Jonathan Taylor delivered an unforgettable performance on Sunday, in the Indianapolis Colts’ dominant 38-30 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Taylor rushed for 218 yards, including two touchdowns—one being a 70-yard breakaway run—and helped propel the Colts to a franchise-record 335 rushing yards in the game. This historic victory kept Indianapolis’ slim playoff hopes alive and surpassed the previous rushing record set in 1956.
Taylor’s performance was especially significant given his costly mistake in the previous week’s loss when he fumbled just before crossing the goal line on a potential 41-yard touchdown. That error had hurt the Colts’ playoff chances, but Taylor made sure not to repeat the mistake this time. After his first touchdown run, he sprinted into the tunnel that leads to the Colts’ locker room, signaling a message: he would hold on to the ball this time. Taylor had already planned the playful moment with backup running back Tyler Goodson, who pretended to strip the ball as Taylor ran through the tunnel, adding some levity to the day.
Tennessee’s defense struggled to stop the Colts’ running attack, allowing the most rushing yards in the NFL this season and the second-most in franchise history. At one point, the Colts ran the ball on 12 consecutive plays across three possessions in the second quarter. Taylor relished the physical dominance, saying, “It’s kind of when you start imposing your will, establishing that line of scrimmage. Those are the types of football games as a running back … you love.”
Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson didn’t have to do much in the passing game, completing just 7 of 11 passes for 131 yards, but he contributed 70 rushing yards, his career-high. Now, with just two games left against the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars, the Colts are holding on to their playoff hopes, hoping for a series of favorable outcomes in the league’s final stretch.
