What we learned during Week 13 of the 2023 NFL season

June 03, 2024

Gardner Minshew dropped back to pass, surveyed the field and stepped up in the pocket. The Indianapolis Colts trailed the Tennessee Titans by seven points on Sunday with just under two minutes left in the second quarter, and Indianapolis’ quarterback was trying to make something happen from Tennessee’s 5-yard line.

But after Minshew evaded the first wave of pressure, he didn’t anticipate the second. As he continued looking toward the end zone, he was strip-sacked from behind by former Colts defensive end Denico Autry, and cornerback Elijah Molden recovered the fumble.

No throw. No touchdown. No points.

As Minshew walked to the sideline, linebacker Zaire Franklin slapped hands with him, tight end Will Mallory tapped him on the helmet and even rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson — still wearing a sling due to season-ending right shoulder surgery — reached out with his left arm and gave Minshew a fist bump. The typically stoic Minshew sat on a cooler, flipped his hair back and took a deep breath.

Then, for a brief moment, he let his frustration out. Minshew balled his right hand into a fist and pounded it into his left hand. He knew that was a pivotal play in the game, but he also knew he had to forget it.

“Playing quarterback in this league at easy,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said of Minshew. “You’re going to have good plays. You’re going to have bad plays. But when you do have bad plays, you come to the sideline and keep marching on.”

There was a lot of time left, including an eventual overtime period, and by the end, Minshew would unleash an entirely different emotion following a 31-28 victory: joy. The backup QB danced around the locker room as his teammates hyped up their leader who, regardless of some tough moments, refuses to quit and continues to find a way to lead the team to wins.