Quick Slant: SNF - The Move, the Meniscus and a Couple of Maybes; How We Ended Up with Flacco vs. Darnold in a Game of Consequence
Colts @ Vikings, Sunday @ 8:20 PM
Sunday night brings us a game between two teams with a rare commonality: Both have invested in QBs selected within the top ten of the NFL draft in the past two seasons. Each of those players now finds himself an understudy to a seasoned veteran, once written off, now resurrected. And so, whether by their own volition or due to the actions of the injury gods, the Colts and Vikings ponder the gridiron version of the existential stuff: the future, their QBs, and what it means to balance development with winning now.
The 4-4 Colts find themselves in a conundrum so rare we haven’t seen it since all the way back in Week 3 when the Panthers benched 2023’s No. 1 pick Bryce Young for QB tourist Andy Dalton, who was no doubt awakened from a sideline nap in a hammock stretched between two tackling dummies (his hair reportedly still looked amazing). Despite investing heavily in Anthony Richardson, last year’s No. 4 overall pick, Indianapolis has decided to bench him in favor of veteran Joe Flacco – a move dripping with either guts or sheer panic. While uniquely talented, Richardson has struggled mightily, and his antics have done little to bolster his case as the Colts’ long-term solution. Flacco, a former Super Bowl champion now in the twilight of his career, offers stability and an immediate upgrade. But is winning a few more games worth delaying Richardson’s growth? For a team with playoff ambitions but no real shot at the ultimate prize, it’s a choice as divisive as it is practical.
The 5-2 Vikings had entered this season full of hope for their prized rookie quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, taken 10th overall this spring. But a torn meniscus sidelined him for the season, forcing Minnesota to call upon journeyman Sam Darnold, once dismissed as a bust. To everyone’s surprise, Darnold has managed more than competence; he’s breathed life into a season many had feared lost. His resilience has given the Vikings something rare – a second chance. With him, they are alive; without him, they wouldn’t be. This has likely put years on Darnold’s career and kept water cooler talk in Minneapolis focused on aspirations to win a tough division, make the playoffs, and shoot for a title.
The Colts and Vikes meet under the Sunday night lights with contrasting ambitions – one fighting to stay relevant in the playoff hunt, the other torn between the present and a future that feels increasingly uncertain. Mike and Cris have the call, as the Vikings and Colts will battle for more than a win; they battle for clarity.
Colts' Implied Team Total: 20.5
The 10,000-foot view is not as helpful for a matchup-specific piece, so I’ll not waste much time debating the perspicacity of the move from Richardson to Flacco, what it means for Richardson's sustained growth and development, and what that subsequently means for the franchise. I will offer this: Richardson has been objectively terrible this year. He isn’t simply the worst QB in the NFL in terms of EPA + CPOE composite; he’s worst by a country mile.
Richardson has not been effective as a passer in the least. We would have liked to see more from him as a rusher for fantasy purposes, but he has averaged just under 40 yards per game and scored only one TD on the ground.
In the games when Richardson was out, the Colts’ passing statistics increased by almost 100 yards, 1.5 passing TDs, and twice as many completions. The Colts also had over 11 additional plays and 17 passing attempts per game.
Flacco ranks 8th in QBR and 13th in FPOE/G. His completion percentage is 18th, but this is a massive improvement from Richardson, ranked 44th.
Michael Pittman, Jr. has experienced an improvement of almost five and a half fantasy points per game without Richardson.
For Josh Downs, it is closer to five.
