1) Can Taylor finally break out of early-season slump?
Jonathan Taylor is, as Reggie Jackson once coined himself, the straw that stirs the drink. He makes Indy’s offense go and has done so for the past six seasons. This year, he’s tied for the league lead in rushing attempts through three games (66), but he’s off to a career-worst start in terms of efficiency.
Taylor is averaging fewer than 4 rushing yards per attempt and has yet to record 100 ground yards in a game this season. Plus, he’s coming off the worst of his three efforts, a 68-yard, TD-less game in Week 3’s slim win over Houston. Standing in his way in Week 4: a Washington unit that has been surprisingly stout in run defense, allowing just 246 yards through three weeks (third in NFL) at 3.8 yards per carry. The Commanders are tops in the league in run stuff percentage (25%) and have allowed just five runs of 10-plus yards (tied for third), per Next Gen Stats.
Taylor was a horse in the Colts’ international outing last season, posting 244 rushing yards and 286 yards from scrimmage (both international records, per NFL Research) in Indy’s overtime victory over Atlanta at Olympiastadion. With 78 rushing yards against Washington, Taylor will be the all-time leading rusher in international games in NFL history.
As Daniel Jones works his way back into form and the Colts deal with health issues for wideouts Alec Pierce, Keenan Allen and Ashton Dulin, Taylor needs to bring that horsepower again, or Indy won’t be able to keep pace with Jacksonville in the AFC South.
