Colts: Bears run defense gives Jonathan Taylor opportunity to prove himself

The Bears’ run defense gives Colts rookie RB Jonathan Taylor a massive opportunity to prove himself.

The Indianapolis Colts have had the luxury of facing off against some of the NFL’s softest defenses to open the season. Per ESPN, the Vikings and Jets rank second- and third-worst in the league in terms of points allowed per game, trailing only the increasingly lifeless Falcons unit. Jacksonville, meanwhile, ranks 20th in that category.

However, head coach Frank Reich’s side will face their stiffest challenge of the campaign in Week 4 when they travel to Chicago to take on an undefeated Bears team. Chicago’s defense obviously isn’t the force it was two seasons ago, but it still boasts a plethora of playmakers who are capable of altering the outcome of a game.

It goes without saying that the Bears D offers more resistance against the run than the pass and this presents Colts running back Jonathan Taylor with a huge opportunity to prove himself early on in his rookie season.

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As punishing and unstoppable as Taylor has looked on some runs, objective Colts fans would admit that he’s largely struggled through the first three games of his career. The 2020 second-round pick has accounted for just 182 yards on 48 carries, which equates to a lackluster 3.8 YPC.

The latter stat ranks in the bottom third of the NFL among qualified rushers. According to Pro Football Focus, the Colts’ offensive line is generating 1.3 yards before contact, so Taylor’s inability to find holes on a consistent basis is more of an indictment on him than it is on the big fellas up front.

Chicago’s run defense hasn’t lived up to its potential through three games — it ranks 16th in the league with 119 yards allowed per game — but the group will still present more problems for Indianapolis than any opponent thus far. After all, the likes of Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith highlight one of the most imposing front sevens in the entire NFL.

With Taylor facing the best run defense he has since taking over No. 1 RB duties for Marlon Mack, who was lost for the year in Week 1 with a torn Achilles, a big performance would go a long way in silencing his critics. The top running backs show up against the league’s strongest defenses and Week 4 will be a great test for the former Wisconsin star.

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