Jonathan Taylor posted his seventh 100-yard rushing game this season and matched the franchise record for single-season rushing touchdowns, lifting the visiting Indianapolis Colts to a 31-0 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday.
The Colts’ previous road shutout was a 6-0 win over the New England Patriots on Dec. 6, 1992.
Taylor had 32 attempts for 143 yards plus scoring runs of 1 and 3 yards, bumping his season total to 16 rushing touchdowns and matching the number Hall of Famer Lenny Moore produced in 1964. The Colts (7-6) remained unbeaten when Taylor has rushed for at least 100 yards.
Defensively the Colts dominated, allowing 141 yards while forcing a pair of turnovers. The Texans (2-10) failed to complete a pass to a wide receiver until late in the third quarter and crossed midfield for the first time that same drive, the first with rookie Davis Mills at quarterback.
Mills supplanted veteran Tyrod Taylor, who finished 5 of 13 for 45 yards with an interception. The Colts sacked Taylor twice and battered him repeatedly, sending Taylor to the medical tent after his last possession. Taylor was evaluated for an injury and cleared to return but did not.
Colts nickel back Kenny Moore II had a hand in both Houston turnovers. He picked off Taylor on the Texans’ first offensive snap of the game, and the Colts covered the subsequent 29 yards in six plays. Jonathan Taylor took a direct snap before converting his first score for a 7-0 lead.
Moore forced a fumble on the ensuing Texans possession, punching the ball free from Houston tight end Pharaoh Brown that Xavier Rhodes recovered for Indianapolis. However, the Colts failed to convert that takeaway into points when Michael Badgley missed a 35-yard field goal.
The Colts struggled offensively until their final drive of the first half.
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Carson Wentz converted on fourth down with a quarterback sneak and later completed a third-down pass to tight end Jack Doyle that moved the chains again. Wentz capped that march with a 2-yard pass to Ashton Dulin for a 14-0 lead with 43 seconds left in the half, one in which Houston managed just 48 yards on 23 plays.
The Colts covered 75 yards in nine plays on their opening possession of the third quarter, one capped by the second touchdown run for Jonathan Taylor.
–Field Level Media