears that the franchise will need to dig into some practice squad players this week just to field a roster.
The snap counts have been low for Mitchell this season. He is in a crowded room and has been unable to fully break out. There is no question about his talent and abilities. He has had some flashes but has also seemed to be prone to drops and miscommunication on routes. While this was expected during his rookie season, he has not really gained the trust of the coaching staff just yet. If these injuries stick, then this could be Mitchell’s first major opportunity to start carving out a role and helping this team get a road victory.
Bring The Pressure
It appears that Drake Maye is going to be the franchise quarterback in New England. Maye has started 7 games this season after overtaking opening starter Jacoby Brissett. He has shown growth this season but as any time you deal with a rookie quarterback, the objective is to throw him off his game and give him looks that will disrupt him.
This Gus Bradley defense has shown more blitz this season than they did last season. That will need to continue on Sunday. The Colts have struggled to stop the run this season and keep the opposing running backs at bay. Bringing the pressure and forcing Drake Maye to beat you with his arm should be the plan. This Patriots team is not deep on skill position talent. They don’t have anyone that truly worries you, so putting it all on a rookie quarterback should be the game plan to getting this needed victory to keep your playoff chances alive.
