The Colts (4-3) were up against a tougher opponent in the form of the Texans (5-2), in week 8. So, you’d want all your weapons on gridiron to face such a challenge, right? Um, it did not quite happen as Indy’s QB Anthony Richardson dropped on his knees on the sideline as Joe Flacco suited up to be his replacement. But that left Pat McAfee lashing out on the Colts’ $33m signal-caller.

He took to his X and posted: “I had never seen an NFL QB tap out while still being healthy until watching Anthony Richardson…” Richardson’s move clearly didn’t sit right with McAfee—or many fans, for that matter. You’ve got to admit, it’s odd to see a quarterback choose the sideline, especially without an injury. Aren’t quarterbacks supposed to be, you know, the heartbeat of the offense? That’s what Pat tried to convey when he wrote, “The QB is your franchise. The message it sends is loud and influential.”

Sure, we often see defensive linemen and wide receivers sub out for a quick breather—those guys are in constant physical battles and sprinting like crazy. But a quarterback? Richardson’s position doesn’t typically require that level of exertion every play, which only makes his choice all the more puzzling.

It was especially strange considering how his performance was looking up to that point. He’d been off his game, starting at a rough 2-for-15 passing, though he did manage a bomb to Josh Downs for a touchdown. Richardson’s reputation as a “boom-or-bust” type of player keeps growing, and this move only amplified that perception.

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The real eyebrow-raiser? The Colts were down by 10 and in scoring range, with Richardson at second-and-goal. After being stopped at the line, he tapped himself out—no injury involved. And he made such a big deal that Flacco suited up to play some snaps. Man, he was ready to cover like a true seasoned vet.

However, to the surprise of many, the broadcast later revealed that Richardson simply felt “out of breath.” Fans, especially Colts die-hards, couldn’t believe it. And McAfee? Yeah, he wasn’t alone in his disappointment. But much of the disappointment spurred from a rather poor showing from Anthony Richardson.

An Anthony Richardson flop show, yet again!

Anthony Richardson had another rough outing, with more misses than connections in the Colts’ 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans. Apart from a solid 24-yard touchdown throw to Josh Downs, it wasn’t a day of highlights for Richardson.

His stats tell the story—completing just 10-of-32 passes for 175 yards, a touchdown, and a game-changing interception that set up Houston’s go-ahead score. Colts fans? Let’s just say they’re feeling the sting of a tough season from their young quarterback.

Richardson’s day was a mix of fumbles and missed opportunities. On third down, he went 2-of-8 for just 35 yards, converting only twice, while he managed just 1-of-6 completions in the final two minutes—a rough stat line for any QB, especially in the clutch. Houston’s CJ Stroud, the other top rookie QB, was crisp with 25 completions for 285 yards and a score, only widening the gap in fans’ minds between the two.

Fans didn’t hold back their reactions online. The frustration was loud, with some calling out Richardson’s inconsistent decision-making. “Those two late-half interceptions were just brutal. It’s like he’s handing over the momentum,” a comment read on X. And it’s hard to argue. Richardson’s wild scramble in the third, which led to a field goal rather than a touchdown, wasn’t what fans were hoping to see in crunch time.

Richardson’s stat line has plenty of lows—44.3% completion rate, seven interceptions, and just four touchdowns. Not exactly franchise-saving stuff. This has only left Colts fans wondering: Is Richardson really the solution? Especially when Flacco is there in the QB room.