Colts QB Anthony Richardson faces his biggest test as a passer against vaunted Lions defense.
The second year QB is set to take on the NFL’s best passing defense following his strongest game as a pro.
Anthony Richardson is just one game removed from his infamous benching and fresh off of his most complete game as an NFL quarterback, one that provided a stat line of 272 passing yards on 67% completion and three touchdowns while surrendering just one turnover.
This week, however, may just be Anthony Richardson’s toughest test to date as the red-hot Detroit Lions are coming to town. The Lions are not only the NFC’s best through eleven weeks; they are steamrolling teams en route to wins, embarrassing them along the way with exotic trick plays that serve as daggers early and often.
This Colts defense has rebounded in recent weeks thanks to their newfound ability to force turnovers and keep opposing offenses out of the end zone, and Detroit’s passing defense has operated similarly while executing at a much higher rate.
Indy’s defense has surrendered the 5th-most passing yards leaguewide while the Lions have allowed the 10th-most. Where they differ, however, is the execution of the aforementioned philosophy of keeping everything in front of you in order to limit explosive plays. While the Lions have allowed enough passing yards to be considered a bottom-ten unit in this area, they have allowed nine fewer touchdowns and have intercepted six more balls than the Colts have this season.
Detroit’s dominance through the air begins with the defense’s front seven, a group that feeds off of its 5th-highest blitz rate in the NFL. The Colts offense has allowed the 3rd-highest pressure rate against the blitz this season (53.0%), compared to a 32.4% pressure rate when not blitzing (11th-highest) per NFL Pro Insights.
The Lions’ defense has blitzed on 35.7% of blitzes this season but has recorded a mere 37.4% pressure rate when blitzing (25th). While this seems contradictory, where this Lions defense shines brightest comes from its defensive backfield, which has allowed just a 56.7% completion percentage when blitzing this season (5th-lowest), with a league-low 62.6 passer rating allowed and seven interceptions (tied-most).
As a whole, Detroit’s passing defense nearly leads all statistical measures or is at least near the top. Here’s how the Lions’ passing defense ranks among all NFL teams:
– 1st in passer rating allowed (73.6)
– 1st in EPA/Pass (-0.24)
– 1st in TD/INT ratio (0.50)
– t-1st in passing TDs allowed (7)
– t-2nd in INTs (14)
– 3rd in INT % (3.8)
– 5th in blitz rate (34.0%).
Despite the gaudy numbers that stand before you, Anthony Richardson is as confident and determined as can be heading into his first home game since his benching.
The numbers may suggest that Anthony Richardson will struggle against this Detroit Lions powerhouse, though it can’t be said enough that his natural explosivity is what allows for teams to adopt that down but never-out mentality. The Colts should hang close so long as Richardson’s magic doesn’t run out before the rest of the team can make their mark in this game. However, even if the Colts find themselves in a hole late in the game, Richardson has proven time and time again that his 4th quarter heroics are no fluke.
