Colts Keep Rolling

The Colts’ offense continued its record-setting and best-in-the-NFL scoring spree on Sunday, with running back Jonathan Taylor punching in three touchdowns and Daniel Jones posting another passer rating north of 100 to push the Colts to a 38-24 win over the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.

The Colts are now 6-1 this season; they’ve scored 232 points in their first seven games, third-most in franchise history behind the 1964 Baltimore Colts (237) and 1958 Baltimore Colts (255). The Colts are also just the 24th team in the Super Bowl era to score 232 or more points in their first seven games.

A 23-3 lead after two quarters was built by the Colts behind 274 yards of offense and two well-timed interceptions by defensive tackle Grover Stewart and safety Nick Cross.

Taylor opened the scoring with a 23-yard scythe through the Chargers’ defense for a touchdown on the Colts’ first possession of the game.

After the Chargers mustered a field goal on their opening possession, the Colts engineered a 17-play, 71-yard drive that lasted 7:41 and included three fourth down conversions – capped by a four-yard touchdown on fourth-and-2 to wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.

Pittman now has five touchdowns this season, one shy of tying the career high water mark he set in 2021. The Colts then chugged 70 yards on eight plays, with a Daniel Jones deep ball to wide receiver Alec Pierce on third-and-17 – keyed by a hellacious chip block by Taylor – keying the drive. Jones found tight end Tyler Warren for a five-yard touchdown, giving the Colts a touchdown on 12 consecutive red zone possessions dating back to Week 5.

The Chargers continued to threaten to get back into the game, with Herbert connecting on a four-yard touchdown to wide receiver Keenan Allen to bring the Colts’ lead down to 14. But the Colts kept punching on offense – Warren hit a 29-yard catch-and-run to open the ensuing possession, and Jones then marched the Colts’ offense to the Chargers’ 19-yard line with completions to Pittman and Pierce.

Taylor and the Colts’ offensive line then took over, with the star running back dashing 19 yards for his third touchdown of the game. Taylor now has three games with three rushing touchdowns this season; he’s the first player to have at least three games with three or more rushing touchdowns in a season since Derrick Henry had three such games with the Tennessee Titans in 2021. He also became the first player in Colts history to accomplish that feat.

Two key plays kept the Chargers out of the end zone for the first time in the second half, though. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner sacked Herbert for a loss of 12 on second and 10, then linebacker Zaire Franklin broke up a third-and-22 pass from Herbert toward wide receiver Ladd McConkey in the end zone. The Chargers ultimately turned the ball over on downs, and the Colts were able to run the clock out for a 14-point victory.