Going into their Week 8 game against the Tennessee Titans, the Colts were already playing at a high level, with the most efficient offense and the best record in the NFL.
They went into the game at Lucas Oil Stadium favored to win, and a lot of times when teams that have a record of something like 6-1 go up against a team that is 1-6, they might feel like it's going to be an easy game or a game that they should win regardless.
The Colts did not go into Sunday's game with that mentality.
Instead, they went into the game respecting the Titans as a division opponent and as a team that could be capable of beating the Colts if they didn't play to their standard. They knew they had to take care of business on both sides of the ball and play their own game – and if they did that, then they should win.
The Colts did just that from the very beginning of the 38-14 win; from the first drive on, they handled business and put pressure on the Titans to keep up with them – and the Titans couldn't.
That means that, once again, the Colts were well prepared not just physically, but mentally, entering the game. And in order to be a good team, that's what you need to be: prepared every week to be able to face your opponent and respect them, understanding that if you don't play up to your standard you can get beat on any given Sunday.
We've heard from head coach Shane Steichen countless times about the standard that Daniel Jones has set from the moment he stepped foot in the building, and we saw that in full force on Sunday.
From an offensive standpoint, the quarterback is the focal point of the offense; everything revolves around him. Jones' preparation gives him confidence, and his teammates feed off of that confidence. They know he has a good understanding of the game plan, of the offense, and he's prepared each and every week. They know that he can both get them in position for a good – and often great – play, and he can just as easily get them out of difficult situations.
As a teammate, you also see that he's putting in the work. You see it in practice, in the weight room, in the meeting rooms. And with that, you feel a sense of responsibility to keep up with him.
Jones is leading by example, and he's inspiring other people to step up their game. He doesn't always say much, but his quiet leadership speaks volumes.
And Jones is all about doing what's best for the team. He doesn't feel the need to force anything; he's just as happy to throw the ball one yard to Jonathan Taylor as he is to throw a 50-yard pass to Alec Pierce – whichever play is more likely to help the Colts. His individual statistics don't matter.
We can see that translate to the rest of the offense, as well: the Colts still don't have a wide receiver who has 100 receiving yards in a game this season, and no one is complaining about it.
The players understand that each week, it can be something different. They don't know who it's going to be, but they know Jones is going to take what the defense gives him and find his open man. He's only worried about moving the offense, and that kind of mentality is contagious.
In the Colts' win over the Titans, the "guy" was Michael Pittman Jr., who scored his sixth touchdown of the season to tie a career-high. And just like Jones, he set the example for taking advantage of the opportunities he had. Even though Pittman's touchdown was a difficult catch to make – there was a defensive pass interference on the play – Pittman fought through the contact and made the catch thanks to his determination.
And that's a product of being part of a team like the Colts: take the opportunities you're given and do the most with it.
The Colts embody that mentality, and because of it, they're 7-1 with the best record in the NFL.
Looking at one key play
A standout play from this week would have to be Jonathan Taylor's 80-yard touchdown run in the beginning of the third quarter. The running back continues to impress, as he has all season long, and this run was just great.
And it's not just because Taylor hit a top speed of 21.2 miles per hour on the run, or that it was his longest career touchdown run. Those are certainly remarkable, but so too was the effort of the offensive line to open up a lane for Taylor.
When you look at the play, once the ball is snapped, you have tight end Mo Alie-Cox occupying his defender in Titans outside linebacker Dre'Mont Jones. Guard Quenton Nelson and center Tanor Bortolini are pulling to the left, and tackle Bernhard Raimann engages his man to try to turn him in and seal the gap. Then, as Nelson goes up to the hole, cornerback Darrel Baker Jr. comes up and Nelson just drives him toward the sideline, and Bortolini comes up and turns into get a small piece of linebacker Cedric Gray.
After that, it's just Taylor taking it to the house, tightroping along the sideline and instantly setting the tone for the second half – because, after forcing the Titans to go three-and-out, the Colts went eight plays for 74 yards down the field for a touchdown from Josh Downs to make the score 31-7 and pretty much seal the game.
It wasn't surprising to see Taylor have such a run – it's just what he's been doing all year, as a very special and talented young man – but it was also a true team effort and a real testament to the continued selflessness of this offense.
