The Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers met in LA in a game that should prove to have big playoff implications down the line. Both teams are in the thick of the AFC playoff race, so this game could end up determining which seed both teams get (if they do indeed make the playoffs).

The Colts got out to a red-hot start, taking a 23-3 lead into the half, and they never let up. The Chargers found some offensive momentum in the second half, but the Colts’ offense kept their foot on the gas, going on to win, 38-24.

Here were my takeaways from Sunday’s game.

Colts got the start they needed

Coming into this game, it was important for the Colts to get off to a hot start. They traveled to LA to face a Chargers team that is very good, so to come out and put their foot down early was big for Indy.

Daniel Jones looked very comfortable in the first half, completing 17 of his 26 attempts for 206 yards and two scores. Jonathan Taylor and Ameer Abdullah both averaged over 4.5 yards per carry, but it was really Jones who carried the offense early, so a lot of credit goes to him for their hot start.

Defensively, they completely shut the Chargers down. Justin Herbert had 131 yards, but threw two interceptions. It didn’t help that the Chargers had no semblance of a run game, averaging 1.7 yards per carry, but Herbert still just didn’t look good.

The Colts have been impressive this season, but this first half was a perfect representation of what this team can be when they’re rolling.

The Chargers have some serious problems all over their roster

The Chargers still have everything in front of them, but they have some serious problems they need to fix if they want a real shot at making, and doing well in, the playoffs.

First, their defense is just not that good. They have held one team to under 20 points this season, and that was the Las Vegas Raiders, which is not an impressive feat whatsoever. In their two games against AFC playoff teams, they’ve allowed 27 and 38 points to the Chiefs and Colts, respectively.

Then, there’s their offensive issues. Their offensive line is not playing well right now, and I know that’s largely due to injuries and should improve once Joe Alt is 100 percent, but every team deals with injuries, so they just have to be better. But with Mekhi Becton going down late in the fourth, who knows if they can fix their issues up front.

Those issues on their offensive line has not only affected their pass game, but their run game as well. The Chargers averaged just 3.4 yards per carry against the Colts. Again, I know that’ll get better as they get healthy, but who knows how long that’ll take.

The Chargers just feel a bit fraudulent. The Colts exposed all of their weaknesses today, and showed that the Chargers are VERY human.

Jonathan Taylor needs to be in the MVP conversation

Jonathan Taylor entered this week with +6500 odds to win the MVP. That ranks 16th in the league, behind guys like Caleb Williams, Jalen Hurts and even Lamar Jackson. When you look at his stats today and over the course of this season, it’s incredibly hard to understand why he’s not a top five favorite.

I understand he’s a running back and this is a quarterback award, but having guys like Williams and Jackson above him is just ludicrous. He and guys like Bijan Robinson fully deserve to be in the top five, because they’re arguably the two most valuable players in the league this year.

Who was the one catching all those balls for LA?

Oronde Gadsden is a name to familiarize yourself with. The Chargers had all three of their top receivers available and playing today, but it was their rookie tight end, Gadsden, who led the team in receiving yards with 164.

Gadsden came out of nowhere last week, catching seven of his eight targets for 68 yards in their narrow victory over the Miami Dolphins. He was the Chargers’ fifth-round pick this year, and after not making much of an impression early, he is going to be a massive part of the Chargers’ offense moving forward.

Fantasy players, go grab him while he’s still available.

Give Shane Steichen the Coach of the Year award already

Right now, there is no coach in the NFL who is better than Shane Steichen. Look, this isn’t to hate on Daniel Jones, but he is not a top five or even top 10 quarterback in the league, but he’s playing like one in Steichen’s system.

Steichen’s philosophy is simple. He wants to pound the rock with Jonathan Taylor to set up the pass game, and he’s doing it to perfection behind one of the best offensive lines in football. Teams have to commit an extra man to stopping the run, and Steichen’s passing concepts have consistently helped his receivers get open.

Jones is a good quarterback. I’m not trying to take anything away from him. However, he is not an MVP-level talent, but he’s playing at an MVP-level in his first year under Steichen.

He should be the runaway favorite for the Coach of the Year award, and as long as the Colts don’t completely meltdown, he’ll be adding a new trophy to his shelf.