The Indianapolis Colts bolstered their playoff bid with a thrilling 27-17 win over the New England Patriots on Saturday night. Jonathan Taylor starred for the Colts in the Week 15 win, running for 170 yards on 29 carries, including a stunning 67-yard touchdown run with 2:01 remaining in the contest that sealed the victory for Indianapolis.
Taylor makes history in win over Patriots
Taylor has now scored a rushing touchdown in each of his last 11 games, tying the record set by Hall of Famer Lenny Moore for the longest such streak in franchise history. He also tied the NFL single-season record of John Riggins and LaDainian Tomlinson with that 11-game rushing touchdown streak.
It was also the eighth 100-yard game for Taylor this season. Taylor's late score against the Pats was his 19th of the campaign, moving ever closer to Moore's team record for touchdowns in a single season (20) which he set in 1964. 17 of Taylor's 19 touchdowns this season have come on the ground.
The Colts got off to a terrific start against the Patriots, racing to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter of their primetime encounter. They got their ground game going in their second series, opening with seven consecutive running plays to put Indy in the red zone. Taylor took a direct snap in the following play, handing off the football to Carson Wentz, who recorded an eight-yard passing touchdown to Nyheim Hines.
The Colts then doubled their advantage late in the first quarter when E.J. Speed recovered in the end zone Jake Bailey's punt which was blocked by Matthew Adams. The Colts stretched that advantage to 17-0 after the opening half, as the Pats were held scoreless in the first two quarters for the first time in 100 games.
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Colts survive late Pats rally to improve to 8-6
The Colts looked like they were on their way to an easy victory as they entered the fourth quarter with a commanding 20-0 lead. The Patriots made a furious fightback, though, in the final quarter, scoring 17 unanswered points to cut the Colts' lead to a single field goal with 2:21 left.
Mac Jones threw a couple of touchdown passes to Hunter Henry to bring New England back in the game. Taylor made sure there won't be a late collapse for the Colts, ending the Pats' uprising with his lengthy touchdown run. The Colts needed every bit of Taylor's monster performance with Wentz having a subpar showing against the Pats. He completed just 5 of 12 passes for 57 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Apart from Taylor, Darius Leonard also took center stage for the Colts in Week 15. He recorded 10 tackles, a forced fumble, an interception, a pass defensed, a quarterback hit, and a tackle for loss against New England.
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