Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor may be running away with OPOY after dominant showing vs. Falcons

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Nov 9, 2025 2:23 PM ET

Should NFL award voters already give Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor the Offensive Player of the Year?

Taylor is considered an OPOY favorite. He continued to separate himself from his competition in Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin with a dominant performance.

How showing against Falcons bolsters Jonathan Taylor's OPOY case

In the Colts' 31-25 overtime win over the Falcons, Taylor had 32 carries for 244 yards and three touchdowns, including an 83-yarder and the winning score.

His 83-yard TD — which is the longest TD run of the season — may be the play of the game. It gave the Colts a 22-17 lead late in the fourth quarter. Before that, Indianapolis hadn't led since early in the first quarter. The TD run was also the longest in franchise history.

GREATEST INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN NFL HISTORY?

32 CARRIES
224 YARDS
3 TDs including the OT game-winner

JONATHAN. TAYLOR. pic.twitter.com/4BLLIXbX6I
— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025

JT MAKING HISTORY‼️

NFLN pic.twitter.com/9GbuwoDnXs
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 9, 2025

Following Sunday's win over the Falcons, Taylor has now had three games where he has rushed for 153 yards or more. Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley, 2024 OPOY, had four such games last season (excluding playoffs).

Like Barkley did for the Eagles last season, Taylor has vaulted the Colts into Super Bowl contention. They're now 8-2 and would have the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs if the season ended on Sunday.

His play has helped elevate seventh-year quarterback Daniel Jones. Entering Sunday, the former New York Giants bust was averaging a career-high 267.1 passing yards per game.

Last season, Barkley won the award in a landslide. He received 34 of 50 first-place votes. Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson finished in second place, with 12 votes. Perhaps Taylor will also win OPOY in a rout.

A nationwide panel of 50 media members votes on NFL awards. They'll cast their ballots before the start of the playoffs. While much could change before then, they shouldn't need more convincing if Taylor remains one of the league's most unstoppable players.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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