Jonathan Taylor has emerged as arguably the best running back in football -- and has entered the MVP conversation with his career-defining day in the Indianapolis Colts' blowout victory over the Buffalo Bills. Taylor became the first player in Colts history to score five touchdowns in a game (four rushing, one receiving) finishing with 204 yards from scrimmage (185 rushing, 19 receiving) in the win.
Taylor matched an NFL record with his eighth consecutive game with 100 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown, joining LaDainian Tomlinson (2006) and Lydell Mitchell (1975-1976) as the only players to accomplish the feat (since scrimmage yards were kept track of in 1950). He's the first player with 200 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns in a game since Jamaal Charles in 2013. Taylor's 15 total touchdowns are the most in the NFL and his 13 rushing touchdowns are the third-most in Colts franchise history (Lenny Moore had 16 in 1964 and Eric Dickerson had 14 in 1988). He has eight consecutive games with a rushing touchdown, three off Moore's franchise record of 11 set in 1963 and 1964.
"You get a sense of his confidence but you'd never know. You'd never know he was a superstar walking by him in the locker room or in the grocery store, whatever. He's just a low-key guy but he knows what he can do and he's confident in himself," Colts quarterback Carson Wentz said after the win. "I think you keep seeing more and more confidence in his ability, really obviously running the ball but catching the ball out of the backfield, pass protection, all of that and every game it just looks like he's getting better and better."
Taylor has 312 carries for 1,863 yards in his last 17 games, averaging 5.97 yards per carry -- rushing for 20 touchdowns. The Colts running back is the only player with 1,000 rushing yards this season, having 1,122 yards through the first 11 games.
"I love him, we try to put attention on him and you can tell he's uncomfortable. I love that feeling," Colts head coach Frank Reich said. "We'd all like to see someone who doesn't want the attention feel uncomfortable with the attention. I just think – the most important thing is like you said, not too high, not too low but you need everyone to embody that.
"When some of your best players and your leaders really believe that and live that out, that really helps matters. He's the perfect example of that. He's a great leader and a great player."
