Colts’ Anthony Richardson focused on beating Texans, not CJ Stroud

In just three short days, Lucas Oil Stadium will erupt as announcer JJ Stankevitz utters the words, “From Florida…”

Indianapolis Colts fans know that when those words are uttered during player introductions, quarterback Anthony Richardson will run out of the tunnel. While we’ve seen Richardson back on the field in the preseason, Sunday will be the official return of the Colts quarterback, who sprained the acromioclavicular joint in his throwing shoulder last October.

And what better way to return than at home against the AFC South champion Houston Texans. To say Richardson is excited to return to regular-season action would be an understatement.

“I’m excited. First official game with my guys and teammates,” Richardson noted. “So I’m definitely enjoying it. I’m excited, but I’m not trying to get too excited. I still (have to) prepare myself and just get ready for this game.”

Everyone knows what happened the last time these two teams faced each other. In Week 18 in January, the Colts failed to convert a fourth-down pass deep in Texans territory with a minute left in the fourth quarter. The Texans won 23-19, securing the division title and keeping the Colts out of the playoffs.

Sunday marks the start of a new season as both teams have a huge opportunity ahead of them. Starting the season against a division opponent means the game carries extra weight, especially for two teams that will likely be fighting for the division title again. Richardson and the Colts understand the importance of their Week 1 matchup, but a win is just as important as any other week.

“Honestly, it’s a big deal because we’re just trying to win,” Richardson said. “We’ve got to protect our home. That’s the most important thing. We’re not trying to think about anything other than who the opponent is or who they are. We’re just trying to win every game and every match. We’re just trying to treat it that way, especially at home.”

While Richardson may not be focused on playing against the Texans, the outside world sees a budding rivalry between these two promising teams. The reason for this is that the Texans, like the Colts, have a young star quarterback with incredible potential in C.J. Stroud.

Stroud set the NFL world on fire a season ago, producing one of the best seasons by a rookie quarterback in NFL history, culminating in an Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Stroud also made no secret of his feelings for the Colts, letting the world know the Texans had the edge over Indy a season ago, prompting reactions from linebackers Zaire Franklin and EJ Speed ​​over the spring and summer months.

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As for the Texans quarterback, Richardson is quite friendly with Stroud. But that’s off the field. When the helmets are fastened, Richardson is all business.

“It’s always good to see him — every time I see him,” Richardson said of Stroud. “He was one of my close friends at Elite 11 camp in high school. So it felt pretty good to see him do so well, and to see him do so well last year. I always tell him he’s a dog and he’s got drive. So it’s always good to see him. But we’re both trying to do one thing, and that’s winning.”

When Richardson faced Stroud in Week 2 of last season, the Colts quarterback showed why he deserved to be the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. In just over a quarter of action, Richardson amassed 56 passing yards, 35 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns. Although Richardson had to leave the game with a concussion, his stellar play helped the Colts build a significant early lead, finishing with a 31-20 victory.

But Richardson doesn’t look at this as himself versus Stroud. Focusing on trying to outdo the quarterback on the other side distracts him from what really matters, which is winning the game. Instead, Richardson focuses on executing against the Texans’ defense.

The Colts will need the same explosiveness from Richardson on Sunday that he showed in Week 2 of last season. Richardson will have Jonathan Taylor in the backfield, someone he didn’t have in that Week 2 game last season. If Richardson and Taylor — who rushed for 188 yards and a touchdown against the Texans in Week 18 — can produce on the ground like they did a season ago, the Texans will have a hard time stopping the Colts’ offense.

“I just remember we were in the point as an offense,” Richardson noted. “So that was our game plan this time. And the second game we played them, it was pretty much the same thing. We just have to execute and just play.”

“You go into every game plan looking to be successful week in and week out, and he obviously played really well in that game (against the Texans),” coach Shane Steichen said of Richardson. “He did a lot of good things. So we want that to carry over into this season, obviously, and just get better week in and week out.”

The Texans defense looks a bit different than it did last season. Names like Danielle Hunter and Azeez Al-Shaair are two of the five new starters on defense. With a revamped defense paired with Stroud and the Texans’ high-powered offense, Richardson and the Colts are expecting a close battle on Sunday.

“You just have to respect them overall,” Richardson explained. “They have a great team. They went out and got some great guys, but we can’t let that take away from the fact that we’ve been preparing, too. We’ve been working on our stuff. So it’s going to be a good game.”

The Colts are desperate to avenge last year’s loss in Week 18. Much of the football world believes the Texans will emerge victorious on Sunday, handing the Colts their 11th straight loss in Week 1. But talking to Richardson, there’s a quiet confidence that the team is ready for whatever the Texans throw at them.

The cheers will be loud when Richardson is introduced on Sunday. And if #5 can lead the Colts to 1-0, they will likely be just as loud when he walks off the field as a winner.

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