The Indianapolis Colts head into Sunday’s game against the New York Giants with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. At 7-8, the Colts need both the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos to lose on Saturday to keep their postseason aspirations alive. If either team secures a win, Indianapolis will officially be eliminated from playoff contention, marking their fourth consecutive missed postseason.
Colts’ Perspective: Fighting for Survival
Despite the slim chances, Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson remains optimistic. “We still have an opportunity, with some help from other people,” Richardson said. “But we’re just taking it one game at a time because it doesn’t do us any good if everybody else does what they have to do to help us out and then we don’t go out there and take advantage of it.”
Richardson is dealing with back and foot injuries and missed practice on Thursday. If he is unable to play, veteran Joe Flacco will likely step in as the starter. Flacco, who has appeared in relief earlier this season, holds a 1-3 record as a starter. Statistically, Flacco has been more efficient than Richardson, boasting a 66.5% completion rate with nine touchdowns and five interceptions, compared to Richardson’s 47.7% completion rate, eight touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Regardless of who starts at quarterback, the Colts’ offense will lean heavily on running back Jonathan Taylor. Taylor is coming off a dominant 218-yard, three-touchdown performance in last week’s 38-30 victory over the Tennessee Titans. It was his second-best rushing performance, trailing only his 253-yard game against Jacksonville in 2020.
Giants’ Perspective: Searching for Positivity
The New York Giants, meanwhile, are enduring a nightmare season. At 2-13, they’ve set a franchise record with 10 consecutive losses. Their quarterback situation remains dire, with Drew Lock starting his fourth game in five weeks. Lock sustained a shoulder injury in last week’s 34-7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons but avoided serious damage. He’s struggled this season, completing just 52.7% of his passes with one touchdown and four interceptions.
Giants head coach Brian Daboll has opted to stick with Lock over Tommy DeVito for the sake of continuity. However, the team’s offense continues to sputter, with little to celebrate beyond rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers. Nabers has been a bright spot in an otherwise dismal season, recording 97 catches for 969 yards and four touchdowns. Unfortunately, he is dealing with a toe injury and remains a game-day decision.
Nabers is trying to maintain a positive outlook amidst the team’s struggles. “It’s tough on everybody,” he said. “I’m continuing to keep my mental (attitude) strong, continue to move forward, continue to try to better the team, better myself. Lead by example. I feel like that’s really all we can do in this state of mind that we’re going through.”
The Giants also face a slew of injuries. Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (ankle), center John Michael Schmitz (ankle), linebacker Micah McFadden (neck), and multiple defensive backs, including Greg Stroman (shoulder/shin) and Dee Williams (toe), missed Thursday’s practice. The Colts are similarly banged up, with tight end Mo Alie-Cox (toe) and linebacker E.J. Speed (knee) also missing practice alongside Richardson.
What’s at Stake
While the Giants are playing solely for pride and to end their historic losing streak, the Colts are fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive for another week. However, even if the Colts are eliminated before kickoff, they’ll still be motivated to finish the season strong and build momentum for 2025.
The two teams last faced off in late 2022, when the Giants secured a commanding 38-10 victory over the Colts. Whether Indianapolis can reverse that outcome—or whether New York can finally break their losing streak—remains to be seen.
Game Details
Date: Sunday, December 29, 2024
Location: East Rutherford, N.J.
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Broadcast: CBS
The stakes may differ for each team, but Sunday’s matchup will be a test of resilience for both the Colts and the Giants.
