Shane Steichen: Joe Flacco Will Start Against Bills

Source: David Berding / Getty

INDIANAPOLIS – Despite the poorest offensive night of the season, the Colts (4-5) are sticking with Joe Flacco under center in Week 10.

When asked last week if the benching of Richardson would be a one-week situation, Steichen committed to Flacco for longer than a temporary situation, so Monday’s answer wasn’t too surprising.

“It was one game.” Steichen said about why the decision to stay with Flacco have such an ugly performance. “It was one game that he went out there…and we’ve got a lot of football left. We have 8 (games) left. We have Buffalo this week and looking forward to that challenge.”

Steichen was asked on Monday if there’s a certain limit on Flacco’s poor play before they would go back to Richardson under center.

“We will stay pat with Joe going forward, right now,” the head coach said.

No matter the quarterback, the 2024 Colts are struggling offensively.

Unlike last year, Steichen’s offense has been unable to find any sort of necessary level of production/points.

Why the drop after a higher level last season?

“It’s a great question,” Steichen said on Monday. “We have to get more consistent in everything we do. We have to have great preparation throughout the week, and put out guys in a position to make those plays. We are going through that process right now and we are grinding through that. We’ve got a lot of football left. Have a lot of faith and trust in our football team. And we are going to put the work in to beat Buffalo.”

Specifically, Steichen pointed to third down as an area the Colts need to get better. The Colts were an ugly 3-of-11 on the money down against the Vikings.

The Colts rank 21^st in third-down efficiency and are 22^nd in points scored per game.

Also on Monday, Steichen was asked again about further reasoning behind the benching of Anthony Richardson.

When asked last Friday if Richardson’s benching was due to the young quarterback not being in the building enough, or being late to meetings, the head coach said the following.

“I have not heard that.”

On Monday, Steichen was asked specifically about national reports saying Richardson’s benching had to due to with the quarterback’s game prep.

“I addressed that last week,” the head coach began. “There are reports out there all the time. I addressed that last week. There’s no issues there.”

The Colts (4-5) have 8 games left in the 2024 season: Bills, at Jets, Lions, at Patriots, at Broncos, Titans, at Giants, Jaguars.

Tuesday afternoon will bring the 2024 NFL trade deadline.

In the last decade, the Colts have only had 1 in-season trade (2022: Nyheim Hines for Zach Moss + Day 3 draft pick).

Shane Steichen: Joe Flacco Will Start Against Bills  was originally published on 1075thefan.com