Underused running back Tyler Goodson, who dropped a poor pass from quarterback Gardner Minshew on Saturday night and eliminated the Indianapolis Colts from playoff contention, took responsibility for the play after the game. I held back tears.
“I felt like a failure,” an emotional Goodson said after the Colts' 23-19 loss to the Texans, which helped Houston clinch a playoff berth. “I know I'm not a failure, I'll just say this. I felt a lot of love from my teammates, everyone told me to keep my head up.” I'm me and I'm always hard on myself and I know that play could have been made and that play should have been made. Just go back to square one and keep working on my craft and come back even better next year. ”
The decisive play occurred on a fourth-and-1 with 1:06 left in the fourth quarter, and the ball was on Houston's 15-yard line.
Indianapolis' first-year head coach Shane Steichen drew rave reviews all season for his aggressive play-calling, especially after rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson's season-ending injury. They chose not to give the ball to Jonathan, one of the best running backs in the game. Taylor favored passing to Goodson, who had just six receptions on the season.
Taylor struggled with a heel injury during the game, but finished with 188 yards.
And Goodson didn't touch the ball all night.
Steichen called a timeout before the play to get his personnel in order and Goodson was open to play, but Minshew's pass was slightly behind him and Goodson, who twisted his body, was unable to make the catch. .
“I’m going to go talk to my parents,” Goodson said of the play. “They're probably the only ones who love me right now.”
But Goodson, 23, added that he will bounce back.
“This doesn’t define me as a player,” Goodson said. “It definitely motivates me. I work so hard not to make that play that it bugs me day after day until I get back in that position to make that same play.” You can do it.”
And Taylor, who was not on the field for the final play, refused to criticize the decision.
“I support the coach,” Taylor said. “You see what Shane has been doing all year. Have you ever really questioned his calls this past year? He's been dictating the right plays at the right times.”
