INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Quarterback Anthony Richardson showed everyone Sunday what the Indianapolis Colts learned while drafting him — he possesses one of the NFL's strongest arms.
The former Florida star also found out how much he needs to improve.
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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Quarterback Anthony Richardson showed everyone Sunday what the Indianapolis Colts learned while drafting him — he possesses one of the NFL's strongest arms.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) makes a touchdown reception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers basketball player Tyrese Haliburton celebrates after Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson makes a touchdown run during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) celebrates a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) runs against Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) is sacked by Houston Texans defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) loses his helmet as he is sacked by Houston Texans defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) looks for a receiver during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
While Richardson threw two touchdown passes of more than 50 yards and powered through Houston's defense on a late 3-yard TD run in the opening game of his second pro season, it wasn't enough to stop the Colts' Week 1 winless streak.
“I want to be better as a player, so I'm always criticizing myself,” Richardson said following the 29-27 loss. “We were highly confident we could come in here and win, especially at home. We've got more games ahead of us and we've got more chances to come out with a victory.”
The Richardson roller coaster provided plenty of fodder for fans and critics alike.
He looked spectacular on his third throw of the game, a 60-yard laser to Alec Pierce in stride despite slipping on Lucas Oil Stadium's turf as he wound up. He looked equally impressive on a 54-yard dart to Ashton Dulin in the second half and the 57-yarder to Pierce, which set up his first scoring run of the season and got the Colts within two with 2:14 remaining.
Aside from those three throws, though, he went 6 of 16 with 41 yards and one costly red zone interception. He also missed two additional potential scoring throws to wide-open receivers.
While he ran six times for 56 yards including that determined fourth down scoring run and occasionally slid, he also was sacked twice, sometimes missed his receivers badly and hit his head hard on the turf in the first quarter when Mario Edwards Jr. slammed him to the ground in the first quarter, knocking Richardson's helmet off.
It's a play that may rekindle the debate over Richardson doing a better job of protecting himself after missing 13 games and finishing only one of four starts because of various injuries.
Richardson started — and finished this one to match last season's total — and he wasn't complaining about the hit.
“I love physical football,” he said. “'That's part of playing physical. Some people are saying it should be a flag. I don't know.”
What he does know is that Sunday's performance wasn't good enough.
Yes, Richardson, finally, ended Indy's streak of seven consecutive seasons with a different opening day starter at quarterback, he failed to snap the league's longest active Week 1 winless drought. It's now 11 straight going back to 2013.
And if the Colts hope to end a three-year playoff drought, Richrdson needs to be on the field for more than 43 plays and 20 total minutes and 2021 league rushing champion Jonathan Taylor needs to be more involved.
All of it would help the defense stay fresh, something that didn't happen Sunday, and it's not just on Richardson to get the job done.
“You can put that on me,” coach Shane Steichen said when asked about Taylor's workload. “Like I could have called more runs. I think we had 19 passes, I don't remember how many carries we had, but we'll look at those things and get that thing cleaned up, learning from tough, close games like this.”
If the Colts do get it fixed, and Richardson steadies his performance, the Texans know how much more difficult their path to defending the AFC South title could be.
“We made plays when we had to, but not good enough, right?” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Got to eliminate the big plays. That's when you give up big points, that equals points.”
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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin (16) runs tot he end zone for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) makes a touchdown reception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers basketball player Tyrese Haliburton celebrates after Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson makes a touchdown run during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) celebrates a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) runs against Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) is sacked by Houston Texans defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) loses his helmet as he is sacked by Houston Texans defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) looks for a receiver during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Exceptionally heavy rainfall pounding Central Europe has prompted deadly flooding in the region, with four new deaths reported Monday in Poland, three in the Czech Republic and one in Romania.
The flooding has swamped parts of Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland and Romania as a low-pressure system crossing the region has unleashed record-high rains for days, and it was expected to affect Slovakia and Hungary later in the week. So far 16 people have been reported killed — seven people in Romania, five in Poland, three in the Czech Republic and one in Austria.
In Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk held an emergency meeting and later declared a disaster in flooded areas, a government measure to facilitate evacuation and rescues. He also said the government would provide 1 billion zlotys ($258,000) in immediate payouts to victims.
The flooding in Poland has burst dams and embankments while receding waters left streets covered in piles of debris and mud. It prompted a hospital in the southwestern Polish city of Nysa to evacuate about 40 patients.
Schools and offices in the affected areas were closed Monday and drinking water and food were being delivered by trucks. Many Polish cities, including Warsaw, have called for food donations for flood survivors.
Experts warned of flood threats due to the cresting Oder River in Opole, a city of some 130,000 residents, and Wroclaw, home to about 640,000 residents and where disastrous flooding happened in 1997.
Firefighters in southwestern Poland said flood victims included a surgeon whose body was found Monday morning in Nysa after he returned from hospital duty. The bodies of two women and two other men have been found in other communities in the region.
Police in the Czech Republic said that a woman and two men drowned in the northeast, which has been pounded by record rainfall since Thursday. The woman was found in the water in the town of Krasov and the men were found dead at different locations after water receded in the town of Krnov which was almost completely submerged on Sunday
Romanian authorities said Monday that another person died in the eastern county of Galati, bringing the total number of deaths there to seven.
One death previously was reported in Austria.
Authorities in the Czech Republic declared an emergency in two northeastern regions, including in the Jeseniky mountains near the Polish border.
A number of towns and cities had been submerged in the northeast, with thousands evacuated. Military helicopters joined rescuers on boats in efforts to transport people to safety. Waters were receding from the mountainous areas on Monday, leaving behind destroyed houses and bridges and damaged roads.
In most parts of the country, conditions were expected to improve later Monday.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala visited the town of Jesenik, one of the hardest hit places.
“The worst is behind us and now, we have to deal with all the damage,” Fiala said following the visit.
In Hungary, the mayor of Budapest warned residents that the largest floods in a decade were expected to hit the capital later in the week, with the waters of the Danube River set to breach the city’s lower quays by Tuesday morning.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán canceled his planned foreign engagements, including an address to a plenary session of the European Parliament on Wednesday where heated debates were expected over his conduct since Hungary took over the European Union’s rotating presidency in July.
“Until we reach the peak and get past the worst of it, I naturally won’t be leaving the country, I’ll be here at home,” he said.
Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony wrote on Facebook that the city would use 1 million sandbags to bolster flood defenses, and asked residents to take extra care when near the river.
Karel Janicek reported from Prague. Justin Spike contributed to this report from Budapest, Hungary.
Residents ride bicycles through a flooded street in Litovel, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
A resident walks through a flooded street in Liotvel, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
A resident rides a bicycle through a flooded street in Litovel, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
A car is stucked on a river bank after recent floods in Domasov, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
An aerial view of a flooded neighborhood in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
An aerial view of a flooded neighborhood in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Soldiers build barriers with sandbags against flood water at the bank of Danube River in Pilismarot, Hungary, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Robert Hegedus/MTI via AP)
An aerial view of a flooded neighbourhood in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Soldiers build barriers with sandbags against flood water at the bank of Danube River in Pilismarot, Hungary, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Robert Hegedus/MTI via AP)
View of the river Elbe in flood, in Rathen, Germany, Monday Sept. 16, 2024. The water levels continue to rise in Saxony. (Jan Woitas/dpa via AP)
An electricity pylon stands in the flood waters of the Neisse, in the Hagenwerder district of Görlitz, Germany, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Paul Glaser/dpa via AP)
A view of the southern Görlitz district of Weinhübel and the Neiße river overflowing its banks, in Germany, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Paul Glaser/dpa via AP)
Dark clouds are seen over the Parliament building in Budapest, Hungary, during the flooding of the Danube river on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
People fill sandbags to reinforce the dam due to the flooding of the Danube river at Tahitotfalu, Hungary, on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
People fill sandbags to reinforce the dam due to the flooding of the Danube river at Tahitotfalu, Hungary, on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
A dam is built to protect Margaret Island in Budapest, Hungary, due to the flooding of the Danube river on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
Dark clouds are seen over the Parliament building in Budapest, Hungary, during the flooding of the Danube river on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
People fill sandbags to reinforce the dam due to the flooding of the Danube river at Tahitotfalu, Hungary, on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
View of the Bratislava castle as the water level of the Danube river rises during recent floods in Slovakia, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Tomas Hrivnak)
An aerial view of the River Neisse overflowing its banks, south of Görlitz, Germany, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Paul Glaser/dpa via AP)
An aerial view of a flooded neighbourhood in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
This handout photo provided by the Polish fire department, shows a flooded area near the Nysa Klodzka river in Nysa, Poland on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (KG PSP Photo via AP)
This handout photo provided by the Polish fire department, shows a flooded area near the Nysa Klodzka river in Nysa, Poland on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (KG PSP Photo via AP)
This handout photo provided by the Polish fire department, shows a flooded area near the Nysa Klodzka river in Nysa, Poland on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (KG PSP Photo via AP)
A resident struggles through mud to his house after recent floods in Jesenik, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Residents look at the damage done by recent floods in Jesenik, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Residents walk through debris after recent floods in Jesenik, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Residents look at the damage done by recent floods in Jesenik, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
A resident rides a motorcycle after recent floods in Jesenik, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
A view of the damage done by recent floods in Jesenik, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
View of the destroyed bridge after recent floods in Jesenik, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
A resident struggles through mud to his house after recent floods in Jesenik, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Resident struggle through mud after recent floods in Jesenik, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
A resident looks at his damaged car after recent floods in Jesenik, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Two German Federal Police officers patrol at the border crossing to Poland in Frankfurt/Oder, Germany, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Patrick Pleul/dpa via AP)
A view of the damage done by recent floods in Jesenik, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
