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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Doug Farrar

Why can’t NFL players hold on to the ball before they score touchdowns?

Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts was one of a number players with handling issues on Sunday
Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts was one of a number players with handling issues on Sunday. Photograph: Winslow Townson/Getty Images

With 3:16 left in the third quarter of the Bengals’ 37-27 win over the Titans, Tennessee running back Tony Pollard fumbled, and the ball was recovered by Cincinnati safety Jordan Battle. Battle had a clear lane to the end zone and a 61-yard touchdown, but he instead decided to celebrate his touchdown before it happened, dropping the ball before he crossed the goalline. The ball went out of the end zone, which meant that the touchdown was instead a touchback, and the Titans got the ball back at their own 20-yard line.

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