'Early Christmas present': NFL star laments unforgivable mistake in horror defeat

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor crossed the goal line and broke into a happy dance to celebrate what he thought was his 41-yard touchdown against Denver.

However, replays showed Taylor dropped the ball milliseconds before crossing the goal line and the would-be score would have given the Colts a two-touchdown lead.

Denver's defenders dejectedly retreated to the sideline, but suddenly the 76,416 fans at Mile High Stadium roared as replays on the giant scoreboard showed the Broncos had been given an early Christmas gift.

READ MORE: Why Luai 'can't wait' for next chapter without star partner

READ MORE: League great weighs in on PNG team amid LGBTI concerns

READ MORE: 'See y'all there': Kyrgios drops Djoker doubles bombshell

The original touchdown ruling was ultimately reviewed and overturned, when officials ruled he let go of the football before the ball crossed the goal line.

"It just can't happen, no matter the game, no matter the scenario," Taylor said.

"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?'"

The blunder breathed new life into the Broncos, whose special teams and defence would bail out a sputtering offense that managed just 193 yards.

"If he would have scored that touchdown, it would have been even more of a dogfight to get back," Denver pass rusher Jonathon Cooper said.

"We would have had a tougher fight. ... I just hope it never happens to us."

Instead of lining up for the extra point to give the Colts a 20-7 lead, the touchback left the reeling Colts clinging to a six-point edge they would soon relinquish.

"That was a game changer, yeah, absolutely," Colts coach Shane Steichen said. "Obviously, it hurt us, but he's one of our leaders. Sometimes that happens in football, but he's our guy, and that's what you say to him."

Soon after Denver scored a touchdown of their own and then went over again off an interception.

The Colts never scored again in the fixture, to go down 31-13.

Denver coach Sean Payton was flabbergasted when asked about the play after the game.

"That was significant," Payton said. "I don't get it, but I'm not going to try to. That was a significant play that you go from breaking a long run for a touchdown for your team to us having the ball."

Broncos players were a little more jovial when asked about it post-match.

"I think it was kind of fitting for the kind of season it is," Brandon Jones told The Denver Gazette. "It's an early Christmas present, which we are super grateful for it and we appreciated it so much."