This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this in the NFL

In fact, it’s not the first time we’ve seen it on Sunday. And yet somehow it still happens.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor broke free with what appeared to be a 41-yard touchdown run against the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon. It turned out he had the ball just over a 41-yard run.

As Taylor approached the goal line on a third-quarter run, he casually dropped the ball from his right hand. He wasn’t touched. He wasn’t under any pressure. He just dropped it.

Officials initially called the run a touchdown. Taylor danced like it was a touchdown. Upon review, the referees determined that Taylor did not actually carry the ball over the goal line.

The slow motion confirms that the ball fell from Taylor’s hands just before the goal line and then fell into the end zone and out of bounds.

Instead of a touchdown to give the Colts a 20-7 lead, the result of the play was a touchback and a turnover to give the Broncos the ball back and fall behind 13-7.

It was a high-risk mistake in a game with significant playoff implications. The Broncos entered the game 8-5 and were in control of the final playoff spot in the AFC. The Colts started the day 6-7 as the first team outside the playoff bubble. A win would put the Colts firmly in the game for the final wild card spot, with games remaining against the Titans, Giants and Jaguars, three of the worst teams in football.

So yeah, it’s probably a good idea to stick to the easy points when you have them.

Dropping footballs short of the goal line is an NFL pastime that has plagued some of the game’s standout players. DeSean Jackson made three Pro Bowls in 15 seasons, making him one of the league’s best deep threats of all time. However, he is best known to some fans for his unforced fumble just before the goal line against the Cowboys in 2008, in a game his Eagles lost 41-37.

In Sunday’s first play, Bengals safety Jordan Battle missed a would-be fumble return for a touchdown by dropping the ball short of the goal line on his 61-yard return. His wobble wasn’t as intentional as Taylor’s. But like Taylor, it was sloppy and casual.

Eventually players will learn not to do that, right? We simply have not reached that point in 2024.