Jonathan Taylor drops ball out of end zone in Colts' loss - ESPN

DENVER — Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor crossed the goal line and broke into a happy dance to celebrate his apparent 41-yard touchdown. Then he made his way to the sideline where the celebration continued.

And then it stopped abruptly.

Taylor's would-be touchdown, which would have given the Colts a two-touchdown lead in their critical matchup with the Denver Broncos, was under review and, ultimately, overturned, when officials ruled he let go of the football before the ball crossed the goal line.

Taylor unconsciously dropped the ball as he crossed the goal line, perhaps overcome with excitement after the long run. The ball subsequently went out of bounds in the end zone, which was, by rule, a touchback. The Colts never recovered, with Denver scoring the final 24 points of the game and strengthening their playoff position with a 31-13 victory.

«It just can't happen, no matter the game, no matter the scenario,» Taylor said later. «You could be up by 50, down by 50, playoff game, first game of the season. That should never happen.»

Taylor said he was unaware what had happened until well after the play had ended.

«I didn't know until they started saying they're reviewing it,» he said. «I'm thinking, 'Why are they reviewing it?'»

Taylor's play was emblematic of a game that featured an unending parade of mistakes for the Colts, all of it leading to a loss that put them in a difficult spot in the AFC playoff race. The Colts committed five turnovers, had eight penalties and suffered some key lapses in punt coverage that resulted in points for the Broncos.

«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.»

The Colts