Colts reinforcements ignite comeback to earn third consecutive home win

It’s been a roller coaster of emotions inside Lucas Oil Stadium all season to be honest, but the Indianapolis Colts needed every last one of their reinforcements to ignite a comeback and deliver a third consecutive home win in Sunday’s 16-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins.

Colts second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson botched a snap inside the 10-yard line, allowing the Dolphins to recover. Indianapolis’ 22-year-old franchise signal caller missed his first four pass attempts and struggled to find his rhythm until his final throw of the first half, which became the longest play from scrimmage. Miami made an early statement as QB Tyler Huntley hit tight end Jonnu Smith on a screen for a 10-yard TD. The Colts trailed 10-0 before Richardson connected with receiver Michael Pittman Jr. on a post route over the middle for 33-yards to set up kicker Matt Gay for a 52-yard field goal to put the Colts on the scoreboard as time expired to end the first half.

Richardson is an electrifying freight train as a ball carrier, evidenced best when he broke free from the grasp of Dolphins’ defensive tackle Zach Seiler to avoid a sack and was not caught until he lowered his shoulder and ran over Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer for the longest run of the game. Richardson tied his career-high with 56 rushing yards on 14 carries, 4.0 yards per carry.

The Colts found success stretching the gridiron as running back Tyler Goodson broke loose behind Quenton Nelson as his lead blocker for a 19-yard gain to ignite their third drive. After Richardson ran a designed keeper and plowed over defenders to breach the red zone, he fed receiver Ashton Dulin on a jet sweep for another 12 yards to set up first-and-goal from inside the five-yard line. Colts center Ryan Kelly and Nelson paved a runway for tailback Tyler Goodson to score his first career TD from seven-yards out to tie it up at 10-10. Goodson finished with 51 rushing yards on 14 carries, 3.6 yards per carry.

Indianapolis forced a three-and-out on the ensuing drive after rookie pass rusher Laiatu Latu secured his second career sack to regain possession midway through the third quarter. Linebacker Zaire Franklin stripped fullback Alex Ingold, allowing defensive tackle Taven Bryan to recover the fumble and deny the Dolphins inside the red zone late in the third quarter. The Colts shutout the Dolphins in the second half and caused a turnover for the sixth consecutive game.

The Dolphins outgained the Colts on the ground (188-155) and through the air (149-129), but a costly turnover put the Colts right back in the ballgame early in the third quarter. Linebacker Segun Olubi punched the football away from Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert for his first career forced fumble, then recovered the fumble and returned it to the Dolphins 28-yard line. Linebacker Grant Stuard led the Colts with a career-high 18 tackles, which is the most tackles from any NFL player this season and the most from any Colts player since Shaquille Leonard (19) in 2018. Indianapolis is 4-0 when winning the turnover battle and winless when allowing more giveaways than creating takeaways.

Richardson bounced back from a poor first half performance and closed it out with a tremendous final frame. It may have seemed like a modest 13-yard gain on first down, but Indianapolis’ second-year starter seemed to take over once Shane Steichen designed a trick play. Richardson tossed the leather to running back Trey Sermon, who reversed it to rookie receiver Adonai Mitchell, who sent a flea flicker back to Richardson, only for him to check it back down to Sermon in the flat and surge upfield. Facing third-and-8, Richardson hit receiver Alec Pierce on a shallow crosser to convert a first down and set up the Colts inside field goal range. Gay delivered two kicks from 22 and 38-yard out in the fourth quarter to seal the comeback victory.

Indianapolis improved to 4-3 and left Sunday’s affair boasting a record above .500 for the first time this season. The Colts travel to Houston in Week 8 for a rematch against the Texans (5-2) to decide first place in the AFC South.