INDIANAPOLIS — The chants began early, gradually intensified and crescendoed with a balance-defying 80-yard tiptoe down the left sideline.
MVP, MVP, MVP.
Shane Steichen heard it.
“I did,’’ he said.
MVP, MVP, MVP.
And?
“Validated,’’ he said.
Steichen’s smile reflected his appreciation — and awe — with the latest MVP-type game in what’s building toward a possible MVP season.
Michael Pittman Jr. heard the chorus and might have been leading the chants after Steichen pulled Taylor and several other starters in the fourth quarter of the Indianapolis Colts’ 38-14 dismantling of the Tennessee Titans Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
It was much easier than it looked. Sort of like Taylor’s spectacularly efficient abuse of the Titans: 153 yards and touchdown runs of 18 and 80 yards on just 12 carries, 21 yards and one TD on two receptions.
MVP, MVP, MVP.
“He’s got a real shot,’’ Pittman said. “I know the MVP is a quarterback thing, but he’s going to give it his best shot at it. He’s playing at such a level, they’re going to have to consider a non-quarterback.’’
The last non-quarterback to be named MVP? That would be running back Adrian Peterson.
In 2012.
“Right now,’’ said Pittman, who actually was taken ahead of Taylor in the 2020 draft, “there’s nothing that I don’t think he can’t do.’’
Taylor’s feature play from Sunday was Pittman’s latest evidence. The 80-yard TD was the second-longest run of Taylor’s career — he had an 83-yarder against Houston in 2021 — and matched the franchise record for the longest TD run first set by Tom Matte in 1964 and matched by Donald Brown in 2011.
Taylor took Daniel Jones’ handoff and headed left. He ran between the blocks of tight end Mo Alie-Cox and right guard Matt Goncalves, then followed center Tanor Bortolini and left guard Quenton Nelson through the left edge.
When he hit the sideline in front of the Colts’ bench, Taylor first ran away from safety Xavier Woods, then left safety Amani Hooker flailing in his wake.
“When he was running down that sideline, I was thinking, ‘Oh, that’ll be a good 15-yard run,’’’ Pittman said. “And then he breaks a tackle and, ‘Oh, it’s going to be a good 30-yard run.’
“He breaks another tackle, takes it 80, and I’m like, ‘How?’ The things he does, it’s crazy. I don’t want to be early, but you can put me on-record. He’s starting to look like a Hall of Fame trajectory.’’
That’s a debate for when Taylor has strung together several more prolific seasons. Leading the NFL in 2021 with a franchise-record 1,811 yards was a good start. He’s again leading the league — 850 yards, ahead of Buffalo’s James Cook’s 753 — and on pace for 1,806.
The MVP discussion after eight games, though, is as real as it gets.
The Colts pushed their record to an NFL-best 7-1 and hold a 2½-game lead over Jacksonville in the AFC South because of an offense that’s operating at a historic level.
They entered the day averaging a league-best 33.1 points per game, and improved it. Their 270 points in the first eight games are the most in the Indy era, and third-most in franchise history. The Baltimore Colts scored 274 in 1964 and 272 in ’58.
Daniel Jones is in the midst of a career revival. He passed for 272 yards, three TDs and a season-best 136.0 rating against the Titans, and is the first quarterback in club history with a rating of at least 100 in seven of the first eight games of a season.
The supporting case is diverse and potent. Pittman finished with 95 yards and a contested, one-handed 21-yard TD on eight catches. Tight end Tyler Warren extended his strong rookie season (four catches, 53 yards), Alec Pierce’s 69-yard day featured a contested 50-yard grab and Josh Downs had 39 yards and one TD on three catches.
But Taylor is the super-charged catalyst.
In the bottom-line NFL, Taylor’s bottom line is off the charts.
He leads the league in rushing TDs (12) and total TDs (14). If you need perspective, consider the Titans returned to Nashville with 9 TDs on the season.
Taylor’s 63 career rushing TDs tied Hall of Famer Lenny Moore for second-most in club history. Edgerrin James generated 64 in his Hall of Fame career.
MVP, MVP, MVP.
“It meant a lot that the fans of Indianapolis are behind me like that, and that’s what continues to fuel not only myself, but the rest of the team,’’ Taylor said. “For us to come out, firing on all cylinders, it’s really a testament to the work we put in and we’re just glad that the fans are here for it to engage.
“That’s what they want to see. They want to see great product from the field and us ultimately win games.’’
Steichen has witnessed Taylor’s individual brilliance since 2023.
“It’s hard to put into words, to be honest,’’ he said. “When you see the way he’s running, the way guys are blocking for him, it’s special. It really is.
“I’ve seen it since I’ve been here, but it’s on another level this year for sure. Just the way he’s rollin’.’’
But again, MVP?
“My opinion doesn’t matter, but for sure,’’ Nelson said. “He holds himself to a very high standard, and he works his tail off.
“I expect him to go off every game.’’
Alie-Cox has grown accustomed to Taylor’s game-breaking skills.
“I was just telling one of the new guys, ‘This just looks like 2021 JT,’’’ he said. “I’m used to it. He did the same thing that year. He’s just been banged up the last couple of years.
“I told the guys, ‘With JT healthy, this is what we get every week.’’’
More about JT
Taylor averaged a career-best 12.8 yards per attempt. His previous best: 10.4 yards per attempt against Houston in 2021 (145 yards on 14).
He also:
*Became the first player in NFL history to score three total TDs against the same opponent in three straight games (Sunday, week 3 of this season, week 16 of 2024).
*Became the sixth player in league history with at least 70 scrimmage TDs in his first 75 games. He joined Jim Brown, LaDainian Tomlinson, Emmitt Smith, Chuck Foreman and Todd Gurley.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.
