INDIANAPOLIS – It took until the final month of the season, but the Colts finally have staked a claim to first place in the AFC South.

That came late on Monday night, after the team's most resounding performance of the 2016 season.

Here's a notebook look at the Colts (6-6) trouncing the Jets (3-9) in Week 13:

**Frank Gore Keeps On Climbing

**The names read off like a debate of the NFL's greatest running backs ever.

Thurman Thomas. Franco Harris. Marcus Allen. Edgerrin James. Marshall Faulk. Jim Brown.

As if those names weren't enough, you can now add Tony Dorsett to the group of runners Frank Gore has moved past on the NFL's all-time rushing list this season.

Gore went ahead of Dorsett on Monday night, into eighth place.

The 79-yard outing from Gore wasn't expected against a Jets defense that came into Monday ranked 2nd in yards per carry allowed this season. But with the offensive line controlling the trenches all night (the unit allowed just one sack against a stout Jets interior), Gore had a very effective outing.

"The runner was outstanding," Chuck Pagano said in reference to his workhorse back after Monday's win.

With Gore's 79 rushing yards, he's now 251 away from a 1,000-yard season.

If Gore averages 63 rushing yards per game over the final four weeks, he will become the Colts' first 1,000-yard runner since Joseph Addai in 2007.

Gore would also be the NFL's first 1,000-yard runner, 33 years old or older, since John Riggins in 1984. **

Defense Finds Some Playmaking

**Without three key defensive starters on Monday didn't seem like the night for one of the more impressive performances the Colts have seen in 2016.

But the night certainly was noteworthy.

• The Colts held the Jets to 0-of-5 on third downs in the first half and 3-of-11 (27 percent) for the game. The 27 percent conversion mark was tied for the second lowest for a Colts opponent this season.

• Indy's defense came up with three interceptions for the first time since November 2015. The Colts entered Monday having recorded just three interceptions through the first 11 games of the season.

• The Colts defense held the Jets to 36 net rushing yards. It was the lowest rushing total for a Colts opponent since November 2015.

All in all, the team win led to a 31-point margin of victory, the second largest a Chuck Pagano team has had in five seasons at the helm.

"It (gives us) a lot of confidence," safety Mike Adams said of the defensive effort.

"It created a little mojo, a little swagger in us. What we don't want to do next week is regress. We have to get right back to work and focus on next week. We don't want to regress. We have too much on the line. We can control everything by just winning. That's what we did (Monday) and we have to keep it going."

**Colts Tied Atop AFC South For First Time In 2016

**Before the Colts could truly appreciate the gift the Texans gave them in Week 13, they had to do their own work on Monday night.

The 41-10 victory for the Colts created more AFC South chaos with four weeks left in 2016.

Three teams (Colts, Texans and Titans) are now tied atop the division at 6-6.

Such a dominant win from the Colts on Monday won't be celebrated for long.

Coming this Sunday, the Colts will host the Texans in a matchup that will go a long, long way in deciding who has AFC South control going into the season's final few weeks.

Players know the measuring stick and importance this Sunday will have in ultimately deciding the Colts' postseason fate.

"It takes consistency in this league," tight end Dwayne Allen says.

"In years prior, we've had games we've played very high, and games we've played really low. I think if we're hitting our stride, it will definitely show this weekend."**

Colts/Jets Snap Counts**

• The wide receiver snaps were as followed on Monday: Donte Monciref (64-of-73), T.Y. Hilton (46-of-73), Jacoby Brissett (40-of-73) and Chester Rogers (18-of-73).

• At tight end, Jack Doyle played 51 snaps. Dwayne Allen logged 45 snaps and Mo Alie-Cox played 29.

• The running back snaps went to Frank Gore (45 snaps), Robert Turbin (14), Josh Ferguson (9) and Jordan Todman (4).

• With Denzelle Good (concussion) leaving after 36 snaps, Joe Reitz came in to play 37 snaps. Reitz came in at right guard, moving rookie Joe Haeg over to right guard.

• Defensively, linebacker Edwin Jackson, safety Mike Adams and cornerback Rashaan Melvin played all 52 snaps. Jackson led the Colts with seven tackles.

• Trent Cole's return to the lineup for the first time since Week Two saw him play 23 snaps and finish with two tackles and a pass deflection.

• Some credit should go to undrafted rookie cornerback Chris Milton. The former practice squad player made some big plays on special teams early on, leading to the Colts dominating field position.