Early in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor ripped off a 41-yard touchdown run to give his team a 13-point lead. Well, almost.
After review, officials determined that Taylor dropped the ball just before crossing the goal line. Taylor’s fumble rolled out of the end zone for a touchback. So instead of scoring a touchdown, Taylor gave the ball back to Denver.
Following that game-altering play, the Broncos went on to score 24 unanswered points in an eventual 31-13 victory. Denver coach Sean Payton was flabbergasted when asked about the play after the game.
“That was significant,” Payton said. “I don’t get it, but I’m not going to try to. That was a significant play that you go from breaking a long run for a touchdown for your team to us having the ball.”
Jonathan Taylor’s TD is OVERTURNED after replay reveals he dropped the ball just before crossing the goal line 😱 pic.twitter.com/h8AtKhpm1K
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 15, 2024
Payton was asked if the play could be a teachable moment for his own players.
“Fair question,” Payton said. “I cannot recall covering that. It would not be a teaching point. I think that will be difficult for the coaches and every one of his teammates. It’ll just be difficult, I don’t get it. I’ll leave it at that. I don’t want to say something.”
At the risk of putting words in the coach’s mouth, it seemed that Payton might have been suggesting such a scenario shouldn’t even need to be taught because it’s common sense to not drop the ball before you score. Those are Broncos Wire’s words, though, as Payton was careful to not say too much.
Denver’s players, on the other hand, weren’t quite as diplomatic.
Broncos pass rusher Jonathon Cooper gave Taylor a shoutout in the locker room, Nik Bonitto said he was happy the running back bailed out the defense and safety P.J. Locke thanked the “football Gods.” Everyone had big smiles when asked about the play.
Had a fun time hearing from the #Broncos in the locker room about the Taylor fumble that turned the game around…here’s the best answers ⬇️🏈 #9sports pic.twitter.com/T52EBxEHoN
— Scotty Gange (@Scotty_G6) December 16, 2024
The best reaction of the night came from defensive back Brandon Jones.
“I think it was kind of fitting for the kind of season it is,” Jones said, via Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. “It’s an early Christmas present, which we are super grateful for it and we appreciated it so much.”
Denver defensive lineman John-Franklin Myers also had a great reaction:
Here’s John on the play that changed the game 😂 https://t.co/8yoajFina2 pic.twitter.com/6i0BRyiCvf
— Scotty Gange (@Scotty_G6) December 16, 2024
Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton said any Denver players who made such a blunder would have to answer to the wrath of Payton.
“I saw an interview of Coach Prime saying ‘If one of his boys do that, they might as well keep running. becasue they not gonna be on the team no more. I would not want to have a conversation with Coach Payton after doing something like that”#BroncosCountry | @gs_off_field pic.twitter.com/zKTBD7zBFM
— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports_) December 16, 2024
As for Taylor himself, the running back took responsibility for the blunder.
“It just can’t happen,” Taylor said. “No matter the game, no matter the scenario, you could be up 50, down by 50, in a playoff game, the first game of the season. That should never happen.”
Taylor said he apologized to his teammates and vowed never to let it happen again.
“I told them, I apologized, and I just know that it will never happen again,” the running back said. “That has never happened to me before, and it will never happen again.”
The Broncos are now just one more win away from clinching a spot in the NFL playoffs. Indy’s postseason hopes are now all but dead.
