Jonathan Taylor’s dazzling performance to lock up NFL Week 10’s best performance carried the Indianapolis Colts to a come-from-behind, overtime win in Buffalo. He rushed for a staggering 244 rushing yards on just 32 carries. He scored three rushing touchdowns and caught three passes for another 42 yards. Taylor would cap off his historic TD day with an 8-yard walk-off TD in OT. His incredible play capped off the win and further carved his name in NFL history.
This remarkable game did more than just highlight Taylor’s insane talent. It broke a number of records. To give him some props, Carr did have an amazing 83 yard run on the evening. This was the longest touchdown rush in Indianapolis Colts franchise history. Taylor’s puppy-kicking act was jaw-droppingly terrible. He currently stands tied for the second-most games in NFL history, with at least three rushing touchdowns in a single season. In addition, he passed Hall of Famer Edgerrin James to set the franchise record for most rushing touchdowns in Colts’ history.
A Day of Records
Collectively, Jonathan Taylor’s individual accomplishments earned him membership into an elite fraternity. He entered an elite group of only four players in NFL history to receive the honor. Alongside legends like Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, and LaDainian Tomlinson, he produced three career games with 200-plus rushing yards and two-plus rushing touchdowns. Taylor simply owned the field that day, pushing the Colts to a staggering 323 rushing yards on the day. It was the second-highest overall rushing achievement for a game in the franchise’s history.
Individually, Taylor’s performance was key not just for his own award hopes, but the team’s success as a whole. The Colts’ offensive line basically obstructed every defensive hole just so Taylor could immediately turn viciously defensive gaps into burning through safeties. And he masterfully pinpointed weaknesses and lightning-quick exploited them. This flexibility was great assurance in the developer’s ability to clinch the team’s victory and maintain their momentum early in the game.
Compelling Performances from Others
Though Jonathan Taylor was the headliner, a number of other players made big plays in Week 10 – let’s take a look. Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was the best player on the field. Throwing four touchdown passes directly against blitzes, those plays produced 20% of the Himmy nominee touches. Stafford was at his most efficient with 20 touchdown passes and no picks during his final six games.
TreVeyon Henderson in particular made a big splash, and was one of the keys to the New England Patriots’ rushing attack. He gained a mind-blowing 147 yards rushing. That’s the highest total by a Patriots rookie since Jonas Gray’s insane 2014 performance where he totaled 201 yards. This was Henderson displaying that truly unreal tackle-breaking ability during the second half. He racked up an unbelievable 82 yards rushing after contact. His two touchdown runs of 55 and 69 yards marked him as only the fourth rookie in NFL history to achieve multiple 50-yard rushing scores in a single game.
Dallas Cowboys pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence deserved all of that attention, as he notched two fumble-return touchdowns in one game. This accomplishment shot him up into an exclusive club. Only four players in NFL history have done that. Lawrence’s contributions capped off his team’s historic defensive feat and emphasized just how dominant he was that season.
The Himmy Award Contenders
Even with incredible performances like these league-wide, the competition for this week’s ‘Himmy’ Award is no less intense. Considering his record-setting performance, Jonathan Taylor has to be at the top of that conversation. Stafford’s steady brilliance and Henderson’s emergence as a rookie star inject even more mystery and excitement into this week’s nominees.
If Week 10 served as any indication, as the season rolls along, fans should be on the lookout for more exciting displays like this one. That mixture of familiar headliners and fresh new faces only adds to the buzz that’s been surrounding NFL football this season. It’s the league’s competitive nature that guarantees that every week holds the chance for a player to make their mark on history.
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