The Colts best offensive player proved to fans that his costly fumble a week ago was a fluke.
A week after he was torn to shreds for turning the ball over in the most frowned-upon way, Jonathan Taylor rebounded in perhaps the biggest way possible.
His costly turnover was indeed unacceptable, especially coming from a captain like himself, but Taylor took full responsibility for his mishap after that game and swore that it’d never happen again. Fast forward to seven days later, and Taylor put on a performance reminiscent of his record-breaking 2021 season to the tune of 218 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
It started as a shaky day for the offense’s passing game, but thankfully, Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson are as talented of a rushing QB/RB duo as there is in the NFL.
The Colts offense started the game with a punt and an interception but quickly found its footing in the ground game thanks to the aforementioned talents of Richardson and Taylor’s legs.
On the ensuing drive that followed the INT in question, Taylor and Richardson would combine to rush for all six of the drive’s plays, five of which resulted in gains of 5+ yards, with Richardson capping off the QB/RB-led drive with the duo’s first of four rushing touchdowns on the day.
What followed that drive, however, was vintage 2021 Jonathan Taylor.
Taylor followed up Richardson’s scoring drive with one of his own. The ensuing 4-play, 80-yard scoring drive came entirely on Taylor’s legs. It was capped off with an electric 65-yard score, though the touchdown in question would play second-fiddle to a separate rushing score of his later in the game.
65 yards in a flash. #ProBowlVote x @JayT23
CBS
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 22, 2024
As alluded to, Jonathan Taylor followed up his 65-yard scamper with an even longer 70-yard rushing score to kick off the second half. The Colts stretched the lead to 38-7 with Taylor’s third rushing touchdown two drives after his second big rush, effectively ending his day, that is until the Titans crawled back late in the 4th quarter to make it a two-score game.
The Colts then needed Taylor’s efforts after taking their foot off the gas, but by then, it was too little too late to make something of the ground game. Indy surrendered their 31-point, 3rd-quarter lead as the Titans made it a one-score game with just minutes remaining.
Thankfully, the Colts were able to squeak out a win against the Titans with a late game-clinching drive that drove the game clock down enough to end the game.
Jonathan Taylor firmly moved into second-place all-time among Colts franchise rushing leaders with 5,493 rushing yards, behind only Edgerrin James.
Although the Colts’ waning playoff hopes were maintained by winning against Tennessee, they still need help from around the league to make that dream a reality. Indianapolis now sits at 7-8 as they finished off the season sweep against the Titans and looks ahead to the New York Giants as they try to win out.
