Jonathan Taylor’s star-making five-touchdown performance against the Buffalo Bills was a lot of things on Sunday. He leads the league in rushing (1,122), rushing touchdowns (13), scrimmage yards (1,444), total TDs (15)and 30 runs of 10+ yards while his 5.8 yards per carry are third in the league. The 22-year old back also shows plenty of patience for holes to open and plays to develop and a workhorse mentality that makes him stronger as the game goes on. On top of that, the Colts seem to have realized that he is the engine that makes their offense go. The more Jonathan Taylor, the better.
Taylor went over 100 yards total yards for the eighth straight game on Sunday and over 200 for the second time in three games. Many are saying if anyone has placed themselves in the MVP conversation it’s him. The Colts have rattled off three wins in a row and five in the last six. What once looked like a team dead in the water is now firmly entrenched in a hectic AFC playoff picture. A team that has not had much of a standout passing game the majority of the season has found their rhythm and stride with Taylor and the running game. His consistency is making Carson Wentz better at limiting mistakes, opposing defenses have to respect the run game and is allowing for a team without a true No. 1 wide receiver find themselves gradually.
The leading receiver for the Colts was Jack Doyle’s three catches for 30 yards. That tells you how dominant a performance Taylor put on on Sunday. Had he not been otherworldly, we may have spent the day talking about a woeful offensive performance, but instead we’re talking about a Colts team that has clawed and scratched from 3-5 to now sit at 6-5 with Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Despite the Tennessee Titans losing to the woeful Houston Texans, the division will still be a mountain to climb given the difficulty of the Colts remaining schedule and the Titans softer slate with four of their final six opponents with .500 or below records. But one thing is for sure, the Colts are suddenly very much a team no one wants to play and that’s in large part to do with Jonathan Taylor. How much noise can they make the rest of the season and can they make a run in the playoffs? It will all depend on No. 28’s continued use and health. How he goes, the Colts go and it should be a hell of a ride the final six games.
If you missed our conversation with former Colts center and ESPN analyst Jeff Saturday about the Colts win over the Bills, you can click the link below and for all things Colts, be sure to listen to Kevin & Query every weekday morning from 7-10 on 93.5 and 107.5 The Fan!
