Josh Downs, Anthony Richardson team up to give Colts offense a jolt of energy in win over Jets

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts receiver Josh Downs welcomed last week's announcement that Anthony Richardson would return as Indy's starting quarterback.

Both showed why they were so excited to be teaming up again Sunday.

Downs made a diving 31-yard catch on Richardson's first throw, finished with five catches for 84 yards, one TD and helped his good friend and draft classmate lead the Colts to a critical 28-27 win over the New York Jets.

“You guys know that’s my guy right there,” Richardson said when asked about Downs. “It’s my job to get him the ball. I know for a fact he’s going to get open no matter who’s guarding him, so shoutout to J.D. for making it work.”

Downs' big day may have helped Richardson turn the corner, too.

The former Florida star has never started more than four consecutive games over his first two seasons, which may explain his inconsistency. But on Sunday, he put together the most efficient four quarters of his career.

Richardson entered the game with a league-low completion rate of 44.4%, but he went 20 of 30 with a career-best 272 yards and one score while adding two strong TD runs, including the go-ahead 4-yard score with 46 seconds left. His quarterback rating of 106.5 was the highest of any game he had started and finished.

The Colts are hoping it was a game-changing performance for Richardson.

“He was great. Composure was phenomenal,” coach Shane Steichen said after benching Richardson for two games. "We know how talented he is. He put in great work this week, and he's got to continue that because we know what type of player he can be.”

What Indy (5-6) can expect moving forward remains unclear.

Richardson initially sat because Steichen wanted last year's No. 4 overall draft pick to take a step back, pay greater attention to the details and learn to make greater personal sacrifices for the team.

Message received.

Downs saw the changes and hopes they will help the Colts fight their way back into playoff position.

“I know he's been doing a lot of extra stuff, meeting with coaches, offensive line, running backs. He was doing that before, but he's really taken it up a notch,” Downs said. “I told him I had him all game and he made the right plays. He ran the ball hard and he put the team on his back.”

Ground game. The unimpressive final numbers — 35 carries for 91 yards — hardly tell the tale. With Richardson and Jonathan Taylor together in the backfield, the Jets defense had to respect both options. That also opened up plays downfield, too, allowing Richardson to take advantage.

Offensive line. Indy started three rookies Sunday, and it showed at some inopportune moments. The most obvious was a strip-sack of Richardson early in the second half, a miscue New York quickly converted into a TD for a 14-13 lead. If the young guys continue to play, they'll need to run block better, too.

DE Kwity Paye. When Samson Ebukam injured his Achilles tendon in training camp, Paye's role changed. Then Paye got hurt. He finally looked like his old, disruptive self on Sunday, getting two sacks including the one that sealed the win. He now has 3 1/2 this season.

QB Joe Flacco. The 39-year-old had some promising moments in his first four appearances with Indy. While Richardson's health status could give Flacco more chances, the fact remains Richardson has been selected as the starter for the rest of this season, likely relegating Flacco to the bench for the foreseeable future.

The Colts may be as healthy as they've been all season. Steichen announced no new injuries Sunday or Monday, and everybody who was listed on last week's injury report played against the Jets. The biggest question heading into this week might be whether WR Michael Pittman Jr. will play again this week after missing the previous week with a back injury.

Five — Indy's defense opened the game with five straight three-and-outs against the Jets and did not allow a first down until the final two minutes of the first half.

Yes, Richardson beat a reeling team in the Jets (3-8). Now he must show he can beat the NFC’s top team, Detroit (9-1), and the kind of aggressive defense that has harassed and harangued Richardson into the kind of costly mistakes that have plagued him in the past.

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 21-13. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) tries to avoid a sack from Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye (51) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (1) is tackled by New York Jets linebacker Chazz Surratt (55), long snapper Thomas Hennessy (42) and linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball (41) during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) throws under pressure from New York Jets defensive end Micheal Clemons (72) during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) breaks through tackles by New York Jets cornerback Isaiah Oliver (23) and cornerback D.J. Reed (4) to score a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) breaks a tackle against New York Jets safety Jalen Mills (35) as he crosses the goal line to score a touchdown during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Spirit Airlines said Monday that it has filed for bankruptcy protection and will attempt to reboot as it struggles to recover from the pandemic-caused swoon in travel, stiffer competition from bigger carriers, and a failed attempt to sell the airline to JetBlue.

Spirit, the biggest U.S. budget airline, filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition after working out terms with bondholders. The airline has lost more than $2.5 billion since the start of 2020 and faces looming debt payments totaling more than $1 billion in 2025 and 2026.

The airline said it expects to continue operating normally during the bankruptcy process. Spirit told customers Monday they can book flights and use frequent-flyer points as they ordinarily would, and said employees and vendors would continue getting paid.

The airline said it received commitments for a $350 million equity investment from existing bondholders and will convert $795 million of their debt into stock in the restructured company. The bondholders will also extend a $300 million loan that, combined with Spirit’s remaining cash, will help the airline get through the restructuring.

The airline's shares dropped 25% on Friday, after The Wall Street Journal reported that the airline was discussing terms of a possible bankruptcy filing with its bondholders. Spirit, based in Dania Beach, Florida, missed a deadline for filing its third-quarter financial results but announced that its operating margin would indicate a bigger loss than the company had in the same quarter last year.

Those were just the latest in a series of blows that have sent the stock crashing down by 97% since late 2018 — when Spirit was still making money.

CEO Ted Christie confirmed in August that Spirit was talking to advisers of its bondholders about the upcoming debt maturities. On Monday, he called the deal with bondholders “a strong vote of confidence in Spirit and our long-term plan.”

People are still flying on Spirit Airlines. They’re just not paying as much.

In the first six months of this year, Spirit passengers flew 2% more than they did in the same period last year. However, they are paying 10% less per mile, and revenue per mile from fares is down nearly 20%, contributing to Spirit’s red ink.

It’s not a new trend. Spirit failed to return to profitability when the coronavirus pandemic eased and travel rebounded. There are several reasons behind the slump.

Spirit’s costs, especially for labor, have risen. The biggest U.S. airlines have snagged some of Spirit’s budget-conscious customers by offering their own brand of bare-bones tickets. And fares for U.S. leisure travel — Spirit’s core business — sagged this summer because of a glut of new flights.

The premium end of the air-travel market has surged while Spirit’s traditional no-frills end has stagnated. So this summer, Spirit decided to sell bundled fares that include a bigger seat, priority boarding, free bags, internet service and snacks and drinks. It also dropped cancellation fees after rival Frontier Airlines did so.

Those were huge changes from Spirit’s longtime strategy, which focuses on grabbing customers with rock-bottom fares and then getting them to pay extra for things that are free on many other airlines, such as bringing a carry-on bag or ordering a soda.

In a highly unusual move, Spirit planned to cut its October-through-December schedule by nearly 20%, compared with the same period last year, which analysts said should help prop up fares. But that would help rivals more than it would boost Spirit.

Analysts from Deutsche Bank and Raymond James say that Frontier, JetBlue and Southwest would benefit the most because of their overlap with Spirit on many routes.

Spirit has also been plagued by required repairs to Pratt & Whitney engines, which is forcing the airline to ground dozens of its Airbus jets. Spirit has cited the recall as it furloughed pilots.

The aircraft fleet is relatively young, which has made Spirit an attractive takeover target.

Frontier tried to merge with Spirit in 2022 but was outbid by JetBlue. However, the Justice Department sued to block the $3.8 billion deal, saying it would drive up prices for Spirit customers who depend on low fares, and a federal judge agreed in January. JetBlue and Spirit dropped their merger two months later.

U.S. airline bankruptcies were common in the 1990s and 2000s, as airlines struggled with fierce competition, high labor costs and sudden spikes in the price of jet fuel. PanAm, TWA, Northwest, Continental, United and Delta were swept up. Some liquidated, while others used favorable laws to renegotiate debts such as aircraft leases and keep flying.

The last bankruptcy by a major U.S. carrier ended when American Airlines emerged from Chapter 11 protection and simultaneously merged with US Airways in December 2013.

FILE - Airline passengers self check in at the Spirit airlines counter at Orlando International Airport on July 3, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

FILE - The Spirit Airlines logo is seen at the ticket counter at Manchester Boston Regional Airport, on June 2, 2023, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

FILE - Passengers wait in a line for help at the Spirit Airlines ticket counter at the Tampa International Airport Thursday, June 1, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

FILE - A Spirit Airlines 319 Airbus approaches Manchester Boston Regional Airport for a landing, Friday, June 2, 2023, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)