5 Matchups Where Colts QB Anthony Richardson Could Shine

The Indianapolis Colts recently released their 2023 regular season schedule to the masses.

🗣️ THE 2023 SCHEDULE HAS ARRIVED pic.twitter.com/BMSQZzl1eb
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 12, 2023

With the games all lined up now, new head coach Shane Steichen will begin to place the building blocks on preparing rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson for the big-time scene that is the NFL stage.

With this on the brain, let’s get into five different regular season matchups where Richardson can have the chance to put on a show and shine for NFL viewers and Colts fans.

1.) Houston Texans (Weeks 2 and 18)

This AFC South rivalry is a simple one to put on the list for Richardson to shine. The reason? The ability to stop the run.

Last season the Houston Texans struggled in last-place fashion against opponents’ ground attacks, averaging 170.2 yards allowed per game. To pair with the average, they allowed a total of 2,894 yards. This was 220 yards more than the second-to-last Chicago Bears, who had 2,674 allowed on the season.

This is a perfect opportunity for Richardson to get things going on the ground, should he start both games. Jonathan Taylor is also in the backfield, which can cause major issues when paired with the rushing thread that Richardson can also be.

Despite adding edge rusher Will Anderson out of Alabama in the NFL draft, the Texans could still have a ways to go before they’re ready to stop a potent ground attack like the Colts could hit them with.

Look for Richardson to showcase his legs and the skills he can display in the open field.

2.) Los Angeles Rams (Week 4 at Indianapolis)

At first glance, this could seem like an incorrect entry. However, the Los Angeles Rams lost franchise receiver-disruptor Jalen Ramsey to the Miami Dolphins in a trade during the offseason.

Yes, it’s true the Rams still have Aaron Donald on their defensive line, who can be the best defensive player any given year. However, they will not have the same support in the secondary that they did before. This is where the Colts can dig in and attack.

Also, Richardson is a large QB to bring down at 6’5” and 245 pounds, so Donald wouldn’t be guaranteed to bring him down every time he makes contact.

Richardson would only be in his fourth start in this matchup if he’s under center in Week 1. However, this could be the best way to relax the defensive front and box to open up the running game, too.

Will weapons like Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman Jr. receive some deep shots in the absence of Ramsey? It could become so.

3.) Carolina Panthers (Week 9 at Carolina)

While it is true that the headline for this one is likely “Frank Reich’s Revenge Game,” it’s also a chance for Richardson to put on an excellent performance against a below-average Carolina Panthers defense.

In 2022, they finished in the bottom half of the NFL in passing yards allowed per game at 227.5 (22nd in the league) and rushing yards per game at 122.6 (18th in the league).

It will be fun also to watch the QB competition between the first and fourth picks from the NFL draft. While there likely won’t be multiple chances for Bryce Young and Richardson to battle it out (they’re in opposite conferences), it’s still a spot for Richardson to potentially showcase both his passing and running ability against a defense that wasn’t intimidating in either aspect one year ago.

4.) New England Patriots (Week 10 in Munich, Germany)

It is well known that New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is a defensive genius. It’s also well-known that he handles first-time/rookie QBs with ease, typically dispatching these unfortunate souls in a landslide fashion.

Last season Colts quarterback Sam Ehlinger had a taste of Foxborough, and it didn’t end well, leading to the immediate dismissal of now-Panther head coach Reich. However, it’s a new era in Colts football; Richardson will still be tested mightily, which is why this entry is here.

Could Steichen devise a game plan to help Richardson somehow win in Germany? It’s not likely, but possible.

Richardson could be such a big threat in so many ways that the Patriots’ defense will have to respect his ability to throw deep and scramble.

Players like Pierce, Pittman Jr., Taylor, and Josh Downs will be of the highest importance to make plays for Richardson to have a chance at all to shock the world, and Germany, by defeating Belichick in his rookie season.

5.) Cincinnati Bengals (Week 14 at Cincinnati)

Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals might be the toughest opponent on the schedule in 2023 for the Colts. Boasting the duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at wide receiver; and Joe Mixon in the backfield, this is a team that can light up any defense in the league.

The Bengals’ defense wasn’t the greatest last season, but they can compete well enough to keep their offensive counterpart in any contest. With Richardson being at the helm in this one for the Colts’ offensive attack, it will give him a chance to play against a top-five quarterback in the NFL for millions of fans.

While it’s assumed the Bengals could be too much for the Colts, don’t sleep on this young Indy team that will be looking to shut up a lot of critics, the rookie QB Richardson included.

Outlook

As we speak, the future looks bright for Steichen, Richardson, and the rest of a young Colts team. The schedule for 2023 is a friendlier one at this moment, but Richardson will have ample opportunities to show his skills and prove doubters incorrect. He’s in one of the best situations he can be in with the Colts. Let’s see if he can hit the ground running faster than people think.

Follow Horseshoe Huddle on Facebook and Twitter.