Colts' $42 million star earns AFC Player of the Week nod

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is coming off one of the best games of his career.

After making a bone-headed mistake during the Week 15 loss against the Denver Broncos — dropping the ball just before the goal line on a would-be touchdown — Taylor more than made up for it.

During the 38-30 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 16, the star running back took 29 carries for 218 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.

It's no surprise the NFL named him the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts.

"Taylor became the first player since 2019 (Derrick Henry) to rush for over 200 yards with at least three touchdowns in a game; only 28 players in NFL history have hit those marks. The last Colts player to do so was Hall of Famer Edgerrin James, who gained 219 yards on 38 carries with three touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks in 2000," wrote JJ Stankevitz of team's website.

After the loss against the Broncos, the Colts face an uphill battle to make the playoffs. They need a lot of help from other teams in unlikely scenarios, but there's still a chance.

Taylor is the third Colts player to earn a weekly award this season. Cornerback Jaylon Jones was the AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 3 while punter Rigoberto Sanchez was the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 6.

Taylor and the Colts are once again heavy favorites for the Week 17 matchup against the New York Giants in what will be a must-win game.