DENVER — The unusual misstep by Jonathan Taylor continues to baffle even those who benefited from it as he released the football prematurely while on a clear path to a touchdown. Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton expressed his confusion, noting, “I don’t get it, but I’m not going to try to.” Taylor’s 41-yard rush, which should have resulted in a touchdown for the Indianapolis Colts, instead turned into a touchback, significantly impacting the game.
Taylor maneuvered through the Broncos’ defense with remarkable speed, appearing set to score. Just as the teams lined up for the extra point that would have put the Colts ahead 20-7, the stadium erupted as the replay showed Taylor had let the ball slip from his hands before crossing the goal line. Referee Carl Cheffers soon announced the touchdown was under review. Taylor, unaware of his mistake, recalled thinking, “Why are they reviewing it?” He admitted that he was not consciously aware he was dropping the ball, stating, “Otherwise, you wouldn’t do it.”
The unexpected turn of events allowed the Broncos to seize control of the game, finishing with a dominating 24-0 run after struggling to score in their first nine drives. Taylor pondered how the game might have differed had he scored, saying, “I do know we would have had six more points if I had crossed the goal line with that ball.” The Colts’ season record fell to 6-8, while the Broncos, now 9-5, have an opportunity to end a seven-year streak of losing seasons and inch closer to their first playoff appearance since 2015.
Social media quickly lit up with reactions to Taylor’s blunder, especially since this incident occurred during the first weekend of fantasy football playoffs. As a prominent player who is typically a guaranteed starter in fantasy leagues, Taylor’s miscalculation cost many of his fantasy football managers dearly. In standard scoring systems, that would have been a 10.1-point play had he completed the touchdown. Instead, it netted only 2 points due to the lost touchdown, the fumble penalty, and an incomplete last yard. For many fantasy players, this resulted in elimination from their playoff brackets, exacerbating the online outrage.
Taylor expressed regret over what happened, saying, “That has never happened to me before, and it will never happen again.” Unfortunately, he wasn’t the only player to experience such a mishap in games that weekend. In Nashville, Cincinnati safety Jordan Battle lost a potential touchdown after fumbling just shy of the goal line, echoing Taylor’s experience. Earlier in the season, Jets rookie receiver Malachi Corely had a similar blunder, negating his first NFL touchdown, and has yet to score since.
These mistakes have joined the ranks of infamous goal line errors in NFL history. Notably, in 2008, Eagles rookie DeSean Jackson celebrated too early against the Cowboys by tossing the ball behind him at the one-yard mark. Another remembered incident occurred during the 1992 Super Bowl when Dallas defensive lineman Leon Lett had a touchdown within reach before being stripped by Don Beebe just before crossing the end zone.
Taylor’s mistake stands out for several reasons: he’s neither a rookie nor a defender, and the ramifications of his error were significant. As a seasoned player, having scored 52 touchdowns in his five-year career and 55 in college, he understands the importance of being deliberate in retaining control of the ball. “You go over those scenarios, but it just can’t happen,” he noted, emphasizing that a mistake like that should never occur under any circumstances, regardless of the game’s intensity or context.
Denver’s pass rusher Jonathon Cooper reflected on the incident, suggesting it’s surprising offensive players still make such mistakes after going over ball security protocols. He expressed hope that his team would avoid similar issues. Interestingly, the Broncos experienced a similar scenario back in 2013 when linebacker Danny Trevathan dropped the ball during a clear pick-six opportunity. Although that blunder didn’t impact the outcome of the game, it served as a lesson from his defensive coordinator to always bring the football into the end zone. Ultimately, Trevathan followed up on that advice, scoring a touchdown two years later during a game against Philip Rivers.