FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Quarterback Anthony Richardson had just thrown his first and only touchdown pass of the afternoon, but there was still more work to do. His Indianapolis Colts were still one point behind the New England Patriots with twelve seconds left.

So coach Shane Steichen was faced with a decision and ultimately made the one Richardson was hoping for – he required his physically imposing quarterback to hold the ball on a game-winning 2-point conversion run.

“If there’s a situation like that, I want the ball in my hands,” Richardson said.

Richardson burst across the goal line and reached the end zone on a second attempt while running behind guard Quenton Nelson to give the Colts a 25-24 win over the Patriots that kept Indianapolis’ playoff hopes alive. With the win, Richardson continued his impressive recovery from his last bench change, securing his second victory after coming from a final lap down in three weeks.

The decision to go for the win instead of going into overtime with an extra point was an easy one, said Steichen.

“It was one of those 30-second deals,” he said. “I felt good about the (play) request. Of course you have to feel good about the call, but in this situation that’s exactly where you’re going for the win. If there was a lot more time, maybe a minute or two or something like that, maybe take the (extra point).”

He added: “You’re right there with (12) seconds left. We’ve already done it. Let’s win.”

According to ESPN Research, the Colts became the first team to attempt a 2-point conversion since Week 12 of 2022 when they trailed by a point in the final 15 seconds of regulation. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Chargers both had successful 2-point attempts on the day.

On Sunday, Richardson had just thrown a 3-yard touchdown pass to receiver Alec Pierce in the back corner of the end zone, cutting the Patriots’ lead to 24-23. The play capped a 19-play drive that covered 80 yards in five minutes, 22 seconds and included three converted fourth downs.

Since Steichen had already decided on a 2-point conversion, he knew exactly what play he wanted when it came to the game-winning attempt.

“Put it in (Richardson’s) hands to go get it,” he said.

Richardson said he had the opportunity to hand the ball off to running back Jonathan Taylor on the play. But after reading the defense, he decided to keep the ball and handle it himself.

“I read the outsiders on it, but when I looked in the middle, I decided I was going to take it and just put it in my hands,” he said. “…And we made it possible.”

The game not only gave Richardson his second win in three games after his big hit against the New York Jets in Week 11, but also his third fourth-quarter or overtime win of the season, the second-most behind the star of the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes. Richardson led a game-winning drive against the Miami Dolphins in Week 7, even though the teams were tied and the Colts did not trail in the final quarter.

But by any measure, Richardson has shown dramatic development since his two-week bench move last month, which saw veteran Joe Flacco start and go 0-2.

Richardson threw two interceptions early in the game and was the victim of two frustrating bad passes inside the red zone on the game-winning drive. Overall, his passing numbers — 12 of 24 for 109 yards — were mediocre and limited by lopsided time of possession due to the Colts’ defensive errors. But Richardson maintained his composure, something he has now gained a reputation for.

“He’s come back and is playing at a different level,” said receiver Michael Pittman Jr. “And we’re going to get behind him and hopefully make a run.”

According to ESPN Analytics, the Colts entered the game with a 25% chance of making the playoffs. Excluding the results of Sunday’s games, they increased this rate to 31% with the win. But the Colts have one of the easiest remaining games in the NFL, with the Denver Broncos the only one of their four remaining opponents with a winning record.

Linebacker Zaire Franklin of Richardson said, “He’s a competitor. He is a leader. And I think when you have a guy like that at the quarterback position, I think you have a chance. Luckily he’s on our side.”