BERLIN — Indianapolis Colts working again Jonathan Taylor created his personal little bit of historical past throughout the NFL’s first regular-season sport in Germany’s capital Sunday.
The NFL’s main rusher unleashed a torrent on the Atlanta Falcons, working for 244 yards, setting the franchise landing report and scoring a walk-off TD in extra time that allowed the Colts to tug off a 31-25 win.
“This can be a historic place, and also you look again on the historical past, the fellows who’ve achieved superb feats right here [are] no slouch,” Taylor mentioned in reference to Berlin, the place 89 years in the past American sprinter Jesse Owens made his personal historical past on the 1936 Olympics. “So, to type of be part of that makes me really feel like part of that lineage. And I am so appreciative. I am humbled to have only a small piece of historical past.”
Taylor handed Corridor of Fame again Edgerrin James for the Colts’ landing report along with his sixty fifth profession rating within the fourth quarter, doing so in spectacular style. The Colts tried to execute an inside run, however the Atlanta protection bottled up Taylor on the line of scrimmage. As he was nonetheless on his ft, Taylor sensed a gap to his left and broke the run outdoors. From there, he turned the nook and didn’t cease till he crossed the objective line 83 yards later.
“It was type of simply mashed up in there, and he bounced it to the left and hit it down the sideline,” Colts coach Shane Steichen mentioned. “That was an enormous run that type of obtained some good momentum, good juice going for us.”
Taylor had three touchdowns on the day, the fourth time he has finished that this season. In NFL historical past, solely LaDainian Tomlinson has finished it extra — 5 occasions in 2006, when he was named league MVP.
Taylor has 15 touchdowns speeding and two receiving on the yr. And he now has three of the highest 4 single-game speeding performances in membership historical past.
Taylor obtained so sizzling within the fourth quarter and extra time that Steichen stopped overthinking his playcalling. Of the seven performs on the Colts’ game-winning drive in OT, six have been Taylor runs.
“You possibly can really feel that,” Steichen mentioned of Taylor heating up. “You possibly can really feel it on the sidelines calling the sport when guys are rolling. He was rolling.”
Added linebacker Zaire Franklin: “I advised him, ‘You’ve got all the time been nice, however you bought this clutch factor occurring now … simply the essential timing. These huge runs, man. He is our residence run hitter. He is our knockout punch. He is the very best weapon within the league. Greatest participant within the league this season.”
In extra time, the Colts already had gotten a defensive cease, which means the subsequent rating would win the sport. As the ultimate drive performed out, Steichen may have opted for a brief subject objective. However as a result of the Falcons had not stopped Taylor on the drive, the coach stored it easy. And that was precisely what Taylor hoped would occur.
“A subject objective will win it, however in case you get that one-on-one alternative, you wish to benefit from it, seize it, and also you simply reside for these moments,” Taylor mentioned. “You do not know when these moments come, however you bear in mind, not even the run. You bear in mind your teammates embracing you after, after that play. I feel that is what I will bear in mind probably the most.
“And I am simply glad I used to be in a position to do it right here in Berlin.”