The Indianapolis Colts’ Jonathan Taylor made team history last Sunday in the first-ever NFL game in Berlin, Germany. Taylor surpassed Colts legend and Hall of Fame running back Edgerrin James for the most touchdowns in Colts’ franchise history by rushing 244 yards and scoring three touchdowns against the Atlanta Falcons, the latter of which marked the 65th of his career. Taylor’s performance helped expand his lead on the rushing yards leaderboard, giving him 1,139 yards with over six yards per carry. His 244 yards were also the most gained on the ground in a game by any player this season.
Taylor is no stranger to big games like this, though. He is on pace to shatter more records and currently holds the fourth-best odds to win MVP following Sunday’s slate of games, sitting at +600, on DraftKings sportsbook as of Monday according to Sports Illustrated.
In the first 10 weeks of the 2025 season, Taylor has five games with over 120 total yards, with two over 200 yards. With these monster games, Taylor also has four games with three rushing touchdowns, looking to be on pace to break Hall of Famer and Chargers legend LaDainian Tomlinson’s record of six games with three touchdowns.
Taylor’s brilliant performances have brought success in spades for the 8–2 Colts, who are currently first in the AFC and are positioned to make a long run in the playoffs come January. The Colts are hoping Taylor can catapult the team back to their glory days with Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.
Indianapolis hasn’t made it to the playoffs since 2020, and the team hasn’t made it to the Super Bowl since their runner-up finish in 2010 with Manning under center.
Even with Taylor’s unbelievable start to the 2025 season, fans and coaches are still holding their breath for the rest of the season. Taylor has always been a running back with immense talent and explosiveness, but he has struggled to stay fully healthy throughout the years. Taylor hasn’t had a fully healthy season since 2021; in 2020 and 2024, Taylor missed a total of eight weeks due to high ankle sprains and another three weeks in 2023 due to the thumb tear.
These previous injuries don’t change how incredible Taylor’s start to the season was. He currently has 1,139 rush yards on 189 carries with 15 touchdowns in 10 games — on pace to join only eight other players who have passed the 2,000 yard mark in rushing yards in a season. With 15 touchdowns, Taylor is also on pace to finish with 26 touchdowns, which would be just short of Tomlinson’s 31 (28 rushing, three receiving) during his 2006 season. If the Colts keep feeding Taylor the ball, we could be seeing not just an MVP season, but a season rivaling Tomlinson’s 2006 season, which is widely considered one of the best single seasons for a running back in modern history.
Taylor’s shining performances throughout this year have helped him cement himself as one of the best running backs in the league. Not only is Taylor one of the most explosive runners in the league, but he’s also one of the smartest. Compared to other shorter players in the league, Taylor is one of the most improved blockers and pass protectors. He also attracts the defensive spotlight, forcing opposing teams to be concerned about his impact and helping his fellow skill position players — wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce along with tight end Tyler Warren — to have more one-on-one opportunities.
With Taylor on pace to be in the 2,000-yard club, joining players like Eric Dickerson and Barry Sanders, we could be in for a historic season if we do not see his previous injuries get in the way.
This history also means a switch for the Colts franchise as a whole. With the addition of Sauce Gardner via trade at the trade deadline, the Colts look like legitimate contenders for the upcoming playoffs and could be a force to be reckoned with.
