Ups and downs. The phrase that can be used to describe the Indianapolis Colts’ current season. With a worrying 6-7 stirring up a storm, what’s even more notable are some individual player’s records around the team: For instance, QB1 Anthony Richardson.

On one end of the spectrum was Richardson, who was once sitting comfortably at 21st in quarterback rankings, but has now dropped all the way to 29th (1,511 pass yds, 7 pass TD, 9 INT, 383 rush yds, 4 rush TD, and 9 fumbles in nine games) as per Nick Shook’s latest NFL QB Index for NFL.com. In the columnist’s own words: “His accuracy remains inconsistent, which is frustrating because when he nails passes, they’re often spectacular completions. Too often, though, he throws late into traffic or attempts to make a near-impossible throw over a defender.”

Yeah, you can say NFL.com has not really been his fan so far, and nobody’s gonna blame ’em. But before we start wallowing in sadness over the Colts and Richardson, there’s also some who are on the verge of making history. To elaborate further, exactly on the opposite end of the same spectrum is the team’s safety, Nick Cross.

The player is quietly putting together one heck of a season. With 125 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and 2 interceptions in just 13 games, Cross is showing up. But do you know what’s the best part amid all this chatter? He didn’t even realize he was on the verge of breaking a major record. When asked by Kay Adams about chasing Broncos legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Atwater’s record of 173 tackles on the Up & Adams Show earlier today, Cross’ response was classic: “I didn’t know that… But that’s great company to be in.” That’s some humility right there, huh? But he’s built differently like that.

Cross is having a breakout year, and it’s not because the Colts’ defense has been perfect. Sure, they’ve had some struggles, especially against the run. But it’s his individual thing that he has been doing which, to be honest, has been quite refreshing. In his third season, after a couple of uneven years, he’s finally hitting his stride. At just 23, he’s younger than most of the 2024 NFL Draft class. His confidence is growing with every snap, and he credits it all to getting more reps: “Reps bring comfortability, and comfortability brings confidence.”

What’s even more impressive is that Cross’ tackle total is putting him in some legendary company. The last safety to rack up over 150 tackles in a season was the late Pat Tillman (155) back in 2000. The most recent one was three short of that by Arizona Cardinals’ Budda Baker (147) in 2019 and Jalen Pitre in 2022.

Now, amidst all this crazy high for Cross, of course, the reality for Richardson is a bit more complicated. And it’s coming to light pretty badly. His drop in rankings reflects another shocking stat about the Colts’ offense. Maybe Cross can rub off some of his good luck on Richardson, but that just won’t help his offensive play, now, would it? Still, it’s fun to imagine what could happen if the Colts find a little more balance.

Maybe it starts with Richardson NOT making records… or the ones he should avoid at any cost!

Anthony Richardson’s name etched in the record book!

The Colts’ QB situation has had more twists than a wild game of Madden. After Richardson returned to the starting lineup in Week 11, Indy was hoping for a smooth ride, but it’s been a bit of a bumpy road. His stats have been a mix of jaw-dropping plays and, well, some head-scratching ones. Sure, he’s been explosive, but a 52.4% completion rate isn’t exactly something to write home about. Still, we’ve seen flashes that show he could be “the guy” for the Colts. But the reality? Far from it. We don’t wanna sound like Warren Sharp, but the numbers are killing Colts’ wins.

According to @PattonAnalytics, Richardson is actually the most impacted QB in the league by drops in terms of EPA (Expected Points Added). That means, if his receivers could just hang on to the ball a little more often, his numbers might not look so bad. “Without drops, Richardson’s EPA per play would see a league-leading increase of +0.16.” SHEEESSSHH. That’s clutch game-killer stat, if anything.

For Richardson to continue his development, his receivers need to step up. Sure, the Colts won against the Pats. But the drops can’t keep happening, especially with the team’s playoff chances on the line. They’ve got a crucial four-game stretch ahead, and Richardson can’t do it all on his own. A little help from the pass catchers would go a long way. And lucky for them, they’ve got a bye week to sort things out.

Where does the front office stand on all this? There’s an interesting behind-the-scenes tidbit. Colts GM Chris Ballard recently admitted that looking back, he wishes they hadn’t played Richardson in his rookie year. “John Dorsey called me and said, ‘Don’t play him’.” Ballard’s regret stems from the fact that Richardson didn’t have the same maturity that other QBs had after sitting behind veterans. But Ballard’s also quick to defend the decision.

Despite the setbacks, he’s proud of how Richardson’s bounced back, especially in recent weeks. The road ahead is still uncertain, but one thing’s for sure: the Colts aren’t giving up on Richardson yet.