Anthony Richardson caps off clutch performance with first career game-winning TD

“It was an automatic QB run there and I just told myself, I’m getting in this end zone regardless of what happens,” Richardson told reporters after Sunday’s win.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson bulldozed his way into the end zone to score his second rushing touchdown with 46 seconds left and lift the Colts to a massive 28-27 road win over the New York Jets.

Once Indianapolis (5-6) took over with 2:41 left in the fourth quarter, all eyes at MetLife Stadium turned to witness the NFL’s youngest starting signal caller potentially lead his first career game-winning drive. Richardson caught the Jets with a pump-fake and ignited the final rally with a phenomenal pass to receiver Alec Pierce for 39 yards. He connected with Downs on a slant for 17 yards to set up first-and-goal before scoring three plays later.

“It was an automatic QB run there and I just told myself, I’m getting in this end zone regardless of what happens,” Richardson told reporters after Sunday’s win.

Richardson was poised while executing the Colts run-pass-option game plan. After keeping the read option up the middle to convert a first down, Richardson hit receiver Michael Pittman Jr. on a dig route over the middle for 16 yards to enter Jets’ territory. Rookie receiver Adonai Mitchell burst past Jets’ All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner on a slant for 33 yards before getting tackled just shy of the end zone. Indy’s dual-threat QB showcased his freight train skill set as he ran a designed keeper left, stiff armed Jets’ defensive end Micheal Clemons, then lowered his surgically repaired shoulder and trucked Jets’ safety Jalen Mills into the end zone to extend the Colts lead to 10-0.

The Colts defense forced four punts and stuffed a sneak for a turnover on downs to begin Sunday’s affair. Indianapolis did not allow a first down until the first play after the two minute warning as the Jets managed to gain just 27 total net yards in their first 16 offensive snaps. Colts rookie defensive end Laiatu Latu corralled Jets’ QB Aaron Rogers for his third career sack.

Rodgers found his groove after the two minute warning and completed a 24-yard pass to receiver Davante Adams to breach Colts territory for the first time. Facing third-and-6 in the final minute of the first half, Rodgers dumped off a check down pass to running back Breece Hall, who took it 29 yards into the end zone to cut the deficit to 13-7. New York kept the momentum after Richardson was strip-sacked by Jets’ Javon Kinlaw on the second play of the second half. Kinlaw recovered the fumble to set up the Jets’ struggling offense outside the red zone. It took just two carries from Hall to dash right and dive inside the pylon for an 18-yard TD to give the Jets their first lead.

Richardson engineered two clutch touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to mount an eight-point comeback victory. He capped off an eight-play, 70-yard drive with a passing TD to Downs on an angle route out the backfield to bring the Colts within two points. Indianapolis entered Week 11 with 42 explosive plays that gained 20-plus yards, second-most in the AFC behind Baltimore (50). Richardson exploded Sunday with nine completions of 15-plus-yards, including four such passes in the final frame. Richardson completed 20-of-30 passes for 272 passing yards and scored three total TDs in his 11th career start.

Colts defensive end Kwity Paye sacked Rodgers twice in the final drive to seal the road victory and essentially stick a fork in the Jets (3-8) 2024 campaign. The Colts host the NFC’s No. 1 contender Detroit Lions (9-1) — winners of eight consecutive games — at Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 12.