Jonathan Taylor dropped the pigskin a smidge too early celebrating a would-be touchdown run, and with it, the Indianapolis Colts' playoff chances.
Leading 13-7 early in the third quarter, Taylor broke off a 41-yard sprint to pay dirt, which would have put Indy up by double digits. However, Taylor dropped the ball before the goal line. It rolled out of the end zone for a Denver touchback.
The mishap gutted the Colts, who were outscored 24-0 the rest of the way and didn't so much as get the ball in the red zone the rest of the half. Denver won 31-13 in Sunday's game against Indy. Taylor took ownership of the bungle.
"It just can't happen, no matter the game, no matter the scenario," Taylor said, via ESPN. "You could be up by 50, down by 50, playoff game, first game of the season. That should never happen."
Weaving untouched through the defense for a vintage score, Taylor celebrated in the end zone and on the sideline before becoming aware that refs were reviewing the play.
"I didn't know until they started saying they're reviewing it," he said. "I'm thinking, 'Why are they reviewing it?'"
Taylor's flub, coupled with a blown-up trick play from Adonai Mitchell that turned into a 50-yard touchdown for Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto, sunk the Colts and their playoff odds. A win would have pushed them to .500 with around a 50% chance to make the playoffs. The loss decreased their chances to a meager 11%, per Next Gen Stats. The 6-8 Colts sit two losses behind the 8-6 Chargers for the No. 7 seed with three games to go.
A season-worst five-giveaway day essentially gave away a chance at a postseason run.
"Sometimes, someone gives you their best and your best just wasn't good enough," Taylor said. "But when you hurt yourself like that, that one hurts."
