Tyler Goodson Stands Tall after Fateful 4th-Down Drop
There's no guarantee the Indianapolis Colts would have have gone in for the winning touchdown had they converted the fourth-and-one deep in Houston Texans territory.
However, it was guaranteed they were losing after Gardner Minshew's pass to Tyler Goodson fell to the turf. The Colts' season ended a few plays later with the 23-19 loss to the Texans.
The ball was a little behind Goodson, but it's a ball he should have caught and converted for the first down. An emotional Goodson faced the press after the game and took ownership of his mistake.
"I worked too hard to drop the ball like that," said Goodson after the game. "I gotta accept that on the chin, and that's OK."
A reporter pointed out that it was a tough throw, but Goodson wasn't having any excuses.
"It still touched my hands; it's all good," said Goodson with a choked laugh that was anything but happy. "Next year I won't be in that position ever again... ever again."
"We've been repping that play all week. I knew that play was for me, and when we called it, it was just all about making a play. When that ball came to me, I happened to fail today. I'm standing tall; it's over. They guys came up to me 'keep your head up.'"
Goodson is thankful for the reaction of his teammates after having the feeling he let them all down.
"It shows that the guys love me, and I love the guys that are here. It happens. I wish I would have made that play – I wish could have made the play for this team and we could have a better result," said Goodson. "But at the end of the day that’s not God’s story, that’s not what He had written.
"The guys in this locker room accepting me, coming in late and not being here for camp and just accepting me for who I am and trusting me to get on the field and make plays is phenomenal. I would love to stay here in this locker room."
Quarterback Gardner Minshew shared the blame afterwards.
“Shoot, had a good look," said Minshew. "Kind of a pick play for Goody. I mean, think it's just a tough play, man. There's about a million of those, what ifs in that game. Wish I had put a better ball on him. Given us a better chance. Yeah, it's a hard one to get over.”
What was his message to Goodson after the game?
"I was just loving him up," said Minshew after the game. "I'm equally as responsible for that not working as he is. We all have plays we wish we could have back. Just because it's the last one, doesn't really make it that much more significant.
"I told him, you know, I'd go back with him every time. I'd throw that ball every time. I have a ton of trust and faith in him and the player that he is. He steps in a tough role and delivered for us this year. You know, probably won us a game there. So man, really appreciate him and the player and the guy he is."
Goodson saw action in the Colts final-six games of the season. The second-year man out of Iowa finished the season with 13 rushes for 87 yards and six catches for 34 yards.
Was the moment too big for Goodson?
That's a question that will haunt both Goodson and the Colts for the offseason and maybe beyond. While the season may have come to an abrupt end on Saturday night, the character of these Colts shined through during and especially after the game.
