Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor made his case for MVP on Sunday, and he heard it.
Taylor rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-10 romp over the Tennessee Titans, and that included an 80-yard rushing touchdown. Colts fans chanted “MVP” from the Lucas Oil Field stands, and the MVP talk for Taylor has continued online and on the airwaves around the country.
“I mean, one makes a play, then someone else makes a play, and we’re all in the end zone celebrating with one another. And when you have that many weapons, we’re pretty hard to beat,” Taylor told CBS Sports afterward.
To his point, quarterback Daniel Jones went 21-29 passing for 272 yards and three touchdowns, and wide receiver Michael Pittman had a big day along the way. Pittman caught eight passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.
Fellow wideout Alec Pierce and tight end Tyler Warren had two receptions for 69 yards and four catches for 53 yards, respectively. Colts wideout Josh Downs had a 10-yard touchdown pass from Jones, and Taylor got in on the passing game on a 19-yard touchdown catch.
“I think that’s the biggest thing is complementary football,” Taylor said. “When the offense is firing in all cylinders, defense can go out, get a turnover, get a three-and-out, and we’re right back in the end zone. It’s… it’s pretty tough to deal with.”
Indianapolis has a league-best 7-1 start due in part to Taylor’s strong performance. It marks the Colts’ best start since 2009, when the team won the Super Bowl.
“You got to come in with a mindset that you won’t be denied. And I think that’s something that we put on display here today,” Taylor said.
How Jonathan Taylor Impressed His Teammates
For Taylor’s 80-yard display, it even impressed his teammates.
“We were all in disbelief,” Pittman Jr. told reporters afterward. “I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s a good 15-yard run.’ And then he breaks out, I’m like, ‘That’s a good 30-yard run.’ And then he’s running 80 yards. I’m like, [expletive]. We’re all hyped for him, and we are really going to try our hardest to keep pushing him.”
Taylor’s overall performance had veteran defensive tackle DeForest Buckner summing it up as “greatness” afterward. Buckner has been in the league since 2016 and has played with Taylor since 2020.
“We’re witnessing greatness right in front of us,” Buckner told reporters afterward. “It’s rare for guys to be playing at that high a level on a consistent basis.”
Jones may have said it all about the crowd’s reaction to Taylor’s biggest play.
“I think those were spot on,” Jones told reporters afterward.<
Colts’ Shane Steichen on Jonathan Taylor’s MVP Case
Colts head coach Shane Steichen expressed his thoughts succinctly regarding Taylor’s MVP case after the crowd’s chants.
“I did. Validated. Validated,” Steichen told reporters afterward.
Steichen also elaborated on Taylor’s overall performance on Sunday.
“It’s impressive. It’s hard to put into words, to be honest, because when you see the way he’s running, the way the guys are blocking for him, I mean, it’s special. It really is. And like I said, he’s running hard,” Steichen said.
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