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The potential success for the Indianapolis Colts in Buffalo this weekend will live and die with the run game.

After posting a franchise record 253 rush yards in Week 17 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jonathan Taylor is riding quite the hot streak into the postseason. His mid-year slump of 61 combined yards in three games is now a thing of the past.

Right now the rookie is a tone-setter for both the offense and defense. That’s what Greg Rakestraw discussed on The Ride with JMV Monday. Rake told JMV that Taylor will need to lay down the law in Bills Nation.

“The best defensive player for the Colts on Saturday will wear number 28,” Rakestraw said. “Taylor needs to have a huge day and keep Buffalo’s offense off the field. That’s not bagging on the Colts defense. That’s a nod to how well Josh Allen is playing and the weapons at his disposal. The best thing the Colts can do is give the ball to number 28 early and often.”

We will see as well if Nyheim Hines will play a major role for the Blue and White on Saturday afternoon. Jordan Wilkins was placed on the COVID-19 list last week; And practice squad running back Darius Anderson was on the game day roster this past Sunday.

If Taylor can’t keep Allen and the Bills off the field, points will need to be at a premium from Philip Rivers.

“Given how well Buffalo has played offensively, the Colts defense needs to keep them in the 20’s or south of 30,” Rake added. “Then the question mark is can the offense produce 30 points? If they do that, then they’ve got a shot to win.”

In the end, it’s a matchup of two gunslingers looking for their first Super Bowl.

For Rivers, who knows how many more shots he’s going to get. For Allen, this will be a common ground for his career in a very short amount of time.

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