Colin Cowherd has stirred up some strong opinions in his latest pick, choosing the Indianapolis Colts to upset the Detroit Lions in Week 12. This choice raises eyebrows given the disparity in their records, but Cowherd provided his reasoning for the bold prediction.
“Anthony Richardson has won 4 of his last 5 starts and had his best game as a pro against the Jets,” Cowherd explained on The Herd.
While Cowherd is optimistic about Richardson’s potential, the Lions are formidable opponents. With a 9-1 record, Detroit boasts both a top-five offense and defense, leading the league in scoring at 33.6 points per game. They’ve had four games with 40+ points, and their latest performance was a 52-6 thrashing of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
On the other hand, the Colts pulled off a narrow 28-27 victory over the New York Jets in Richardson’s first start back. He played with confidence, poise, and the same flair he showed at Florida. Even one of his teammates attributed his resurgence to the time he spent on the bench, which seemed to fuel his improved play.
However, the Colts have yet to face a team as balanced as Detroit this season. Still, Richardson’s ability to make big plays could create an upset opportunity.
So why does Cowherd believe the Colts can defeat the Lions?
While Richardson is the key to their offense, there’s more to the Colts’ chances than just his play. Though his numbers have dropped since his rookie year, he’s still capable of generating explosive moments.
Richardson threw the longest pass of his career in Week 1 against the Houston Texans, a 69-yard touchdown to Josh Downs that showed his potential.
However, turnovers and inconsistency led the Colts to briefly turn to Joe Flacco. Flacco performed well, but the Colts felt Richardson was ready to take the reins again. In his game against the Jets, Richardson completed his first career fourth-quarter comeback.
Despite facing a tough defense in the Lions, Richardson’s support system remains strong. Even Flacco praised his resiliency and welcomed his return as the starter. Now, Richardson will need that resilience more than ever as he faces Detroit.
The two teams will meet at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. For Richardson, this game is a chance to tap into his big-play potential, as a win would not only be an upset but could also reignite their push for an AFC Wild Card spot.
