Dopey Report Card: Colts vs. Falcons

Is it possible to grade out better than an A+ for the rushing attack. Holy smokes. Not a great performance all around, but Jonathan Taylor saved the day.

RUN OFFENSE

Do you realize what we’re watching with Jonathan Taylor? After every game, the Colts produce a packet of post-game notes, filled with statistics, records and other oddities. The entry under Taylor’s name was longer than The Brothers Karamazov (ask your librarian). I won’t rehash everything that’s in there, but a couple of notable statistics absolutely blew my mind. Like: He passed Edgerrin James for the most rushing TD’s in franchise history. He is one of three players in NFL history (O.J. Simpson and Corey Dillon] to have rushed for 240-plus yards in multiple games, including regular season and postseason games. This marked his second career game with over 200 rushing yards. He joins Edgerrin James as the only two Colts to have multiple career games of 200-plus rushing yards. He is one of three players in NFL history (O.J. Simpson and Corey Dillon] to have rushed for 240-plus yards in multiple games, including regular season and postseason games. He became the fourth player in league history with at least three touchdowns in five games in a single season, joining Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson and Marshall Faulk along with Chuck Foreman (who was no slouch, for those of you who go back a ways). He became the fifth player in league history to have three or more career games with 200-plus rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, joining Derrick Henry, Jim Brown, Barry Sanders and Tomlinson. His 83-yard TD run was the longest in franchise history. He surpassed 7,000 career rushing yards and 70-plus touchdowns prior to turning 27 years old joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith, Brown, and Tomlinson. Are you getting the idea yet? We are witnesses to greatness.

Grade: A+

RUN DEFENSE

Life without DeForest Buckner is going to be challenging, and there’s no certainty that he will return any time this season. (He’s on the IR and can return in three weeks, but Shane Steichen doesn’t sound positive about an imminent return.) And when Grover Stewart gets hurt during the game, you’re in deep stuff. As per usual, Zaire Franklin led the Colts with 10 tackles (four solo), a sack, a tackle for loss and one forced fumble. The Falcons rushed for 140 yards, a 4.8 yard-per-carry average.

Grade: C