4 things learned from Colts Week 7 performance vs. Chargers

Following the Colts’ Week 7 win over the Chargers, here are four things we learned from their performance.

The Indianapolis Colts dominantly improve to 6-1 as they take down the Los Angeles Chargers 38-24 to capture their third straight win. 

At this point, it feels like clockwork how Indianapolis’s offense produces. Quarterback Daniel Jones recorded yet another two-touchdown, 200+ passing yard performance with no turnovers, while running back Jonathan Taylor dominated on the ground. 

Rookie tight end Tyler Warren added to his already impressive rookie campaign, while Michael Pittman Jr. is once again one of Jones’ favorite targets. Receiver Alec Pierce played his second consecutive game after missing two straight games due to injury, and was the Colts’ leader in receiving yards (98). 

Let’s highlight the top takeaways from Indianapolis’ Week 7 victory. 

Jonathan Taylor is the MVP frontrunner

Taylor just recorded his third game this season with a hat trick of rushing touchdowns, after entering the game leading the NFL in carries (115), rushing yards (603), and rushing touchdowns (7).

He recorded 16 carries for 94 rushing yards and three scores, and averaged nearly six yards per carry.

It feels like there isn’t anything that Taylor can’t do, as he also tallied three receptions for 38 receiving yards, his second-most receiving yards on the year. 

Alec Pierce is getting back into a groove. 

After missing two straight games, Pierce made his return to the Colts roster in Week 6 vs. the Cardinals, where he recorded two receptions on four targets for 48 yards, but still did not look 100%. 

Pierce led Indianapolis in targets (10) and caught five receptions for 98 yards. He led the Chargers in receiving yards, tallying 29 more than tight end Tyler Warren, who finished second-best on the team. 

He hauled in a 48-yard deep ball, matching his production from Week 6 in a single play, and averaged 19.6 yards per catch. 

The Colts won the turnover battle

Indianapolis’s defense helped its offense en route to a 38-24 victory with two interceptions against Justin Herbert, who had only four interceptions through the first six weeks of the season. 

When Herbert can protect the football on offense, the Chargers are 2-1, but when he turns the ball over, they are 1-3. In fact, in the last three games, Herbert has thrown an interception, and the Chargers have lost. 

His two interceptions came at the hands of defensive tackle Grover Stewart and safety Nick Cross, who both recorded their first interception of the season. 

Stewart recorded the first interception of the game, after batting Herbert’s pass midway through the second quarter, that turned into a tip drill where he recovered his own tipped ball. 

Cross picked off a potential touchdown pass from Herbert, intended for Quinten Johnston, to retain a 20-3 lead late in the first half. 

The Colts won the turnover battle 2-0 after not to give the ball away on offense. 

DeForest Buckner set a personal season high in sacks

Indianapolis defensive tackle Buckner entered the game with just a single sack on the season, but doubled his production against the Chargers. He sacked Herbert twice, the most on the team.

The Colts finished the game with three sacks, pushing the Chargers back 29 yards, and recorded 15 quarterback hits, with Buckner being responsible for four of them. 

Buckner finished the game with five tackles, four solo tackles, and two sacks, adding to his 18 solo tackles and single sack on the season.