The highest-scoring offense in the NFL just keeps rolling. The Colts defeated the Chargers 38-24 in a contest between the top two teams in the AFC standings.
Jonathan Taylor, who entered the week leading the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, had 132 yards from scrimmage and three rushing touchdowns. Daniel Jones was efficient, passing for 288 yards and two touchdowns, and the Colts forced two turnovers, a crucial difference in the high-scoring affair.
Overall, the offense was absolutely tremendous, scoring on each of its first three drives and six of its first seven.
Taylor fittingly opened the scoring with a 23-yard burst on which he was hardly touched, capping a quick five-play, 75-yard possession.
After a Chargers field goal, the Colts were much more methodical -- 17 plays, including three fourth-down conversions, and 70 yards -- but the end result was the same. Jones pulled an RPO, rolled right until the last moment and then tossed the ball to Michael Pittman Jr. for a touchdown.
It was just the second drive this season across the NFL in which a team converted three fourth downs. It was also the Colts' longest drive (by plays) this season.
The Colts made it three touchdowns in three drives when Jones found Tyler Warren on a 5-yard strike over the middle.
The Colts were in position for a late-half response, but Justin Herbert threw behind Quentin Johnston, and Nick Cross picked it off. Jones led a terrific end-of-half drive, and Michael Badgley connected from 36 yards as time expired to give the visitors a 23-3 lead.
The visitors' offensive assault didn't stop. Herbert threw his first of three second-half touchdown passes on Los Angeles' first possession out of halftime, but a big Ameer Abdullah return led to Taylor's second touchdown of the day, this time an 8-yard burst to the edge. Herbert came back with a score to Keenan Allen, but Taylor found pay dirt for a third time, this time from 19 yards out, once again nearly untouched.
Herbert would throw one more touchdown to cut the deficit to 14 points again, and the Chargers finally got a defensive stop, but Los Angeles' chance to cut it to a one-possession deficit got derailed by a sack, and Indianapolis was able to salt the game away from there.
Here are our takeaways:
It's important not to sell Daniel Jones or Jonathan Taylor short. Both have been terrific this year. But the offensive line and the pass protection plan as a whole have been arguably even better. The Colts have allowed a season-low six sacks this season, and their 2.7% sack rate allowed is on pace to be the second-lowest in the past five seasons.
Sunday, Jones took just one sack, and he averaged a season-high 2.97 seconds to throw.
Even when he was pressured, he was excellent. In fact, both of his passing touchdowns came when he was under pressure.
He also delivered an absolute beauty to Alec Pierce just before halftime. Overall, his 9.8 yards per attempt was the highest mark of the season. Shane Steichen is doing a great job scheming things up, Warren has become one of the best and most impactful tight ends in the game just a few months into his pro career, and there's a great supporting cast overall. But let's give Jones some credit, too.
Oh, and his confidence is sky-high.
No running back has won MVP since Adrian Peterson in 2012. Jonathan Taylor might not end that streak, but he's trying his best. He absolutely shredded an overmatched Los Angeles front with power and speed, and there are few players more fun to watch when there's even a sliver of green ahead of them.
After throwing just three interceptions last year, Justin Herbert has six this year, and they've all come in the last five games. Herbert's two interceptions Sunday were critical and a huge reason the Chargers lost even though they outgained the Colts 445-401.
Herbert's first interception was more a tough break than anything else. Grover Stewart deflected a pass and caught the ricochet.
The second turnover, though, was a bad one. This throw was well behind Quentin Johnston and almost so far behind even the guy trailing him in coverage, Nick Cross. Credit Cross for making a great grab.
Both turnovers took great scoring opportunities off the board, and when your defense is already struggling, any offensive mistake can be a backbreaker.
The Colts (6-1) host the Titans next weekend. The Chargers (4-3) host the Vikings on Thursday.
What a win for Indianapolis, which moves to 6-1 on the season. The offense was excellent, the defense made enough plays, and Daniel Jones continues to be one of the best stories in the NFL.
Herbert has his third passing touchdown today, and more importantly, the Chargers defense just got a stop. How much magic does Herbert have left?
Taylor's in from 19 yards out for his third rushing touchdown today. It's an absolute bludgeoning from this Colts offensive line; Taylor was hardly touched until he was nearly in the end zone. The Colts are getting whatever they want, and Jesse Minter will have big questions to answer about his defense.
Tyler Warren just ripped off a 29-yard catch and run off a simply play action concept, and the Chargers' speedy defense is really struggling to defend anything with misdirection in it. And when the Colts do have stright dropbacks, the Chargers aren't getting much pressure. Daniel Jones is in a great rhythm, and the Colts are moving the ball at will.
What a play by Justin Hebert. The Chargers quarterback stiff-armed Colts defensive end Kwity Paye and then found Keenan Allen for a 4-yard touchdown.
This is, unfortunately, a recurring theme for the Bolts, though. Herbert plays Superman, but there's not enough around him. Today, it's the defense, which has only forced one punt. We'll see if that unit can slow down Indianapolis and give Herbert a chance to rally.
The Chargers threw the first punch of the second half with a quick touchdown drive. But any momentum was shortly lived: Ameer Abdullah, who was signed to the active roster yesterday, took the kickoff return 81 yards, and two plays later, Jonathan Taylor scored his second touchdown of the day.
Daniel Jones found Michael Pittman Jr. for a wide-open two point conversion, and it's 31-10.
The Chargers couldn't have scripted a better start to the second half. Justin Herbert just found Quentin Johnston for a touchdown on fourth and 5, and it's now 23-10, Colts.
Take note, too, that the Chargers seem to have found their receiving tight end: Rookie Oronde Gadsden had a 53-yard catch and run on the drive, and he's becoming a bigger and bigger part of Los Angeles' passing attack every week.
It's a two-interception half for the Colts defense after Nick Cross picks off Justin Herbert in the end zone. Great play by Cross, who had good coverage and was in perfect position when Herbert's throw was behind Quentin Johnston.
Huge, huge missed opportunity for Herbert and co. Herbert already has six interceptions this year after just three last year.
The Colts are down several bodies in the secondary, so how about an interception by one of the biggest guys on the team?! Defensive tackle Grover Stewart, who tips the scales at 314 pounds, just deflected a Justin Herbert pass straight up into the air and then caught the ball. It's Stewart's first career interception in his 131st career game.
The Colts are just shredding the Chargers defense. It's 20-3 with Indianapolis scoring a touchdown on each of its first three possessions. This time, it was Tyler Warren, who beat Daiyan Henley for a 5-yard score on a precise Daniel Jones strike.
It looked like Los Angeles would finally get its first stop of the game when they backed the Colts up into third and 17 ... but Jones dialed up a 48-yarder to Alec Pierce.
Long story short, the Chargers have no answer.
It's two drives, two touchdowns for the Colts after Daniel Jones found Michael Pittman Jr. for a 4-yard score on a really well-executed RPO. Jones pulled the ball, kept the play alive, and at the last minute, flipped it to an open Pittman Jr.
The Colts are already three for three on fourth down.
At the end of one quarter, the Colts are up 6-3 and deep in Los Angeles territory again. Indianapolis has 76 rushing yards on just 11 carries, and if the Chargers can't shore up their rush defense, they're in trouble.
The Chargers are already down three offensive tackles, and now Austin Deculus, who was filling in at left tackle, s down. Foster Sarell is taking over there. The Chargers only recently reunited with Sarell, who spent this offseason with Washington.
If this is what the Chargers' defense is going to look like all day, it might be a long one. Jonathan Taylor went nearly untouched 23 yards to cap a five-play, 75-yard drive. Indianapolis picked up a first down or touchdown on four of its five plays.
Michael Badgley did miss the extra point.
By the way, these Chargers uniforms are something else ... and not in a good way.
The Colts have quickly moved into Chargers territory with chunk plays to Tyler Warren and Jonathan Taylor. With two catches today already, Taylor is up to 22 on the season; he only had 18 all of last season.
The Colts will start with the ball.
The Colts get a big boost in their injury-ravaged secondary in the form of veteran standout Kenny Moore II. He was questionable with an Achilles injury he suffered in Week 3, but he's good to go. That's especially important because the Colts put Charvarius Ward (concussion) on IR on Saturday.
The Chargers will be without tackles Joe Alt and Trey Pipkins today. Alt (ankle) was doubtful, and Pipkins (knee) was ruled out Friday.
Alt was already filling in at left tackle for Rashawn Slater, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp, and Pipkins was filling for the spot Alt vacated at right tackle.
In better injury news for Los Angeles, Khalil Mack returns from an elbow injury. Denzel Peerryman is also back.
