INDIANAPOLIS – The move to install Joe Flacco as the starting quarterback signaled the Indianapolis Colts were all-in on making a playoff push this season.

It was a stark contrast from the team’s stance throughout the spring and summer when its actions and words suggested a desire to explore 22-year-old quarterback Anthony Richardson’s untapped potential and live with the resulting ebbs and flows.

At some point over the regular season’s first eight weeks, the team became convinced it made a mistake in putting Richardson into the fire too soon, and the swap was made to Flacco with the explanation he represents Indianapolis’ best chance to win.

After the 39-year-old veteran turned the ball over four times in Sunday’s 30-20 loss against the Buffalo Bills, his record as the Colts’ starter dropped to 1-3.

But head coach Shane Steichen stood by his decision – for the time being at least.

After stating he didn’t consider switching back to Richardson over the course of the loss to the Bills and confirming Flacco as the starter, Steichen was asked why he remains confident in the move.

“Obviously (he’s) just a guy that’s a veteran guy,” Steichen said. “Obviously, we’ve had two games that he’d like to have back, but we’ll keep battling through it, see where it goes.”

Flacco turned the ball over just twice in his first start after the move was made permanent last week, but the Colts put up a season-low 227 yards and failed to score an offensive touchdown in a 21-13 loss against the Minnesota Vikings.

On Sunday, Flacco threw three interceptions – including a Pick-6 on Indianapolis’ first offensive snap – and lost a fumble as the home team heard boos from a crowd nearly half full of visiting fans.

He finished 26-of-35 for 272 yards with two touchdowns and the three interceptions.

Flacco was sacked four times, including on a fourth-and-2 from Buffalo’s 20-yard line with the Colts trailing 20-13 in the third quarter.

He fumbled away the football on second down at the Bills’ 38 on the previous possession and threw an interception on first down at Buffalo’s 45 after Tyler Bass’ field goal extended the visitors’ lead to 23-13 early in the fourth quarter.

Flacco also was intercepted on first down at the Bills’ 37 in the first quarter.

“I think the first one was a bad decision,” Flacco said of the turnovers. “Then after that, no. Stuff happens sometimes – maybe a bad throw. I’d like to see a couple of those things, but the first one was an awful decision.”

The Colts (4-6) now prepare for a trip to face the equally scuffling New York Jets (3-7) in an attempt to end a three-game losing streak.y

If the goal remains to make the playoffs, does Flacco still give Indianapolis the best chance?

Steichen is leaning in that direction.

“I think we look at everything every week,” he said. “Right now – I’ll go back and look at the tape – but right now, Joe is our guy.”

PREPARATION QUESTIONED

Cornerback and defensive captain Kenny Moore II called out a lack of attention to details and a perceived lack of top-level effort after Sunday’s defeat.

Linebacker Zaire Franklin – another defensive captain – later backed up some of those thoughts and added a few of his own.

“There’s guys on the team that need to learn how to raise their level of play,” Franklin said. “When you get to this time in the season with so much film out there – it’s not to say practice isn’t important. Practice is definitely important, but preparation takes hold in many different aspects.

“With us having such a late bye (Week 14) and with so many guys banged up, preparation might not always be practice. It might be how much time you spend in the building, how much time you spend in the meeting rooms, how much you’re doing to perfect your craft.”

MOVING FORWARD

Losses against the Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings and Bills have sent the season into a tail spin.

But the Colts seem to have a sense of urgency to end the three-game slump.

“It’s tough,” wide receiver Alec Pierce said after making four catches for a team-high 81 yards against Buffalo. “At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is a win or a loss. In the last two weeks, we weren’t able to get a win against three good football teams. Those are three teams we want to be able to beat if we want to be where we want to be.

“It’s tough, but all you can do is move forward. We have another opportunity this week. We need to get a win then, so we need to move forward and start preparing for that one to fix some of the mistakes from today.”