Stampede Blue
The Olympic Stadium in Berlin has witnessed its share of historic feats over the past nine decades. Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor turned the page to a new chapter on a global stage Sunday, with a performance that will be remembered as one of the greatest individual showcases of the modern NFL era.
Taylor was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season after leading the Colts to a 31-25 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons in Germany. Taylor scored three touchdowns and racked up a career-high and single-game franchise record 286 scrimmage yards, including 244 rushing yards on 32 carries.
It was a monstrous effort that featured Taylor’s endurance, explosiveness and closer ability. Envision having to chase and wrap up Indianapolis’ workhorse 35 times during a three-hour battle. The Falcons’ chased Taylor in vain, only to fold and concede the inevitable game-breaking play that became the longest touchdown run by any player this season. With the Colts trailing midway through the fourth quarter, Taylor bounced left, trusted his blockers on the edge, and broke free for a career-long, 83-yard touchdown to give Indianapolis the lead.
Taylor slammed the door shut to call the game in overtime, capping a seven-play, 57-yard drive with an 8-yard game-winning touchdown run to walk-off the Falcons in front of a crowd of 72,203 football fans. His outing in the NFL’s International Series marked his third career 200-yard game and has Indy’s star tailback atop nearly every major rushing category in 2025.
Taylor forced 11 missed tackles and gained 165 yards after contact in Berlin, which are both single-game highs for any player this season. He also became the only player in NFL history with four games of three rushing touchdowns through the first 10 weeks of a season.
Through 10 games, Taylor leads the league with 1,399 scrimmage yards, including 1,139 yards on the ground, and 17 total touchdowns. His 6.0 yards per carry and 113.9 rushing yards per game also pace the league.
The weekly honor is Taylor’s third this season and sixth of his career, which ties Pro Football Hall of Famer Edgerrin James for the most weekly awards by a running back in franchise history.
Taylor’s three-touchdown performance pushed his career total to 66, which set a new franchise record. Behind his dominance, Indianapolis has rolled to an 8-2 record for the NFL’s best start alongside New England and ahead of Denver.
The Colts have extra time to prepare before traveling to Kansas City to face their toughest test yet, the three-time defending AFC champion Chiefs. Make no mistake about it, the Stampede Blue community will learn a ton about the Colts in their next game. A statement performance on the road could silence all the doubters. For now, the Colts will take 13 days to catch their breath after Taylor’s breathtaking performance on a global stage stamped his name right into the conversation for the league’s Most Valuable Player award.
