Stampede Blue
It was a season defining moment that doomed the Colts.
The Indianapolis Colts were struggling, but the Denver Broncos were struggling more. Neither team was having much success on the offensive side of the ball as the game belonged to the defense. Still, the Colts were able to take a 13-7 lead into halftime on the Broncos and had a chance to potentially put the game out of reach early in the third quarter. A slugfest seemed to break open on a Jonathan Taylor run for a touchdown to put the Colts up ten. As quickly as he scampered down the sideline, however, things seemingly broke.
Although early in the third quarter, a ten point lead seemed like it might just be enough to secure a win for the Colts and keep their hopes for the postseason alive. Sure, there was still plenty of football left to play, but the Colts had all the momentum. That touchdown seemed like it could be a back breaker. Two plays after an interception, the Colts had the ball for 30 seconds by the time they cashed in for six. All of that changed as we watched Matt Gay taking a practice kick wondering what was taking so long. The play was clear as day. Taylor broke free and punched it in. Move on, and kick the extra point.
Not so fast. Replay showed that Taylor let go of the ball as he was crossing the goal line as it trickled out of the endzone. Six points came off the board, and the Broncos got the ball at the twenty-yard line. The report from the sideline was that all was good. Players approached Taylor and told him to not worry about it. Taylor, in turn, fist-bumped his teammates looking to make good on the mistake on the next possession.
Although the final score doesn’t indicate that another seven would have changed anything, I don’t agree. Up ten, things might have changed. Momentum would have stayed with the Colts instead of swinging wildly to the other side. Yes, the Broncos were only able to put up three in the quarter, but the Colts scored zero. Having the chance to win the quarter and go into the fourth with a touchdown lead could have been the difference as things moved forward.
We will never know what type of impact if any that touchdown would have had. I know it certainly took the wind out of my sails and caused me to feel things shift. In a game in which the offense struggled, getting that touchdown appeared to be huge. A mental mistake that led to the end of postseason hopes was deflating. Jonathan Talyor doesn’t make that kind of error often, and I bet he never will again.
