DENVER – There was a point in the third quarter of Sunday’s turnover-heavy game between the Colts and Broncos when it appeared Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor had scored a 41-yard touchdown to give the Colts a 20-7 lead bring. At this point, Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was having a lot of trouble with interceptions and Denver’s offense wasn’t doing much. One could reasonably have concluded that this wasn’t Denver’s day and that Indy would significantly tighten the AFC wild card race.

You would have overreacted. It turned out that Taylor had made the incomprehensible mistake of dropping the ball just before it crossed the goal line. The play was reviewed and ruled a touchback – the score remained 13-7 and Denver received the ball on its own 20-yard line. From that moment on, the Broncos outscored the Colts 24-0, likely ending Indy’s season. It was an atrocious game in which the Colts turned the ball over five times and the Broncos three times, but Denver made it in time to win 31-13 despite being outgained in yards by 310-193.

It was an impressive result at the back end of the AFC playoff field, so that’s where we want to start Week 15’s overreactions – where we judge a few potential insights as legitimate or irrational.

Jump to:
The AFC playoff field is already determined?
Should the 49ers wait for Purdy’s extension?
Will Bills and Lions meet again in the Super Bowl?
Daboll and Schoen will be in New York?
Is the Eagles’ passing offense OK?

The AFC playoff field will be determined in three weeks