With Anthony Richardson back at the helm of the offense, the Colts beat the Miami Dolphins 16-10 at Lucas Oil Stadium in the Colts' only home game in the month of October.
Richardson, playing in his first game since Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, completed 10-of-24 passes for 129 yards and led the team with 56 rushing yards, but it was the defense that stepped up in the second half to lock down the victory. Linebacker Grant Stuard recorded a career-high 18 tackles (his previous single-game high was two) and defensive end Laiatu Latu recorded his second career sack.
The Colts were still without running back Jonathan Taylor, who missed his third consecutive game with an ankle injury.
The Dolphins opened the scoring with an 11-play, 58-yard drive as quarterback Tyler Huntley and his offense dominated in the run game against the Colts' defense. Linebacker Jaylon Carlies recorded his first career sack in the red zone, but defensive miscues allowed Miami tight end Jonnu Smith to barrel into the end zone on the following play.
After stalling on back-to-back offensive drives, the Colts marched down to the Dolphins' eight-yard line thanks to lengthy run plays from running back Tyler Goodson, a 15-yard reception by wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and a 21-yard scramble by Richardson. But just as the Colts closed in on the end zone, a fumble by Richardson was recovered by Miami and the Colts turned the ball over without putting points on the board.
After one quarter, Richardson was just 1-of-7 for 15 yards and led the team with four carries for 30 yards.
The Colts and the Dolphins traded possessions throughout the second quarter with nothing to show for it until the Dolphins connected on a 33-yard field goal to go up 10-0 with 22 seconds left in the half.
But the Colts quickly got into field goal position with a touchback and a 33-yard completion to wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., and kicker Matt Gay sent a 52-yard kick straight through the uprights to put the Colts on the board heading into halftime.
Richardson completed four passes for 61 yards in the half and the Colts combined for 74 total rushing yards. By comparison, the Dolphins had 115 rushing yards and Huntley completed seven passes for 87 yards.
The Colts seized the momentum quickly in the third quarter as linebacker Segun Olubi forced and recovered a fumble at Miami's own 46-yard line, running it for 18 yards and setting the Colts up at Miami's 28-yard line. Richardson and wide receiver Ashton Dulin went on back-to-back 12-yard runs, and Goodson darted into the end zone for a touchdown to even the score.
The touchdown marked Goodson's first of his career.
The third quarter then turned into a defensive showdown as Latu emphatically recorded his second career sack on the Dolphins' following offensive possession, and the Dolphins went three-and-out. On Miami's following possession, the Dolphins threatened to score at the Colts' 13-yard line until linebacker Zaire Franklin forced a fumble. Defensive tackle Taven Bryan recovered the football and the Colts took over, but then went three-and-out themselves.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Dolphins were 5-of-12 on third down and the Colts just 2-of-9.
The beginning of the fourth quarter brought arguably the most action of the entire afternoon, as Richardson led a 12-play, 69-yard scoring drive that ended in a 22-yard field goal and gave the Colts a 13-10 lead. While it didn't end in a touchdown, the drive featured a 16-yard reception by Mitchell and multiple lengthy runs from running back Trey Sermon as the Colts' offense looked as explosive as it had all game.
The Dolphins strung together a drive of their own to attempt a 54-yard field goal, but the football bounced off the left post and fell forward into the end zone, allowing the Colts to maintain their lead.
The Colts capitalized on their following drive, as Gay kicked a 38-yard field goal to extend the Colts' lead 16-10 with one minute and 55 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
As the Dolphins attempted to go on one final scoring drive, Stuard and the defense held strong, and the Colts won 16-10 to move to 4-3 on the season.
The Colts take on the Miami Dolphins in Week 7 at Lucas Oil Stadium.