Anthony Richardson vs. C.J. Stroud: Colts – Texans Rivalry Renewed
The first round of the NFL Draft has concluded. Now, after the smoke has cleared, the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans have picked their quarterbacks of the future.
With the second pick, the Texans took C.J. Stroud against many reports that Houston wasn’t interested. As for the Colts, they took the swing on potential with Anthony Richardson. The Colts were linked to him and Kentucky QB Will Levis for months. However, Chris Ballard and Jim Irsay would equip new coach Shane Steichen with the former.
These two quarterbacks set up an exciting chance at a renewed rivalry in the AFC South. Currently, the Jacksonville Jaguars reign as the division champions. But, if Stroud and Richardson can hit their ceilings (or higher), it could be an incredible rivalry for years to come between Indianapolis and Houston.
The Colts and Texans have had exciting duals. From Peyton Manning versus Matt Schaub to Andrew Luck versus Deshaun Watson, there has been no shortage of exciting games between higher-end passers. In recent seasons, however, it’s not quite been the same due to neither team staying consistent at quarterback for more than a season or two.
Last year, even Texans quarterback Davis Mills still played two different Colts quarterbacks for both meetings. In Week 1, the Texans and Colts tied miserably at 20, with Colts QB Matt Ryan throwing for over 300 yards. In Week 18, the Texans edged out the Colts 32-31, with Sam Ehlinger commanding the offense.
Now, with two players with a path to success and unique skill sets, it’s a matchup that could be destined for a great rivalry twice a year.
Imagine a duel-type contest where Richardson hits deep shots and runs rampant while Stroud hits 70% of his passes and pushes the Colts to a last-possession type of game. Those are the performances I’m sure Colts and Texans fans alike want from their respective passer.
It’s also intriguing to think of Steichen versus DeMeco Ryans. Steichen wants explosive plays, vertical shots, and efficiency in the run game with Richardson. On the other hand, could Ryans ease in Stroud by leaning more on running back Dameon Pierce?
It could be the case. It’s truly offensive versus defensive genius, which could turn into a football battle of chess.
Lastly, Richardson has weapons like Michael Pittman Jr. and Jonathan Taylor (among others) at his disposal. While Stroud has the aforementioned Pierce, he’s also got a strong receiving tight end in Dalton Shultz and a young defense that is ready to help out a rookie in tough situations.
With all of these factors thrown into the mix, there’s potential for a new showdown between two teams that have provided memorable moments and battles.
The stage is set for both teams as far as the quarterback is concerned. Now, with days two and three ahead for the draft, who will Indianapolis select? Will they give Richardson some new weapons or protection? There is still plenty of time for more craziness to happen. And with the draft, it almost always does.
