EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – With not just the game, but realistically, the Colts’ season on the line, Anthony Richardson played some of the best football we’ve ever seen the 22-year-old quarterback play.

With the Colts first down eight, and then down five, on a pair of fourth quarter drives against the New York Jets, Richardson completed eight of 10 passes for 129 yards with both a passing and rushing touchdown, the latter of which wound up being the game-winner in the Colts’ 28-27 win on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

“He showed up today and showed out for his team today,” head coach Shane Steichen said.

Here’s how those two drives unfolded against a Jets defense that had allowed and NFL-low three fourth quarter touchdowns all season before Richardson generated two on Sunday:

Play No. 1, 13:03 left: Not all incompletions are equal

With the Colts down, 24-16, Richardson dropped back to pass and was quickly pressured by Jets cornerback Isaiah Oliver, who was running free on a blitz. Oliver hit Richardson, but the 6-foot-4, 244 pound quarterback held off the 6-foot, 202 pound slot cornerback, hand-fighting with him until he was able to force his way outside the pocket and throw the ball away.

Instead of a loss of 15 to open the drive, Richardson avoided the sack and kept the Colts at second-and-10.

That throwaway kept the playbook open for Steichen. There are plenty of good calls for second-and-10; there are far fewer answers on second-and-25.

And on that second and 10, Richardson hit the back of his drop and zipped a throw to wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who found a soft spot in the Jets’ zone over the middle for a 20-yard gain, pushing the ball to midfield.

Richardson on Sunday was pressured on 15 of 32 dropbacks but was sacked just twice by a Jets defense that entered Week 11 second in the NFL in sack rate.

“I think that’s something people don’t give him credit (for),” wide receiver Alec Pierce said. “People might be like oh, his completion percentage is this or this, a lot of times he’s throwing the ball away that other quarterbacks are getting sacked. Those are good incompletions when he breaks out of two tackles and has to launch it out of bounds, that’s pretty impressive. It’s a zero-yard (play) rather than, like, a minus-15.”

Play No. 5, 11:58 left: Richardson’s remarkable arm talent shines

Richardson’s 60-yard touchdown to Pierce in Week 1 might be one of the best throws we’ve ever seen, but the 22-year-old’s strong arm doesn’t only benefit him when he unloads an arcing deep ball. Facing a critical third-and-two on the Jets’ 42-yard line, Richardson went under center and rolled to his right after a play fake to running back Jonathan Taylor.

He was immediately put under pressure from Quinnen Williams, the Jets’ star defensive tackle, and did not have time to set his feet as he rolled toward the near sideline. The thing was, though, the play-action worked: It sucked in linebacker Jamien Sherwood to the line of scrimmage, allowing tight end Mo Alie-Cox to run free toward the numbers.

With Williams crashing toward him, Richardson uncorked a throw from about the Colts’ 41-yard line. The ball traveled nearly 30 yards in the air before landing in the hands of Alie-Cox for a gain of 12, giving the Colts a fresh set of downs on the Jets’ 30-yard line.

Richardson ripped a 19-yard completion to Pierce on the next play, getting the Colts to the 11-yard line.