Heavy ground game gives Anthony Richardson a chance to shine in Colts' latest victory

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts drafted Anthony Richardson to be their franchise quarterback.

On Sunday, they saw how he might be deployed most effectively.

Richardson threw only 11 passes in Indy's 38-30 victory over slumping Tennessee, becoming just the third player since 2000 to produce 38 points with fewer than 15 passing attempts. But the second-year quarterback and running back Jonathan Taylor executed the game plan perfectly by combining for 38 carries, 308 yards and four scores.

“My job is to pass the ball, deliver the ball, so whenever there’s an opportunity to do so, I’m expected to complete passes, regardless of how long I’ve gone without throwing a pass,” Richardson said. “I’m just trying to do my job the best way I can.”

While his stats have not improved dramatically since he regained the starting job, Richardson has made significant progress.

He started and finished all five games, the longest stretch of his career. He orchestrated fourth-quarter comebacks on the road against the New York Jets and New England. On Sunday, he broke the franchise record for most TD runs by a quarterback in a season by powering his way in from 5 yards out to tie it at 7 with his sixth TD of the season. And when Indy (7-8) needed a late third-down conversion to close out the victory, Richardson did that, too — firing a 10-yard strike to Michael Pittman Jr.

No, he wasn't perfect. A late throw over the middle resulted in yet another interception that cost the Colts a scoring chance in the first half.

But Richardson went 7 of 11 with 131 yards and a 27-yard touchdown pass to Josh Downs with 15 seconds left in the first half to open up a 24-7 lead.

And with Richardson and Taylor increasingly feeding off one another, the Colts may just be starting to unleash the full horsepower of what this dynamic duo can do. At least that's the hope as the regular season winds down.

“To add that element of (Richardson's) run game was huge,” coach Shane Steichen said. "He had some good runs for us all day. So, him and J.T. back there is huge.”

Ground game. What else? It has been a rollercoaster season for the Colts offense in general as well as the running game. On Sunday, it looked spectacular. Indy broke a 68-year-old franchise record by rushing for 335 yards. Taylor has 76 carries for 421 yards over the last three games and has his first 1,000-yard season since winning the 2021 rushing crown.

Closing out games. Somehow, the Colts went from a 38-7 rout to needing an interception on the game's final play. Maybe that explains why the Colts have played 12 one-possession games this season. If Indy could find a solution, it might not be on the cusp of making the playoffs instead of missing them for a fourth straight year.

C Ryan Kelly. When the three-time Pro Bowl selection went on injured reserve in October, some thought Kelly may have played his last game in Indy. He's in a contract year and rookie Tanor Bortolini played well in Kelly's absence. But Kelly proved his value by making a big difference in the ground game.

RG Dalton Tucker. The undrafted rookie moved into the starting lineup when Will Fries was sidelined with a season-ending leg injury. Then the Colts brought back veteran Mark Glowinski and plugged him into Tucker's spot. Tucker was a healthy scratch Sunday.

WR Alec Pierce (concussion) and LB E.J. Speed (knee) were both inactive in Week 16 and it's unclear what their status will be next weekend. ... Two defensive backs — Jaylon Jones (throat) and Tre Flowers (shoulder) — left and did not return. ... Indy may have avoided a more concerning loss when Pro Bowl LG Quenton Nelson hurt his ankle in the fourth quarter. After slamming his helmet on the sideline, he returned for Indy's last drive.

18 — According to The New York Times, Indy has an 18% chance of making the playoffs heading into its final two games.

Indy still has a manageable schedule with a trip to the New York Giants (2-13) next weekend before a rematch with Jacksonville (3-12) in the regular-season finale. If they replicate their play from the first three quarters Sunday, they're likely to finish with a winning record and maybe get lucky enough to make the postseason. If they play like they did in the fourth quarter, the opposite could happen.

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Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, top celebrates his touchdown with guard Mark Glowinski (64) and offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann (79) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears, right, is tackled by Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones, left, during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II (23) celebrates his interception with teammates Segun Olubi (50) and Jaylon Jones (40) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen, left, congratulates quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) after a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) celebrates his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) stiff arms Tennessee Titans safety Amani Hooker (37) as he runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Tens of thousands of homes in Bosnia were without electricity on Tuesday after more heavy snow and winds that also brought traffic chaos in neighboring Croatia and Serbia.

In Slovenia, the resumption of a search for an injured Hungarian hiker missing in the Alps north of the capital Ljubljana since Sunday was temporarily suspended because of strong winds.

Rescuers on Monday reached his female companion and transferred her to safety, but they were unable to locate the man and couldn't use a helicopter because of strong winds.

Throughout the Balkans authorities issued travel warnings as snow drifts closed some major routes, including sections of motorways in Croatia.

Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia banned the movement of heavy vehicles and imposed limited traffic levels on affected roads.

Parts of Bosnia faced a total halt of railway traffic because of the snow.

Bosnia's state power company described the situation as “extremely hard” in some areas of the country. The weight of heavy, moist snow brought down distribution lines which are hard to access due to snow drifts, the company said in a statement.

Regional N1 television reported dozens of vehicles were stuck in the snow for 10 hours in western Bosnia overnight before they could continue. Authorities in the nearby town of Drvar declared an emergency while struggling to clear snow.

The town's municipal council president Jasna Pecanac told the Drvar radio that the town has been cut off. “Many of our residents are stuck in the snow,” she said. “The situation is very hard as the snow continues to fall.”

An aerial view of parked trolley buses during heavy snowfall in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

An aerial view of a soccer stadium during heavy snowfall in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

An aerial view of parked trolley buses during heavy snowfall in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

An aerial view of the city traffic during heavy snowfall in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

An aerial view of parked trolley buses during heavy snowfall in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

An aerial view of the city traffic during heavy snowfall in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

A man cleans snow of his car during heavy snowfall in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

A woman walks through the park during heavy snowfall in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)