Indianapolis dusted off some old-school soccer dogma by bludgeoning defenses with Taylor’s runs to dig itself out of a 1-4 gap early in the season. Taylor’s imaginative and prescient, energy and pace had been unparalleled in wins over playoff-bound groups.
Against the Buffalo Bills, Taylor had a 204-yard, five-touchdown masterpiece. When Bill Belichick stacked the Patriots’ line to gradual him, Taylor nonetheless earned 170 yards, together with a late 67-yard blast that ended New England’s seven-game win streak. And with the Colts right down to what was primarily its second-string offensive line in December, Indianapolis stymied the Cardinals, 22-16.
And it was all for naught as a result of Indianapolis couldn’t beat Jacksonville, the staff with the worst file in the N.F.L.
That’s about embarrassing because it will get.
Playoff Picture
A.F.C.
No. 1 Tennessee Titans (12-5) — Bye
No. 2 Kansas City (12-5) vs. No. 7 Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7-1), Sunday, 8:15 p.m., NBC
No. 3 Buffalo Bills (11-6) vs. No. 6 New England Patriots (10-7), (*18*), 8:15 p.m., CBS
No. 4 Cincinnati Bengals (10-7) vs. No. 5 Las Vegas Raiders (10-7), (*18*), 4:30 p.m., NBC
N.F.C.
No. 1 Green Bay Packers (13-4) — Bye
No. 2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4) vs. No. 7 Philadelphia Eagles (9-8), Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
No. 3 Dallas Cowboys (12-5) vs. No. 6 San Francisco 49ers (10-7), Sunday, 4:30 p.m., CBS
No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (12-5) vs. No. 5 Arizona Cardinals (11-6), Monday, 8:15 p.m., ESPN and ABC
All instances Eastern.
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