Following a performance on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills where Joe Flacco was responsible for four turnovers, head coach Shane Steichen said after the game that until he says otherwise, Flacco will remain the starter.
Shane Steichen postgame presser:
Joe Flacco is still the quarterback until I say otherwise.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) November 10, 2024
For some added context, Steichen would add that he’ll watch the film and see if he has a different opinion at some point but would again reiterate that Flacco is the starter “right now.” When asked why, he replied with “veteran leadership.”
As I’m sure you can gather from these remarks, Steichen said he never considered going to Richardson at any point in this game.
Shane Steichen reiterates that Joe Flacco is his starting QB “right now.”
He said he still believes Flacco gives the Colts the best chance to win.
— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) November 10, 2024
On the season, the Colts are now 1-3 in games with Flacco at quarterback. Over the last two weeks specifically, he is responsible for six turnovers and the offense has scored a combined 26 points with him at quarterback.
In general, the passing game has been very disjointed, and there’s also no threat of utilizing the quarterback in the run game or the ability to extend plays to at least provide some other avenue for the offense to move the ball.
The Colts find themselves in an awful spot right now. They put their long-term plans on hold by benching Anthony Richardson after just 10 career starts. They did this in an effort to win-now and make a potential playoff push.
However, two games since that decision was made, Indianapolis is now 4-6 on the season and the offense has been abysmal. Heading into Week 11, both the short-term and long-term viability of this team, specifically at quarterback, is very much up in the air–and that is no place any team wants to be.
Perhaps Steichen will decide it’s time for another change at quarterback in the coming days. My guess is that a post-game press conference isn’t the ideal setting to announce such a move. However, having said that, the words and actions say otherwise at this time.