Jonathan Taylor thrusts himself into the race for this season's MVP in NFL after five touchdown performance
(CNN)Thought you had a good Sunday? Jonathan Taylor might have a claim for one of the best out there.
The running back scored five touchdowns in the Indianapolis Colts' 41-15 dismantling of the previously high-flying Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
In doing so, Taylor set a new franchise record, and thrust himself into the race for this season's NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP).
"We gotta start talking about (Taylor) for MVP," Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. tweeted.
However, after his amazing performance, in which he carried the ball 32 times for 185 yards and the five TDs, Taylor stressed the importance of the whole offense, not just him.
"The Colts' offensive identity is all of us all together," Taylor said. "Everything that you saw today was the culmination of the defense getting the ball back to us, creating turnovers, and then the offense being on one accord -- being able to communicate no matter what front, what pressure they bring, being able to execute."
In his performance, Taylor not only propelled the Colts into the playoff hunt after the team's slow start the season, he also racked up a host of personal milestones.
With Derrick Henry -- the Tennessee Titans running back who had previously been leading the NFL in rushing yards -- injured, Taylor established himself as the league's leading rusher with 1,122 yards.
The 22-year-old also tied NFL Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson and Lydell Mitchell with an NFL-record eight consecutive games of 100-plus scrimmage yards and one-plus rushing touchdown.
Taylor became just the 18th player in NFL history to score five touchdowns, and his teammates are backing him for MVP this year.
"He's sending a message to the league," fellow Colts running back Nyheim Hines said. "It's been amazing watching him play.
"Great to watch him finish runs and make people miss. He's a complete back ... If there's any skill position [for MVP], Jonathan Taylor needs to be in it. Him and [Los Angeles Rams receiver] Cooper Kupp. JT is the first in line for a non-quarterback player."
Although his teammates might think he deserves the title, the recent history of the award might be against Taylor.
Only three non-quarterbacks have won the award in the last 20 years, the last one being running back Adrian Peterson in 2012.
The win is the Colts' fifth in their last six games, and brings their record to 6-5 on the season.
It moves them right into the thick of the running for a playoff spot this season, while for the Bills, the defeat takes them to 6-4 on the season, meaning division rivals the New England Patriots hop above them atop the AFC East Division.
乔纳森·泰勒（Jonathan Taylor）在五次达阵表现后将自己推入了本赛季 NFL MVP 的角逐中
(CNN) 周日过得愉快吗？乔纳森·泰勒（Jonathan Taylor）可能声称自己是那里最好的之一。
周日，在印第安纳波利斯小马队以 41-15 击败此前飞速高涨的布法罗比尔队的比赛中，这位跑卫取得了 5 次达阵。
通过这样做，泰勒创造了新的特许经营记录，并让自己参加了本赛季 NFL 最有价值球员 (MVP) 的角逐。
“我们必须开始谈论（泰勒）MVP，”小马队外接手小迈克尔皮特曼在推特上写道。
然而，在他32次带球185码和5次达阵的惊人表现之后，泰勒强调了整个进攻的重要性，而不仅仅是他。
“小马队的进攻身份是我们所有人，”泰勒说。 “你今天看到的一切都是防守将球回传给我们的高潮，创造失误，然后进攻是一致的——无论是什么阵线，无论他们带来什么压力，都能进行沟通，能够执行.”
在他的表现中，泰勒不仅在球队本赛季开局缓慢后推动小马队进入季后赛，他还创造了许多个人里程碑。
随着德里克亨利——田纳西泰坦队的跑卫——之前在冲球码数方面领先 NFL——受伤，泰勒以 1,122 码的成绩确立了自己作为联盟领先的冲球手的地位。
这位 22 岁的球员还创造了 NFL 连续八场比赛的 100 多码混战和一加冲球达阵的记录，追平了 NFL 名人堂成员拉戴尼安·汤姆林森和莱德尔·米切尔。
泰勒成为 NFL 历史上第 18 位获得 5 次达阵的球员，他的队友们都支持他获得今年的 MVP。
“他正在向联盟发出一个信息，”跑卫尼海姆海因斯的小马队队友说。 “看他踢球真是太棒了。
“很高兴看到他跑完并让人们想念。他是一个完整的后卫......如果[MVP]有任何技能位置，乔纳森泰勒需要在其中。他和[洛杉矶公羊队接球手]库珀库普。JT是非四分卫球员的第一名。”
尽管他的队友可能认为他配得上这个称号，但该奖项的近期历史可能与泰勒背道而驰。
在过去的 20 年中，只有三名非四分卫获得了该奖项，最后一位是 2012 年的跑卫阿德里安·彼得森 (Adrian Peterson)。
这场胜利是小马队在过去六场比赛中的第五场胜利，他们本赛季的战绩为 6-5。
这让他们进入了本赛季季后赛席位的激烈角逐，而对于比尔队来说，本赛季的失利让他们以 6-4 的比分领先，这意味着分区对手新英格兰爱国者队在亚足联东部赛区超越了他们。
