After Colts running back Jonathan Taylor let go of the football short of the end zone for a turnover in the team’s Week 15 loss to the Broncos, he said he would never let that happen again and he displayed his commitment in the second quarter of Sunday’s game.
Taylor broke through the Titans defense for a 65-yard touchdown run and made sure to keep both hands on the ball as he scored. He kept his hands on the ball all the way through the end zone and into the tunnel to conjure memories of Forrest Gump, Bo Jackson, and Flipper Anderson.
“I already had predetermined in my mind, next time I’m going all the way into the tunnel,” Taylor said, via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star.
When Taylor came out of the tunnel, teammate Tyler Goodson tried to yank the ball from his hands but Taylor wouldn’t give it up. He didn’t give anything up to the Titans defense, either. Taylor ended the 38-30 win with 218 yards and three touchdowns.
“That’s kind of the most exciting part is kind of when you start imposing your will, establishing that line of scrimmage,” Taylor said, via the team’s website. “Those are the type of football games, as a running back at least, those are the type of games that you love.”
The Broncos loss dealt a big blow to the Colts’ playoff hopes, but Taylor’s big game kept them alive heading into the final two weeks. If they can keep running and holding onto the ball the way they did on Sunday, they might just pull off a surprise ending.
