Indianapolis Colts (4-5) took a bold chance this week, putting their long-term future expectations on hold. benching second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson in favor of 39-year-old Joe Flacco.

They did this because they felt the veteran player gave them the best chance of winning games this season. Sunday night across the street Minnesota Vikings (6-2), that bold move led to a miss and the Colts lost on national television by a score of 21-13.

Maybe the result could have been the same or even worse with Richardson, but so far Flacco’s inclusion has not strengthened the offense.

Despite the Colts’ sluggish offense, neither team took the lead by more than a score until just over two minutes remained when the Vikings took a 21-10 lead.

On the Colts’ drive before Minnesota’s game-ending score, with over five minutes left in the game, the Colts ended a 9-play drive that was reversed on downs. Vikings safety Harrison Smith, third and fourth down tackles Michael Pittman Jr. and dealt a big blow to Ashton Dulin. Colts stars Pittman and Jonathan Taylor struggled during the drive, which affected their availability on critical downs.

– The Colts’ decision makers moved to give the offense a chance and give it some identity by replacing Richardson with veteran Flacco as the starting quarterback, and things didn’t go as planned. Flacco was able to come up with some short and intermediate completions that had been missing for most of the season, but Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores put a lot of pressure on Flacco, which disrupted the Colts’ rhythm. Trailing 14-7 early in the fourth quarter, Flacco threw the ball low as a defender came toward him and passed the pass to Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. He was easily stopped by. From there Minnesota had all the momentum and never looked back. Flacco completed 16-of-27 passes (59.3%) for 179 yards (6.6 YPA), 0 TDs, 1 INT, and a passer rating of 63.7. He was also sacked three times on the final drive.

— Considering how much offense Minnesota’s defense is doing and how much they’re pushing the box, a pass-heavy approach would probably be a smart play for the Colts’ offense, which is coached by a veteran like Flacco at quarterback. After all, the Vikings defense ranked 3rd in the NFL in rushing yards per game (83.9) and yards per carry allowed (3.9). This resulted in long stretches in the middle of the game in which Taylor was rarely used; He carried the ball just 13 times compared to the Colts’ 27 pass attempts.

— The Colts’ interior defense was losing their minds, especially in the first half, as DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart wreaked havoc on the Vikings’ interior O-line. Stewart went on a one-play crime spree in the first half, tearing down center Garrett Bradbury, throwing quarterback Sam Darnold to the ground for a sack, which was also a fumble that cornerback Kenny Moore II returned for a touchdown and the first touchdown. He also forced . Scores of the game. Buckner finished the game with 1.0 sacks, 1 tackle for loss, and 3 quarterback hits. Stewart had 2.0 sacks, 1 tackle for loss, 2 quarterback hits, and a forced fumble.

What happens next for the Colts? Never miss any news and analysis! Take a second and Sign up for our free newsletter and get Colts news delivered daily to your inbox!

— Meanwhile, there was another defensive goal for Moore under the lights, as he also made 6 tackles (1 for a loss).

— Colts linebackers played like they had a fire lit under them this week. There were still some mistakes in run defense (which weren’t the only ones), but there were big plays in the run and passing game by all three starters Zaire Franklin, EJ Speed ​​and Grant Stuard. Franklin entered Sunday ranked No. 1 in the NFL in scoring with 87 points. He finished the game with 8 more points and an interception. Speed ​​added 12 tackles (2 for a loss), while Stuard added 3 tackles (1 for a loss).

— Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson is arguably the best in the business, and his coaches know how to get him open more than he ever could. That showed up on Sunday night in the form of 137 yards on 7 receptions (19.6 average).

— The Colts’ 3rd-and-long defense is still a problem. There were several examples in this game, one in each half. On third-and-16 of the first half, the Vikings’ offense gained 22 yards and a first down on a Darnold-to-Jefferson completion. Luckily for Indy, the next game featured Stewart’s big fumble. On a less fortunate note, in the second half the Colts defense faced 3rd-and-9 from their own 14-yard line, giving up a 10-yard reception from Darnold to Jordan Addison for a first down. Darnold and Addison scored 4-yard field goals on the next play, tying the game at 7-7.

Need your daily fill of Colts content? Go to Locked On Colts YouTube channel Where Jake Arthur and Zach Hicks touch on all the important topics surrounding this team. Hit the subscribe button while you’re there!

Become a Locked On Colts insider! Ask the questions you wonder and get instant answers from someone who is with the team every day! Get exclusive access to the locker room, training pitch and press box!