Oct 27, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) runs with the ball as Houston Texans linebacker Neville Hewitt (43) attempts to make a tackle during the third quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Texans Get Warning From Jonathan Taylor Amid Colts’ AFC South Lead

Originally posted on Houston Texans on SI
By Keith Cummings | Last updated Oct 13, 2025 7:56 PM ET

Watching the AFC South division rotate around as the Houston Texans sat home on the couch for their Week 6 bye might've led to some degree of frustration for DeMeco Ryans and Co.

Someone has to take on the burden of an early bye week, but the realization that the Indianapolis Colts are bona fide front-runners will make Ryans’ unit especially keen to get back to work this week.

While tracking down the Colts might be the more immediate goal for the Texans, Indy's superstar running back Jonathan Taylor is making noises that they won't get taken by surprise either.

"It just puts a bigger target on your back," Taylor admitted after the Colts’ 31-27 win over the Arizona Cardinals. "It makes us understand we got to come out every single week ready to go. We're gonna get everyone's best shot.”

Of course, Taylor's open and frank admission doesn't provide the Texans with any controversial bulletin board material; he's a savvy veteran to his very core.

Christine Tannous-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

On the flip side, Taylor's words should undoubtedly reinforce just how hard the challenge is going to be if they're going to chase the current divisional leaders down.

Most stubbornly, the Colts’ five wins and a three-game lead this early leaves little or no wiggle room for the Texans moving past the bye,, and the perilous trip to Seattle only then rolls into tough matchups against the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos.

Furthermore, when you add the difference that Daniel Jones adds at quarterback as a dual-threat signal caller, the multi-dimensional threat the Colts now carry with Taylor and also explosive rookie Tyler Warren at tight end presents quite a challenge.

Coach Ryans headed into the bye week with studious self-scouting on his agenda, but his huge defensive brain will have gone into overdrive as he watched the Colts win again.

Looking very much on the bright side, at least the Jacksonville Jaguars lost against the Seattle Seahawks, and in doing so displayed a lot of the same old frailties in pass pro that Ryans will have noted.

After all, getting after the quarterback is a core strength of the Texans, so they will be keen to get after Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence as they attempt to try and even the series on November 9th.

It's pretty hard not to stew over just how damaging the winless 0-3 start to the season might ultimately prove to be going down the stretch.

Even so, Ryans will be sure to remain his ever upbeat self, especially as he charts a course back into a divisional race that unquestionably has only increasing degrees of difficulty firmly in play.

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