Richardson shines in Berlin as Colts outlast Falcons 31–19

BERLIN - In front of a raucous international crowd at Olympiastadion, the Indianapolis Colts bounced back in style, defeating the Atlanta Falcons 31-19 to improve to 7-3 on the season. Quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr was the star of the show, accounting for three total touchdowns-two through the air and one on the ground-as the Colts snapped the Falcons' momentum in the 2K Online Franchise International Series showdown.

Richardson's redemption in Berlin

Coming off a sluggish performance in Week 9, Richardson responded with poise and precision. He opened the scoring with a 17-yard rushing touchdown, setting the tone for a day that saw him complete 18 of 27 passes for 259 yards and two passing touchdowns. Both scores went to wideout Josh Downs, including a 33-yard strike that gave Indianapolis a 14-7 lead in the first half. "He was calm and decisive," said Colts head coach Shane Steichen after the game. "When he plays within himself, our offense flows the way it should."

Falcons fight but falter

Atlanta, led by quarterback Michael Penix Jr., traded blows early. Penix connected with Drake London on a 10-yard touchdown to tie the game in the first quarter and found Kyle Pitts for another late score that briefly pulled the Falcons within one possession. But three costly interceptions-including two in the fourth quarter-proved too much to overcome. "We had our chances," said Falcons coach Arthur Smith. "We moved the ball well, but turnovers and penalties just killed our drives."

Defense seals the deal

Colts safety Julian Blackmon's late interception, his third of the afternoon, extinguished any hope of a Falcons comeback. The Colts defense sacked Penix four times and limited star running back Bijan Robinson to just 82 yards on 19 carries. On the other side, the Colts' ground attack-led by Tyler Goodson-kept the clock running and the Falcons defense guessing.

Up Next

The Colts (7-3) will return home to face the Houston Texans in Week 11, a divisional showdown with major AFC South implications. Meanwhile, the Falcons (6-3) head back to Atlanta to take on the Carolina Panthers as they look to get back on track in the NFC playoff race.