The SNF Mystery Is Solved for Vikings

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

Heading into Week 9, nobody was too sure who would start at quarterback for the 4-4 Indianapolis Colts, but thanks to some curious long-term decision-making, the mystery cleared up on Tuesday.

The SNF Mystery Is Solved for Vikings

The Colts will trot wiley veteran passer Joe Flacco onto the field Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium — not second-year signal-caller Anthony Richardson.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco (15) reacts after the Colts defeated the Tennessee Titans 20-17 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. © Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted Tuesday, five days before Vikings-Colts on Sunday Night Football: “QB change: The Colts are planning to start Joe Flacco this Sunday night against the Vikings, sources say. A major move, as the former first-rounder Anthony Richardson heads to the bench.”

The move shocked many for one reason: why on earth would the Colts risk stunting Richardson’s development just 10 games into his career as a starter? Everyone — draft pundits, fans, reporters, the Colts organization — knew Richardson’s skill set would be raw and very vividly needed more than 10 games to sharpen his talents. But Indianapolis pressed the pause button.

Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Colts head coach Shane Steichen said Wednesday, a day after Richardson’s QB2 relegation: “Joe gives us the best chance to win right now. With that being said, not giving up on Anthony by any means.”

While it is true that Flacco provides a better win-now option, organizations rarely decide to skewer a young quarterback’s confidence. The working theory, at least among competent franchises, is that a team must fasten its seatbelt for a bumpy ride while a youngster takes his lumps.

But the Colts have no time for that. Perhaps Steichen feels the hot seat.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.

Richardson has utterly struggled in 2024, his second season as a pro. He ranks 32nd per EPA+CPOE among all qualifying quarterbacks, an efficiency metric measuring expected wins added. His counterpart, Mr. Flacco, ranks seventh. Yes — that’s a 7th vs. 32nd variance.

There’s also the bizarre matter of Richardson’s conditioning. Mind-bogglingly, he took himself out of Week 8’s loss to the Tennessee Titans for a bit because he was tired. “I was tired. I ain’t gonna lie. That was a lot of running right there. I didn’t think I was going to be able to go that next play,” Richardson told reporters after the loss.

That revelation will follow him for the rest of his career.

Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores addressed the media from the TCO Performance Center on October 16th, 2024. Flores was hired in February 2023 to take over for Ed Donatell after Minnesota finished 30th in points allowed.

Steichen said about the fatigue declaration, “We had a conversation about it this morning in the quarterback room, which I’ll keep private. But, obviously, in those situations he knows on those type of deals, you can’t take yourself out and it’s a learned experience for him and he’s got to grow from it.”

Teams led by Flacco are 1-2 (.333) all-time versus Minnesota. The Vikings are favored to take down the Colts by five points.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.